[Die kommunikative Kraft der Gewerkschaftsbewegung: Arbeit Recht, politische Opportunitätsstruktur und soziale Bewegungsstrategie]"> [Die kommunikative Kraft der Gewerkschaftsbewegung: Arbeit Recht, politische Opportunitätsstruktur und soziale Bewegungsstrategie]">
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The communicative power of trade unionism: labour law, political opportunity structure and social movement strategy
[Die kommunikative Kraft der Gewerkschaftsbewegung: Arbeit Recht, politische Opportunitätsstruktur und soziale Bewegungsstrategie]

Author

Listed:
  • Ioannou, Gregoris
Abstract
This article argues that more emphasis should be paid to the communicative power of trade unionism because it may constitute a starting point or a privileged standpoint which a trade union may use to counter its weakness regarding its other sources of power. Reviewing the trade union revitalisation literature, it is argued that social movement theory in general and especially 'political opportunity structure', can complement and enrich the power resources approach which is a useful tool in the analysis of trade union action. The case study of a weak trade union winning a strike largely as a result of its successful utilisation of its communicative power is presented where the public communication of the two sides to the conflict is subjected to content and discourse analysis. The article argues that trade unions can enhance their position through the adaptation of social movement strategy and campaign tactics into trade union activity because social movements are more accustomed to orienting their action in the public sphere. In this effort trade unions may draw upon the more explicitly normative and substantive dimension of labour law as a resource to legitimise and garner support for the unions' objectives framing in a more expansive manner the issues at stake so that a significant section of society can identify with the trade union struggle at hand.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:indbez:266443
    DOI: 10.3224/indbez.v27i3.03
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Peter Gahan & Andreas Pekarek, 2013. "Social Movement Theory, Collective Action Frames and Union Theory: A Critique and Extension," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 51(4), pages 754-776, December.
    2. Christian Lévesque & Gregor Murray, 2013. "Renewing Union Narrative Resources: How Union Capabilities Make a Difference," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 51(4), pages 777-796, December.
    3. Edmund Heery, 2015. "Unions and the organising turn: Reflections after 20 years of Organising Works," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 26(4), pages 545-560, December.
    4. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Davide Però & John Downey, 2024. "Advancing Workers’ Rights in the Gig Economy through Discursive Power: The Communicative Strategies of Indie Unions," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 38(1), pages 140-160, February.
    2. Roland Ahlstrand & Jérôme Gautié, 2023. "Labour–management relations and employee involvement in lean production systems in different national contexts: A comparison of French and Swedish aerospace companies," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 44(4), pages 1027-1051, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    trade unionism; power sources; communication strategy; labour law; strikes; Gewerkschaftsbewegung; Machtressourcen; Kommunikationsstrategie; Arbeitsrecht; Streiks;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects
    • J52 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Dispute Resolution: Strikes, Arbitration, and Mediation
    • J83 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Workers' Rights

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