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The use of new ICTs in trade union protests – five European cases

Author

Listed:
  • Raquel Rego

    (University of Lisbon, Institute of Social Sciences, Portugal)

  • Wim Sprenger
  • Vassil Kirov

    (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria; University Evry-Val-d’Essone, France; ETUI, Belgium)

  • Greg Thomson

    (UNISON, UK)

  • Daniele Di Nunzio

    (Fondazione Di Vittorio, Italy)

Abstract

Despite the interest in the use of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) by trade unions, little is known about how new ICTs have changed trade union protest. In a period of austerity, in which new groups – including labour-related ones – have shown impressive mobilization using social media, we focus on a cross-country approach, looking at the impact of trade union strikes and protest in the public sector. Our findings show that new ICTs are being used at all stages of strike action and union protests in general, but do not allow us to assert that unions have changed the way they act in a fundamental way.

Suggested Citation

  • Raquel Rego & Wim Sprenger & Vassil Kirov & Greg Thomson & Daniele Di Nunzio, 2016. "The use of new ICTs in trade union protests – five European cases," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 22(3), pages 315-329, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:22:y:2016:i:3:p:315-329
    DOI: 10.1177/1024258916655761
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. W. J. Diamond & R. B. Freeman, 2002. "Will Unionism Prosper in Cyberspace? The Promise of the Internet for Employee Organization," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 40(3), pages 569-596, September.
    2. Alan Stoleroff & Irina Pereira, 2008. "Teachers' unions and the transformation of employment relations in public education in Portugal," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 14(2), pages 313-331, May.
    3. Alex J. Wood, 2015. "Networks of injustice and worker mobilisation at Walmart," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(4), pages 259-274, July.
    4. Allan Kerr & Jeremy Waddington, 2014. "E-Communications: An Aspect of Union Renewal or Merely Doing Things Electronically?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 52(4), pages 658-681, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gregor Murray, 2017. "Union renewal: what can we learn from three decades of research?," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 23(1), pages 9-29, February.

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