A global struggle: worker protest in the platform economy

Joyce, S., Neumann, D., Trappmann, V., and Umney, C. (2020), European Trade Union Institute Policy Brief

The newly developed Leeds Index of Platform Labour Protest provides an overview of the developments in platform worker organisation and mobilisation on a global scale. Its findings so far reveal that:

  • The main cause globally for labour protest is pay, with considerable geographical variation when it comes to other causes for dispute.
  • Types of platform labour protest appear to vary more substantially between regions than between industries.
  • Mainstream unions play a vital role in defending platform workers’ interests, especially in western Europe, while in the global South, protests are much more likely to be led by grassroots unions.
  • Mainstream unions rely more frequently on legal challenges, while unofficial unions rely more frequently on strike actions.

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