Enhancing transnational labour solidarity: the unfulfilled promise of the Internet and social media

an article by Torsten Geelan (University of Cambridge, UK) and Andy Hodder (University of Birmingham, UK) published in Industrial Relations Journal Volume 48 Issue 4 (July 2017)

Abstract

This article examines the activities of Union Solidarity International (USI), a new UK-based organisation in the international union arena. USI seeks to encourage and support international solidarity between trade unions and other worker movements around the world by harnessing the dynamism of the Internet and social media.

Drawing on a combination of in-depth semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis, Google Analytics and social media data, the findings of this case study suggest that USI is successfully developing an international audience in the United States, the UK and Ireland. However, USI's ability to reach beyond English-speaking countries and mobilise people to engage in collective action appears limited.

The article makes an important contribution to the growing literature on social media in industrial relations through analysing the extent to which digital technologies can contribute to effective transnational labour solidarity.

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