Labor Unions Research Articles

Can democracy at work deliver mutual gains in the digital economy?

Digital and AI-based technologies provide new tools to discipline workers, intensify monitoring, and deskill jobs. This article asks under what conditions these technologies can instead be used to generate mutual gains for employers, workers, and the broader public. Two developments are discussed, which provide opportunities for new coalitions in support of strengthened collective worker voice in technology adoption and deployment. First, the growing use of these tools in a range of service occupations provides opportunities for coalitions with customers or service users focusing on technologies' impact on service quality. Second, the importance of worker knowledge and skills as both inputs to and output of new AI-based technologies provides opportunities for a more collaborative approach to improving their accuracy and performance. To realize these opportunities for mutual gains, governments and labor unions first need to place institutional constraints on employers that strengthen bargaining rights and that protect minimum employment standards, workers' privacy and control over data, and job security.

Kronik Gerakan Serikat Buruh di Indonesia: Peta dan Sejarah

This research focuses on studying the dynamics of the trade union movement in Indonesia in a historical review and current map of the Trade Union Confederation/Labor Unions registered with the Ministry of Manpower. This study is a qualitative combination of literature and empirical research, combining literature and field data to explore the dynamics of trade unions in Indonesia, especially confederations. Since the 19th century, the birth of the Dutch East Indies Teachers' Workers' Union in 1879 began the emergence of the Workers' Union Movement (SP) or Labor Unions (SB) in Indonesia. These labor organizations, especially in the transportation and plantation sectors, played a central role in Indonesia's struggle for independence. Over time, various labor organizations emerged that played a key role in national political dynamics, such as VSTP, PPKB, and the Indian Vakbonden Association (PVH). Despite experiencing challenges during the Japanese occupation and the failure of the PKI's political action in 1926, the labor movement continued to develop until post-independence, with a major role played by organizations such as SOBSI in the Old Order era, SPSI in the New Order era, and various organizations that emerged during the Reformation era. Since the Reformation era, new trade unions have emerged and old unions have emerged, driven by political reform and the rapid growth of trade and labor unions. The latest mapping shows that more than 4 million workers/laborers are members of more than 20 organizations under various federations and confederations. Organizations such as KSPSI AGN, KSPSI JUMHUR, KSPI, and KSPSI YRS have the most members.

원청의 안전지원이 협력사업장 근로자의 안전행동수준에 미치는 영향

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 40% of fatal accidents due to industrial accidents between 2017 and 2021 were at partner workplaces, and 62.6% of all accidents (as of 2021) were preventable by following basic safety rules, such as falling, getting caught, or colliding. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of the prime companies’ safety support on the safety culture creation and safety behavior of workers in partner workplaces as a way to establish a safety culture in partner workplaces. This study was designed to examine the effect of safety support from prime companies on safety behavior level of workers at partner workplaces. It is a cross-sectional study using the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency’s 2021 Occupational Safety and Health data. The sample for the study is 739 manufacturing partner workplaces. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical multiple regression analysis using SPSS (ver.21). According to this study, there were labor unions in 91 places and 13.9% in 94 places with departments dedicated to industrial safety and health, indicating that the establishment of an industrial safety and health system was generally insufficient. In addition, this study examined the effect of the prime companies' safety support on the safety culture of partner workplaces and the safety behavior of their workers. As a result of the hierarchical multiple regression analysis, safety support from prime companies had a positive (+) effect on safety culture at partner workplaces. Leadership of management appear to have a partial mediating effect on safety support from prime companies and safety behavior level at partner workplaces. Safety communication and education·systems appear to have a mediating effect on safety support from prime companies and safety behavior level at partner workplaces. According to this study, active safety support from the prime companies can revitalize the safety culture of the partner workplaces, thereby improving the level of safety behavior of workers to prevent accidents. Since partner workplaces generally lack safety capabilities compared to the prime companies, they can spread the safety culture of partner workplaces through safety support from the prime companies, and it can be expected to be effective in preventing industrial accidents by controlling the unsafe behavior of workers by establishing a safety culture.

Struggling for the right to struggle: Cultural workers’ labour rights and unions

This paper explores how writers in the South Korean broadcasting industry have collectively struggled against their precarious working conditions and faced distinctive difficulties in taking their collective actions, including unionization. Based on semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 23 research participants, this paper examines why and how these South Korean writers have established various forms of collective worker organization: from a professional association to informal grassroots communities, to a women-only trade union, to two unions of media workers who are freelance or on contract. I argue that the activism of these writers reflects the intersection of different identities, ranging from women to freelancers to cultural workers and that their activism promotes the idea that working creatively, autonomously and equitably should be recognized as a basic labour right.

Association between work-related musculoskeletal disorders’ risk factors and different body parts affected among housekeepers in selected hotels in Mombasa County

Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSDs) affects primarily muscles, tendons, joints, intervertebral discs, peripheral nerves, and the vascular system. WRMSDs are a worldwide issue and are experienced in both developed countries and industrially developing countries (IDCs). The prevalence of WRMSDs and their risk factors are not well known among hotel housekeepers in Kenya. Therefore, this study aimed to establish the annual prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among housekeepers in selected hotels in Mombasa County. The study also sought to assess the common body parts affected by pain as well as the WRMD risk factors associated with these body parts among housekeepers at selected hotels in Mombasa County. The study employed a cross-sectional approach. The sample size of 276 study participants’ housekeepers was obtained by considering housekeepers’ availability at the time of study at 18 purposefully selected hotels. Data collection was done through standardized questionnaires. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used for data analysis. Quantitative data was coded and entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 23) for analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were utilized to analyze the quantitative data collected from the structured questionnaires. To establish the link between variables, descriptive statistical analysis, including frequencies and percentages, and inferential statistical analysis, including the Chi-square test and linear regression, were utilized, with findings displayed in frequency tables, bar graphs, and pie charts. On the other hand, the qualitative analysis utilized thematic analysis, with findings presented in narrations. WRMDs were found to be prevalent in 91.7% of hotel housekeepers in Mombasa County. The most widely reported WRMD by housekeepers was lower back pain. The study cohort also reported leg, neck, and shoulder joint and muscle pains as a result of carrying, lifting, pulling, or pushing heavy objects weighing more than 20 kilograms. Hotels ought to identify the common WRMDs among housekeepers and determine specific risk factors associated with these pains. The study's key recommendations are for hotels to evaluate their labor practices to mitigate understaffing, invest in the mechanization of equipment to ensure that staff have reasonable working hours per day with adequate breaks in between chores, and take reasonable leave. Implementing health and safety standards is crucial, with an emphasis on good posture and techniques while performing tasks. The study recommends strengthening labor regulations by raising awareness and sensitizing labor unions and health committees on musculoskeletal disorders and preventing undue work-related injuries among hotel housekeepers.

Production automation upgrades and the mystery of workers' overwork: Evidence from a manufacturing employer-employee matching survey in China

The automatic production line will alter the workflow and workshop production system, which will significantly impact how the workers perform their jobs. Using employer-employee matching survey data from the manufacturing sector in Guangdong Province, this paper found that production automation upgrades significantly increase working hours. The findings remain robust even after dealing with endogeneity issues. A plausible explanation is that improved general-purpose technology integrated into the production system will damage employees' unique talents by "deskilling". The heterogeneity analysis shows that labor degradation caused by technological change can be effectively mitigated by labor union protection and the accumulation of workers' human capital. Furthermore, production automation upgrades will probably change the way wages are paid, with less use of the piece-rate system. Although workers may receive some wage compensation for overwork, production automation upgrades may have unfavorable consequences (such as mental health, etc.). This study sheds light on how shop floor workers perform their jobs in the face of the wave of automation, offering fresh policy insights for promoting decent work and achieving inclusive growth.

Prevailing wages, school construction costs, and bids by out-of-state contractors: evidence from the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area

In the United States, prevailing wage laws authorize minimum remuneration by locality and occupation for public construction. The policy’s goal of leveling the playing field between local and lower wage, nonlocal builders is shared by fair wage policies in Canada and posted worker rules in the European Union. This is the first paper to test if the wage policy reduces bid disparities between these two types of contractors. The statistical analysis of over 600 subcontractor bids for schools built within the Minnesota’s largest metropolitan area examines differences in low, winning bids between Minnesota-based contractors and those from neighboring states with lower average construction wages. Findings indicate that prevailing wage requirements substantially reduce bid disparity between in- and out-of-state subcontractors. Additional results illustrate estimation issues related to measuring the influence of prevailing wage laws and unionized construction labor on construction costs.

Prepare for undergrad student‐workers to bring more labor unions to campus

The confluence of increased interest in unionization among undergraduate workers and a recent National Labor Review Board decision that made it far easier for unions to be recognized may mean more unions on campus in the very near future.

European family business owners: what factors affect their job satisfaction?

PurposeThis research aims to better understand the factors and determinants that shape the job satisfaction of European family business owners.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on a unique sample of 11,362 European family business owners surveyed within the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU LFS) framework, and the main findings were obtained by estimating ordered logistic regression models.FindingsThe authors show that only 26.8% of European family business owners are women, which underlines the gender imbalance in family business ownership, and the authors' results also report that their job satisfaction is significantly lower compared to males. The authors also find the highest job satisfaction amongst family business owners with master-level degrees and point out several interesting statistically significant differences across the industry focus of the family business.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the body of knowledge on the job satisfaction of family business owners by conducting a large-scale study based on a statistically representative sample of European respondents.

Neck‐restraint bans, law enforcement officer unions, and police killings

AbstractResearch SummaryFollowing high‐profile police killings, many U.S. cities banned officers from using chokeholds and other neck restraints. The evidence for such bans, however, is limited. To test whether use‐of‐force policies prohibiting neck restraints are related to fewer police killings, we use three modeling approaches to analyze 2183 U.S. cities between 2009 and 2021. Police killings were lower in places that adopted neck‐restraint bans and the bans were associated with less crime and fewer assaults on officers, net of controls. Because officer labor unions can affect use‐of‐force policies and the frequency of police killings, we also analyzed them, finding unionization increased the likelihood a city had a neck‐restraint ban and had a null or negative association with police killings.Policy ImplicationsAdopting a neck‐restraint ban is likely an effective way to reduce deaths due to police use of force with minimal collateral consequences. The bans operate through a diffuse discouragement of many types of lethal force or as a part of an array of use‐of‐force policies. Their direct relationship to asphyxiation deaths remains unclear. Officer unionization is unlikely to change the frequency of police killings, except through its association with stricter use‐of‐force policies.

Prepare for undergrad student‐workers to bring more labor unions to campus

The confluence of increased interest in unionization among undergraduate workers and a recent National Labor Review Board decision that made it far easier for unions to be recognized may mean more unions on campus in the very near future.

Discourses that undermine union movements: a multimodal analysis of union-busting videos

ABSTRACT Labor unions in the United States have experienced decades of decline, but recent years have seen a rebirth of union campaigns and successes. Because unions are once again becoming a threat to large companies, it is reasonable to assume that efforts to discourage organizing efforts will increase and become even more robust in the near future. Although traditionally, companies have worked to suspend union organizing through captive audience meetings in which unions were discussed via verbal or written modes, more recent means of reaching workers with anti-union messages incorporate a variety of communication strategies to get the message across. As such, this paper examines union-busting videos from six major US companies in order to assess how employers are harnessing the new communication possibilities afforded through film. Findings show three main discourses found in the videos: Unions are a Business, Unions are Restrictive, and Unions are a Threat. The paper undertakes a multimodal analysis to examine the ways new affordances are utilized to communicate these themes and to enhance an affective response in employees. Findings reveal messaging that drew most heavily on the affect of fear, which was used primarily to push employees to dread and ultimately reject a unionized workplace.

Developing Workers’ Sports Engagement in Northern Vietnam’s Industrial Zones

This article extensively analyzes workers’ sports participation in Northern Vietnam’s industrial zones, shedding light on the modern labor landscape. It underscores the importance of achieving work-life balance, where sports contribute to physical well-being, stress management, and positive workplace relationships. Additionally, the article addresses challenges like work-related stress, time management, and sports infrastructure investment. It emphasizes the roles of labor unions and businesses in promoting sports and employee well-being through facilities, events, and encouragement. This article initiates discussions on sports’ significance in workers’ lives, aiming to improve the work environment and overall quality of life.

Public Sector Collective Bargaining: A Meta-Review

Public sector labor unions and their commitment to collective bargaining are central to the study of public sector human resource management. This study explores collective bargaining scholarship in the United States as exemplified in the public administration literature. Systematically coding 220 articles from the top fifteen (mainstream) peer-reviewed public administration journals over a period of 50 years (1970–2020), this study examines how public sector collective bargaining is framed and conceptualized in public administration research, identifying, and studying the dimensions of public sector collective bargaining research in the United States. The primary purpose of this article is to map trends and gaps in local, state, and federal public sector collective bargaining scholarship, which is an essential public personnel function in need of further academic attention. It is also hoped that this study could stimulate future research into public sector collective bargaining.

Political Commitment versus Industrial Reality: Unveiling the Dilemma of China’s Safety Production Regime in the 1950s

The 1950s witnessed high accident rates in China’s industrial workplaces. Previous scholarship has attributed this phenomenon to enterprises prioritizing production over safety and to the impotence of China’s labor unions in enforcing safety policies. This article proposes a third approach by exploring the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) mass-based safe production regime, which was designed for political struggle against capitalists as well as fulfilling its political commitments to workers, while also aiming to enhance safety. Consequently, China’s labor authorities often adopted a principle of absolving workers from accident responsibilities, often shifting blame to enterprise leaders. This approach was ineffective in preventing accidents. In addition, the party’s safety education policies fell short because they romanticized older workers as safety-conscious mentors to the younger workforce but overlooked the reality that these veterans were often more prone to accidents. The generational gap in China’s workforce also impeded the dissemination of safety knowledge and practices.

Exploring Youth Preferences for Collective Action: A Comparison of a Grassroots Initiative with a Union-Led One

Many young individuals now prioritize involvement in collective action as a means to instigate societal change. Crucially, they have access to social media platforms, which help them connect with like-minded peers and coordinate efforts. Some of them may be thus more inclined to favour less conventional collective action over formal union membership. In this study, which draws on data from young British workers during the period from December 2022 to March 2023, we endeavoured to ascertain this cohort’s preferred approach to collective action. We distinguished between an informal grassroots initiative and one led by a labour union as a means to advance the rights of gig economy workers. To this end, we conducted a controlled online experiment. We focused exclusively on a specific age cohort within a particular timeframe, thus limiting our ability to determine generational differences in preferences for collective action and in attitudes toward unions. Nevertheless, the results do offer insights into the forms of collective action preferred by Generation Z. British youth were found to view the informal grassroots initiative more positively than the union-led one. However, they viewed the latter as potentially having greater influence on government policy. Furthermore, they were not significantly more willing to join one initiative than the other. Nonetheless, they were more inclined to recommend the grassroots initiative. This paper contributes to the body of research on the relationship between labour unions and young people. It also provides insight into how members of Generation Z think about various ways of participating in collective action.

Stopping the Spying: US Labor Unions’ Responses to Electronic Surveillance at Work

Stopping the Spying: US Labor Unions’ Responses to Electronic Surveillance at Work

Exploration and Application of Intelligent Service Mode of College Labor Union under the Spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee

Abstract Under the guidance of the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the Twentieth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), colleges and universities have set off a boom in the construction of modernized information service systems. This paper relies on the importance and feasibility of the development of the intelligent service platform of the labor union in colleges and universities and preliminarily constructs an intelligent service platform that can meet the needs of the management of labor union work in colleges and universities. The platform adopts B/S architecture, uses the MVC pattern as a platform design plug-in, and uses the J2EE platform as the main technical platform for the development of the college union management information system. Through the information collaboration network to the union information modeling, with the help of the system’s SQL language function, through the ODBC database-driven service linking method, to ensure the safe and stable operation of the university trade union intelligent service platform. The test results show that under the IO-intensive load verification, the platform memory utilization rate is stable between 56.30~71.05%, the tuning strategy can be applied to the actual college union management scenario application, and the validity and versatility of the parameter tuning scheme have been verified. At the same time, the test results of platform information collaboration association strength show that the maximum information entropy of each associated node is 19.08, and the results can provide a basis for the construction of the information collaboration network of the university smart labor union.

Labor Unions and Income Smoothing: A Panel Analysis

Labor Unions and Income Smoothing: A Panel Analysis

Will the EU‘s Fourth Freedom Be Further Challenged by Present Members of the Single Market?

Abstract The creation of a single market in Europe, conceived as the application of the so-called four freedoms (goods, services, capital and manpower) of movement was in vogue in the 1990s. What has happened to this dream? At the time not only business communities but also consumer associations, and even labour unions were all in favour of opening their national economies to the winds of continental competition. Three decades after, some national communities seem to have turned their backs on the free movement of people. The case of Eastern European immigrants settling for work in the UK after 2004 comes to mind, something which arguably was one of the main reasons for the Brexit vote in 2016. The issue could again become the focus of populist governments or parties (e.g., in Italy, France, Sweden, Austria, Hungary or The Netherlands), should the danger of an EU-wide recession or an idiosyncratic crisis in one of the poorest member states (MSs) materialize. Actually, a new intensification of intra-EU migration flows could be one of the outcomes of the unravelling of supply chains as a result of the COVID epidemic and geopolitical considerations, such as the EU’s wish to diminish trade dependence from China and Russia. The ground is slowly eroding under the feet of those adamant to cling to the free movement of people as part of the acquis. The EU Commission should give thought, before it is too late, about the fourth freedom particularly in view of future EU enlargements.