Renewing Union Narrative Resources: How Union Capabilities Make a Difference

Abstract

This article explores the role of framing in mobilizing and transforming narrative resources. It draws on in-depth studies of two different workplace unions within the same multinational company in Canada. We conducted interviews with managers and trade unionists at different levels over a number of years of observation. Each of these workplace unions mobilizes new repertoires of action to enhance its capacity to act. Yet they differ considerably in their capacity to renew their narrative resources. Whereas one of the workplace unions still relies on an exclusive and restrictive narrative, the other union has evolved towards a more encompassing and inclusive narrative. This article argues that strategic capabilities are a key variable in understanding the processes through which narrative resources change and are mobilized.

The Power Resources Approach: Developments and Challenges

“…This entails a deliberate departure from the level of the workplace and opening up the trade union's social environment as a battlefield (Ganz, 2000: 146f. ;Lévesque and Murray, 2013).…”

“Our Tarkine, Our Future”: The Australian Workers Union Use of Narratives Around Place and Community in West and North West Tasmania, Australia

“…Narrative resources can embolden or hinder action and are unlocked through the use of strategic capabilities such as framing, which refers to a union's ability to propose an inclusive and proactive agenda that can move beyond the workplace and be part of a broader social project, and intermediation where unions cross boundaries and deal with multiple actors, often on issues that transcend the workplace, and foster collaborative action (Lévesque and Murray , ). Lévesque and Murray () place particular emphasis on the impact of framing as a strategic capability and make use of Snow et al's () frame alignment processes whereby individual and organisational beliefs coincide. Frame alignment occurs through a series of processes, namely frame bridging where an organisation, through the use of networks, the mass media and mail, mobilises groups of individuals who share common grievances or beliefs; frame amplification where a frame that may be obscured is clarified and invigorated.…”

Le système d’emploi des travailleurs agricoles saisonniers : portrait d’un rapport salarial multipartite

“…Au-delà des narratifs que l'association syndicale peut généralement mobiliser (Lévesque et Murray, 2013), c'est par un accompagnement étroit, voire quotidien, des travailleurs que l'action syndicale sera concrètement possible. Lorsqu'il s'agit d'intervenir auprès des TET, cet accompagnement suppose que l'association syndicale accepte de mettre en place une structure d'intervention efficace et qu'elle accroisse son champ d'action à des enjeux exo-professionnels.…”