Abstract
The authors examine enterprise-level antecedents of wildcat strikes in Vietnam based on a national representative sample of foreign-invested enterprises over the period 2010-2012. They predict that these illegal, semi-spontaneous work stoppages are more common among unionized workplaces, because workers in these enterprises use wildcat strikes as a means to activate the representation role of official trade unions. In addition, wholly foreign owned enterprises, investments by Asian-owned firms, and low-cost export-oriented manufacturing operations are associated with more strikes than joint ventures with state-owned and private enterprises, firms owned by Western investors, and firms in higher value-added activities. Statistical results provide strong support for these predictions. These findings suggest that the role of trade unions in socialist states is more significant and nuanced than previously assumed. At the same time, they reinforce the observation that Vietnamese employment relations institutions are unable, in and of themselves, to address worker grievances and that the greatest burden for defending workers’ interests lies with workers who initiate the strikes.
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