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Organizing Young Workers Under Precarious Conditions: What Hinders or Facilitates Union Success

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  • Simms, Melanie
  • Eversberg, Dennis
  • Dupuy, Camille
  • Hipp, Lena

Abstract

Under what conditions do young precarious workers join unions? Based on case studies from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the authors identify targeted campaigns, coalition building, membership activism, and training activities as innovative organizing approaches. In addition to traditional issues such as wages and training quality, these approaches also featured issues specific to precarious workers, including skills training, demands for minimum working hours, and specific support in insecure employment situations. Organizing success is influenced by bargaining structures, occupational identity, labor market conditions, and support by union leaders and members. Innovative organizing tends to happen when unions combine new approaches with existing structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Simms, Melanie & Eversberg, Dennis & Dupuy, Camille & Hipp, Lena, 2018. "Organizing Young Workers Under Precarious Conditions: What Hinders or Facilitates Union Success," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 45(4), pages 420-450.
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:200409
    DOI: 10.1177/0730888418785947
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Ioannou, Gregoris, 2020. "The communicative power of trade unionism: labour law, political opportunity structure and social movement strategy [Die kommunikative Kraft der Gewerkschaftsbewegung: Arbeit Recht, politische Oppo," Industrielle Beziehungen. Zeitschrift für Arbeit, Organisation und Management, Verlag Barbara Budrich, vol. 27(3), pages 286-309.
    3. Surendra Babu Talluri & Girish Balasubramanian & Santanu Sarkar, 2024. "Against the tide: A case of industrial relations transformation in the Indian coal sector," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(3), pages 240-263, May.
    4. Gregoris Ioannou & Ruth Dukes, 2021. "Anything goes? Exploring the limits of employment law in UK hospitality and catering," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(3), pages 255-269, May.
    5. Güneş Ertan & Michael D. Siciliano & Erin C. McGrath & Molly McGrath, 2021. "Social Networks and Strike Participation: A Dynamic Analysis of the Hollywood Writers Strike," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 59(4), pages 1108-1130, December.
    6. Ruth Barton & Élodie Béthoux & Camille Dupuy & Anna Ilsøe & Patrice Jalette & Mélanie Laroche & Steen Erik Navrbjerg & Trine Pernille Larsen, 2021. "Understanding the dynamics of inequity in collective bargaining: evidence from Australia, Canada, Denmark and France," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 27(1), pages 113-128, February.

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