The Gig Economy and Urban Logistics

Harvey, Geraint; Prakasam, Naveena; Shakirzhanov, Refat

doi:10.4324/9781003241478-33

Cited by 1 publication

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“…The distinctiveness of SEPT exploitation can be illustrated by contrast with other atypical and similar service occupations. It is not our intention nor is it possible in this article to compare the SEPT to all service industry occupational groups that share characteristics of neo-villeiny such as logistics drivers (Harvey et al, 2023) or digital platform workers (Wood et al, 2019). We have focused on only two occupations here for the purposes of illustration.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resistance exercise: competition, coopetition and collective action among self-employed personal trainers in the UK

Harvey,

Li,

Wintersberger

2023

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Purpose The article explores the potential for self-employed personal trainers (SEPTs) to resist exploitation by gyms, with a focus on the attitudes of SEPTs towards trade unions and collective action.Design/methodology/approachThis article is based on a multiple-method study with qualitative data drawn from participant observation and interviews and quantitative data from a questionnaire survey. The data were collected in 2018.FindingsThe potential for individual resistance to exploitation among SEPTs is limited. However, attitudes towards a collective response were largely positive, albeit there is certainly no consensus agreement on the value of trade unions. The logic of coopetition is applied to explain the issues on which trade unions might organize SEPTs.Research limitations/implicationsThe study suggests coopetition as an organizing logic for highly individualized self-employed workers in intense proximal competition with one another. However, the research presented in this article was undertaken with a unique group of solo self-employed workers. Further study is required to demonstrate the applicability of these findings.Practical implicationsThe commercialization of work poses a threat to traditional employment and trade unions. It is crucial that trade unions represent the interests of all workers by focusing on workers who do not traditionally form the vanguard of its membership (e.g. dependent workers and the falsely self-employed). The study illustrates the way in which trade unions can organize micro-entrepreneurs.Social implicationsCoopetitive representation whereby micro-entrepreneurs collaborate to resist exploitation while remaining independent has the potential to change the perspectives and values of entrepreneurs.Originality/valueThe article assesses the potential of organizing a highly individualized and competitive self-employed worker. Coopetitive representation is presented as distinct from other approaches to representation and as a means of trade union revitalization.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%