The global ‘hot shop’: COVID‐19 as a union organising catalyst

Abstract

There is an emerging narrative that the global COVID‐19 pandemic has led to a resurgence of labour activism. Despite this popular narrative, scholars lack empirical data on the relationship between workers' exposure to the pandemic and their interest in collective representation. Using original survey data from 240 ride‐hail drivers, I find that greater exposure to the COVID‐19 virus is associated with greater interest in joining a labour union. This article provides the first empirical evidence linking the COVID‐19 pandemic to the recent wave of labour activism, giving rise to what I refer to as a ‘global hot shop’ phenomenon.

Breaking the deadlock: How union and employer tactics affect first contract achievement

“…Organizing victories at several high‐profile, private‐sector employers, such as Amazon, Starbucks, Apple, Trader Joe's and Chipotle, suggest that workers can form unions in industries previously considered unorganizable (Gurley, 2022; Molla, 2022; Sainato, 2022). Working conditions created by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid‐19) pandemic have led to a renewed interest in organizing, as greater exposure to Covid‐19 at work is associated with more interest in joining a union (Maffie, 2022). Yet, despite the excitement generated by important organizing victories, unions still face considerable obstacles to making tangible gains at work through collective bargaining.…”

“…interest in organizing, as greater exposure to Covid-19 at work is associated with more interest in joining a union (Maffie, 2022). Yet, despite the excitement generated by important organizing victories, unions still face considerable obstacles to making tangible gains at work through collective bargaining.…”

The union difference: Experiences of five-star hotel workers in Cambodia during COVID-19

“…There has been much talk of a global resurgence of labour activism during the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed gaping holes in legislative protections for workers and laid bare the power imbalances in the workplace (Maffie, 2022). The pandemic's impact on employment was nowhere more evident than in the tourism sector, which was hard-hit by border closures and other COVID-19 prevention measures.…”