%0 Journal Article
%T An American Solution to an Irish Problem: A Consideration of the Material Conditions that Shape the Architecture of Union Organizing
%A John Geary
%A Sophie Gamwell
%J Work, Employment and Society
%@ 1469-8722
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0950017016686024
%X New models of union organizing have become an important instrument of union growth and renewal. We examine the transfer of US-developed organizing practices to Ireland. We enquire whether the practical experiences of SIPTU can be considered successful. In particular, we focus on the question: in what way is the architecture of union organizing shaped by the material conditions that affect workersĄŻ power? We look at three campaigns across three low-wage sectors (hotels, red meat processing and contract cleaning). The campaigns share a number of common properties, but differ in respect of the power resources available to employees and the shape of their outcomes. Using a most similar systems comparative research design, we identify a variety of causes which help explain the success and shape of the different organizing campaigns. Finally, we make a number of arguments in respect of how our findings link to debates about the future of trade unionism
%K Ireland
%K low-wage vulnerable workers
%K power resources
%K SIPTU
%K union organizing
%K union renewal
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0950017016686024