New insights into global labour: movement strategy and mobilisation in the context of crisis

Decades of crises — economic, the climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic — have placed the labour movement in a precarious situation and delivered novel and new challenges. In almost all locations trade unions face decreasing membership numbers, weakening bargaining powers, and declining political influence. Proposed revitalisation strategies in this period have ranged from using tactics more commonly associated with social movements such as street protests, cooperating with social movements, engaging more young and migrant workers in innovative ways, and more frequently using information and communication technologies in organising and mobilising activities.

The editors (Katrin Uba, Uppsala University & Elizabeth Humphrys, University of Technology Sydney) welcome theoretically informed empirical analysis and encourage the use of comparative and innovative methods, unique empirical material, and historical and contemporary cases worldwide. The selected submissions will form a Special Issue in the journal Social Movement Studies. 

Potentially exciting topics could be related, but are certainly not limited, to:

• Labour movements’ coalition building and protest strategies concerning migration.

• First Nations workers movements / First Nations workers in movements.

• Efforts to address climate adaptation and environmental issues.

• Organising through the pandemic.

• Organising in the context of rising populist and radical right parties,

• Gig workers and the platform economy.

• Biographical, economic, and political consequences of labour activism.

Abstract deadline: 01 June 2024

Manuscript deadline: 01 October 2024

For more information, visit: https://think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issues/new-insights-into-global-labour-movement-strategy-and-mobilisation-in-the-context-of-crisis/