Power resource theory revisited: The perils and promises for understanding contemporary labour politics

Abstract

While their power is declining, unions and workers remain prominent actors in society. Therefore, there is a need to bring power resource theory back to the analytical forefront in the study of contemporary labour politics and labour market sociology. It provides the analytical perspectives necessary for a comprehensive and historical understanding of labour markets and labour politics. However, this article argues that the original theory developed by Korpi needs to be reassessed and further developed. Revisiting the original theory and reviewing common criticism, the authors argue that power resource theory should pay closer attention to how different types of power resources are mobilised and used and how actors’ interests are shaped during that process. The article seeks to address these issues and thus move power resource theory forward and pave the way for future theorisation.

Migrants’ Work Environment in the Danish Construction Sector: a Scoping Study

“…Some specific public initiatives overseen by the Danish Working Environment Authority (WEA) include the introduction and monitoring of compliance with the Register of Foreign Service Providers (RUT) and inspections in the form of site visits (Grillis & Dyreborg 2015;Refslund & Arnholtz 2021). While these actions are thought be to effective to some degree (Biering et al 2017), such protection has limited reach because many migrant workers distrust government agencies like the labor inspection, which is considered to be the strong arm of the law rather than a service to protect workers' rights (Guldenmund et al 2013).…”

“…Such scams include not paying the correct or agreed salary (COWI 2012), a practice that is rife and widespread (Arnholtz & Hansen 2009;Refslund 2021). Scams include providing false pay slips (Arnholtz 2021), unexplained wage deductions (Refslund 2021), and forcing migrants to work unpaid hours (Refslund & Arnholtz 2021). Some studies even report on debt bondage, threats, and human trafficking (Grillis & Dyreborg 2015).…”

‘They tell us after they've decided things’: A cross‐country analysis of unions and digitalisation in retail

“…Power‐resource theory highlights the importance of understanding different sources of worker power, the levels at which they operate, and their inter‐relationships (Refslund & Arnholtz, 2022; Wright, 2000). Power relations at the workplace impact on the ability of unions to secure beneficial outcomes from negotiations or consultations around technology, which is also affected by the ‘institutional power’ of unions to influence public policy and employment regulations.…”

The combustible mix of coalitional and discursive power: British trade unions, social media and the People's Assembly Against Austerity

“…152–153). The problem is that the role of the mainstream media and new ICTs in trade union attempts to reach and influence public debate has largely been overlooked by industrial relations theory (Carstensen et al, 2022; Gahan & Pekerek 2013; Refslund & Arnholtz, 2021). To address this oversight, the next part discusses some of the key literature on trade union revitalisation, the Internet and social media.…”