Social Workers' Experiences of Covert Workplace Activism

Abstract

The contemporary context provides particular challenges for social workers discontent with welfare service delivery influenced by neo-liberal ideology. Recent research reports on a range of barriers to activist practice, with participants identifying the negative impact of contemporary welfare ideologies, which have contributed to a dominance of technical practice models and an accompanying loss of structural, activist approaches. This study explored the motivations and behaviours of social workers employed in statutory workplace settings who identified that they undertook covert activist activities as a response to challenges resulting from the current service delivery model. The study found that participants undertook a range of covert activities that resulted in both challenges and rewards and that their personal and professional identities informed their covert practices. Findings from this research inform current discussions on the relevance of radical practice methods in challenging the contemporary welfare model and the role of social workers as agents of change.

Rising wealth and income inequality in Australia and New Zealand: A radical social work critique and response

“…This can involve creatively interpreting the rules, non-compliance, broadening professional boundaries and possibly civil disobedience (when attempting to meet a higher ethical code). Consistent with a radical perspective that focuses foremost on social justice, Greenslade et al (2015) suggest that the profession needs to accept such practices as inevitable if social work is to maintain integrity within neoliberal contexts. Gray and Webb (2013, p. 213) similarly suggest that "counter-acts of resistance and oppositional tactics against the totality of neoliberal domination" are indicative of a rising "New Left" in social work.…”

“…However, contesting neoliberal policy through a range of practices including individual and public advocacy, collective organising, community development and social activism around antipoverty campaigns, and the development of alternative economic structures such as LETS (Local Energy Transfer System) schemes (Ife, 2016) for example, should be core practice for all social workers. Greenslade et al (2015) also discuss activist practices in welfare organisations that resist and contest dominant power relations, despite the conservatism of many such institutions. Whilst they refer to many of these activist practices as covert, we argue that engaging in debating policy, union activism, advocacy for service users, lobbying and joining social movements after hours, should be among the regular social work practices that challenge social injustice (Greenslade et al, 2015).…”

“…Greenslade et al (2015) also discuss activist practices in welfare organisations that resist and contest dominant power relations, despite the conservatism of many such institutions. Whilst they refer to many of these activist practices as covert, we argue that engaging in debating policy, union activism, advocacy for service users, lobbying and joining social movements after hours, should be among the regular social work practices that challenge social injustice (Greenslade et al, 2015). This can involve creatively interpreting the rules, non-compliance, broadening professional boundaries and possibly civil disobedience (when attempting to meet a higher ethical code).…”

“…Whilst social workers generally concur that activism for social justice is a core part of social work (Greenslade, McAuliffe, & Chenowith, 2015;O'Brien, 2011), confronting wealth and income inequality through social action has not been a prominent practice in recent times (Reisch & Andrews, 2001;O'Brien, 2010). However, contesting neoliberal policy through a range of practices including individual and public advocacy, collective organising, community development and social activism around antipoverty campaigns, and the development of alternative economic structures such as LETS (Local Energy Transfer System) schemes (Ife, 2016) for example, should be core practice for all social workers.…”

The renaissance will not be televised

“…Resistance to the neoliberal metanarrative continues in many different forms (see for example, Carey & Foster, 2011;Greenslade, McAuliffe, & Chenoweth, 2015), however, there are reasons to doubt that achieving solidarity through conversion of the global profession of social work to the metanarrative of radical social work would even be sufficient to effect significant change in current dynamics. On this analysis it may, in fact, be the case that mainstream liberal social work has an important part to play in defending social work's very existence without which more radical debate is simply impossible.…”