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'Our membership doesn't reflect the industry': the challenges of organising disability support workers
Citation
Douglas, K, 'Our membership doesn't reflect the industry': the challenges of organising disability support workers, Labour and Industry, 27, (4) pp. 319-332. ISSN 1030-1763 (2017) [Refereed Article]
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DOI: doi:10.1080/10301763.2018.1428161
Abstract
Mobilisation theory seeks to explain how workers and trade unions are able to shift workplace grievances to forms of collective action. Drawing on mobilisation theory, the focus here is on two unions whose memberships include disability support workers in the not-for-profit disability support sector. Historically, union practice formed around servicing members in traditional workplaces. The introduction of neoliberal marketisation practices in the care sector in the 1990s diminished a workforce already the subject of institutional gender discrimination, low pay, poor working conditions, work undervaluation and weakened bargaining opportunities. How unions can identify and utilise opportunities to organise these workers continues to present significant challenges. Union strategy and tactics are examined to understand how vulnerable workers can be organised in an increasingly precarious and marketised environment.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | trade unions, organising, mobilisation theory, disability support workers |
Research Division: | Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services |
Research Group: | Human resources and industrial relations |
Research Field: | Industrial and employee relations |
Objective Division: | Economic Framework |
Objective Group: | Management and productivity |
Objective Field: | Industrial relations |
UTAS Author: | Douglas, K (Dr Karen Douglas) |
ID Code: | 149688 |
Year Published: | 2017 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 1 |
Deposited By: | Management |
Deposited On: | 2022-04-07 |
Last Modified: | 2022-05-06 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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