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Green shoots from the grass roots? The N ational S hop S tewards N etwork
Author(s) -
McBride Jo,
Stirling John
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
new technology, work and employment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.889
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1468-005X
pISSN - 0268-1072
DOI - 10.1111/ntwe.12024
Subject(s) - parallels , context (archaeology) , solidarity , the internet , politics , argument (complex analysis) , sociology , trade union , public relations , political science , economics , law , operations management , computer science , world wide web , biochemistry , chemistry , labour economics , paleontology , biology
This paper presents an analysis of the significance of the Internet in rebuilding a shop stewards movement in a time of circumscribed trade union organisation and power. It takes the National Shop Stewards Network as the focus for empirical research and places the argument within the broader context of two historical periods of trade union activity. The study finds significant historical parallels in terms of the key questions of the relationship between a network and a movement and the virtual and real worlds. It suggests that the Internet is particularly significant in forging horizontal rather than vertical links between shop stewards and unions and also provides the potential for mutual support and solidarity. However, the empirical research suggests different levels of engagement with the network, which the paper categorises and it also illustrates how a political party can become engaged in the networking activity.