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Alternative labour protection movements in the United States: Reshaping industrial relations?
Author(s) -
FINE Janice
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international labour review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.433
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1564-913X
pISSN - 0020-7780
DOI - 10.1111/j.1564-913x.2015.00222.x
Subject(s) - collective bargaining , opposition (politics) , industrial relations , legislation , employment protection legislation , labour economics , labor relations , economics , political science , business , economic growth , unemployment , law , politics
The United States is one of the developed countries that have experienced the steepest declines of unionization and collective bargaining in recent decades. Its traditional industrial relations institutions, premised on the prevalence of “standard” employment relationships, have long been eroded by restrictive legislation and employer opposition. Meanwhile, precarious employment, sub‐standard conditions and marginalization have become widespread features of the labour market, leading to the spontaneous emergence of alternative, often community‐based initiatives to protect vulnerable workers using highly innovative strategies. “Worker centres”, in particular, have been very active to that end, often teaming up with formal trade unions to pursue their objectives.