The Representation of Workers in the Digital Era: Organizing a Heterogeneous Workforce

Acknowledgements
Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Tables
1: Introduction
	The Genesis of This Book
	Theoretical Frameworks
		The Crisis in Trade Unionism and the Consequent Need to Rethink Unions’ Representativeness
		The Complexification of Precarious Work in the Digital Era
	The Aim of the Book
	The Book Structure
	References
2: Precarious Work and Possibilities of Union Resistance in Brazil
	Introduction
	The Tradition of Union Organization in Brazil and Its Reach Into Precarious Workers
	The Impact of the Economic Crisis and Neoliberal Hegemony on the Brazilian Labour Market and Unions
	Labour Relations and Union Action of Teachers and Delivery Couriers from the Political and Economic Crisis to the Pandemic
		APEOESP
		Sindimoto
	Conclusions
	References
3: How to Represent the Unrepresented? Renewing the Collective Action Repertoires of Autonomous Workers in Three Countries
	Introduction
	Theoretical Background
		The Attitudes of Autonomous Workers Vis-à-Vis Trade Unions
		The Attitudes of Trade Unions Vis-à-Vis Autonomous Workers
		Functional Equivalent and Collective Capabilities
	Research Design
		A Multiple Case Study Design
		Three Different Institutional Contexts
	Findings
		Analysis of the FEs and Collective Capabilities of Case Studies in Belgium
		Analysis of the FEs and Collective Capabilities of Case Studies in France
		Analysis of the FEs and Collective Capabilities of Case Studies in the Netherlands
	Discussion
		First Part of the Hypothesis
		Second Part of the Hypothesis
	Conclusion
	References
4: Digitization and Collective Representation Strategies in Spain
	Introduction
	Conceptualization of the Deconstruction of the Labour Relationship
		Hypothesis, Methodology and Context
	Bottom-Up Organization Strategies
		Bottom-Up Proto-Union Platforms
		The Las Kellys Platform
		Fragmentation and “Circumscribed Solidarity”
		“Reactive” Worker Cooperatives and Mutual Societies
		Mutualism: A Network of European Cooperatives
	Trade Unions: Top-Down Initiatives of Organizations
		Services That Unions Provide to Self-Employed Workers
		Demands for Services Made to Organizations
		Quasi-Unions: Emerging Forms of Organization
		Top-Down Strategies to Represent Teleworkers
		Articulation of Union Representation after the Deconstruction
		The Role of Collective Bargaining in Trade Union Representation
	Conclusions
	Appendix: Interviews and Discussion Groups
	References
5: The Representation of Precarious Workers: Two Case Studies from Portugal
	Introduction
	The “Making of the Precariat” in Portugal: The Legal Framework of Labour and the Emergence of Precarious Workers’ Organisations
	Case Study 1: “Enough of These Green Receipts” (FERVE), the “Press Advisors” of Precarious Workers
	Case Study 2: “Inflexible Precarious”
	Final Remarks
	References
6: Work Platforms, Informality and Forms of Resistance: The Case of On-Demand Workers in the City of São Paulo
	Introduction
	The Platformisation of Work and the New Informality
	Youth, Occupational Trajectories and Precarious Work
	What Changed During the Quarantine? The Scoring System and “#BrequeDosApps”
	References
7: Gender Representation in the High-Tech Sector in Italy: The Required Alliance Between Trade Unions and Women’s Associations
	Introduction
	Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Highly Innovative Sectors
	Challenging Representation: Trade Unions and Associations
	Method
	Representing Women in the Italian High-Tech Sector
		Trade Unions
		Women’s Associations
	Concluding Remarks
	References
8: The Representation of Platform Workers Through Facebook Groups in Bulgaria: A Partially-Filled Void
	Introduction
	Theoretical Background and Context
	Method
	The Research Findings
		Collective Voice and Representation Challenges
		The Case of the Facebook Group
		The Discussion with the Group Administrators and Trade Unions
	Conclusion
	References
9: Conclusion
	Strengthening the Collective Voice
	Facing New Uncertainties
	References