Interventionism as a union strategy? The strategies of the Norwegian Nurses Organisation in relation to temporary agency work

Abstract

In this article it is argued that the strategy of the Norwegian Nurses Organisation in relation to temporary agency work represents a critical intervention. The strategy addresses the need to challenge hegemonic ideas about working women, especially professionals, including the association of unionism and militancy with men, masculinity and manliness, which might undermine any attempt at union revitalization. The article thus contributes to the gendering of the union renewal debate, while also adding to our understanding of professionals in the labour movement. The analysis is conducted in a ‘retroductive’ manner, posing the question of why an unexpected turn in the strategy of the NNO towards temporary work agencies came to pass.

Health Institutions, Temporary Work Agencies, and the Mobility Power of Nurses

“…However, militant actions and strikes as elements of voice have to a large extent been regarded incompatible with their professional work, which requires them to hold back on resentments and emotions. Strikes among nurses are also often restricted by regulation (Bergene & Egeland 2016;Kiil & Knutsen 2016). This makes nursing a particularly interesting occupation for the study of how mobility power affects the relationships between TWAs and client institutions.…”

“…In subsequent years, media coverage of illegal working conditions and wage conditions may have contributed to sharpen regulatory implementation. Following a scandal in an Adecco nursing home in 2011 (see Bergene & Egeland 2016), TWAs came under more pressure to monitor and reduce overtime and it became more difficult for the agency nurses to get the amount of overtime that they wanted. According to the interviews with the Swedish nurses, the manager of a hospital staffing center, and a TWA manager, it was still relatively easy to get overtime for bank nurses in the hospital sector, making bank nursing more attractive.…”

“…Not being able to prevent it, the organization changed strategies in 2001-2002 and encouraged agency nursing for those who wanted to switch jobs to obtain higher wages and more flexible working hours. The objectives were to keep the membership base and use agency nursing as a lever to increase wages for the permanently employed (Bergene & Egeland 2016;Dahle 2011). The NNO managed to establish tariff agreements with nine TWAs in 2001-2002 resulting in a good increase in the wages of all nurses in 2002 (Skjaelaaen 2010).…”

Applauded ‘nightingales’ voicing discontent. Exploring labour unrest in health and social care in Europe before and since the COVID-19 pandemic

“…2 Instead, in order to control labour and enhance profitability, the state or employers can either promote 'fissured workplaces' (Weil, 2017) (by using, for instance, temporary and contingent workers or the platformisation of care work) or rely on labour-saving technology or migrant labour. But the problems posed to industrial action by fissured workplaces can be overcome by collective agency (Bergene and Egeland, 2016). Likewise, while it is certain that care robots do not strike, there are few reasons to assume that migrants are a priori averse to it, although there might be cultural or linguistic hurdles (Rogalewski, 2018).…”

Arbeid gjennom bemanningsbyrå i Norge: En mangfoldig typologi av arbeidstakere

“…Friberg & Haakestad 2015;Friberg 2016;Jordhus-Lier mfl. 2015;Bergene & Egeland 2016;Bergene & Ewing 2015), har ikke en bredt anlagt survey av ansattes oppfatninger blitt gjennomført siden 2009 (Kalleberg, Nesheim & Olsen 2015;Nergaard mfl. 2011;Econ 2009), med unntak av NHO Service sine egne medarbeiderundersøkelser der den siste ble foretatt i 2015 (NHO Service 2016).…”