Digital communication as a global challenge for trade unions: Lessons from Brazil and Portugal

Abstract As a cross-cutting issue encompassing all of society, the evolution of digital technologies is particularly challenging to traditional labour actors that are accustomed to physical work and face-to-face contact. This article discusses the distinctive possibilities of social media use as a f...

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Main Authors: Hermes Augusto Costa, Bia Carneiro
Format: Article
Language:Portuguese
Published: Universidade de Sâo Paulo 2021-09-01
Series:Tempo Social
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-20702021000200183&tlng=en
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author Hermes Augusto Costa
Bia Carneiro
author_facet Hermes Augusto Costa
Bia Carneiro
author_sort Hermes Augusto Costa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract As a cross-cutting issue encompassing all of society, the evolution of digital technologies is particularly challenging to traditional labour actors that are accustomed to physical work and face-to-face contact. This article discusses the distinctive possibilities of social media use as a forward-thinking global strategy for organised labour. After an initial clarification of useful concepts to consider in the digital age, we focus on the social media presence of trade unions, identifying the pros and cons associated with platform-based communication. Finally, the article debates the implications of social media platforms as tools to strengthen networks with nonunion actors and contribute to the amplification of the labour agenda. Through a comparative analysis of four trade union confederations, two from Brazil and two from Portugal, we argue that, despite the possibilities for outreach and interaction enabled by the new communication and information technologies, trade union confederations maintain constricted networks and an outdated top-down communications model.
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spelling doaj.art-77e6daadd54e4168898cc2c945b0e9eb2022-12-21T19:43:33ZporUniversidade de Sâo PauloTempo Social1809-45542021-09-0133218320810.11606/0103-2070.ts.2021.182000Digital communication as a global challenge for trade unions: Lessons from Brazil and PortugalHermes Augusto Costahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7873-4440Bia Carneirohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7957-8694Abstract As a cross-cutting issue encompassing all of society, the evolution of digital technologies is particularly challenging to traditional labour actors that are accustomed to physical work and face-to-face contact. This article discusses the distinctive possibilities of social media use as a forward-thinking global strategy for organised labour. After an initial clarification of useful concepts to consider in the digital age, we focus on the social media presence of trade unions, identifying the pros and cons associated with platform-based communication. Finally, the article debates the implications of social media platforms as tools to strengthen networks with nonunion actors and contribute to the amplification of the labour agenda. Through a comparative analysis of four trade union confederations, two from Brazil and two from Portugal, we argue that, despite the possibilities for outreach and interaction enabled by the new communication and information technologies, trade union confederations maintain constricted networks and an outdated top-down communications model.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-20702021000200183&tlng=enDigital communicationTrade unionismFacebookBrazilPortugal
spellingShingle Hermes Augusto Costa
Bia Carneiro
Digital communication as a global challenge for trade unions: Lessons from Brazil and Portugal
Tempo Social
Digital communication
Trade unionism
Facebook
Brazil
Portugal
title Digital communication as a global challenge for trade unions: Lessons from Brazil and Portugal
title_full Digital communication as a global challenge for trade unions: Lessons from Brazil and Portugal
title_fullStr Digital communication as a global challenge for trade unions: Lessons from Brazil and Portugal
title_full_unstemmed Digital communication as a global challenge for trade unions: Lessons from Brazil and Portugal
title_short Digital communication as a global challenge for trade unions: Lessons from Brazil and Portugal
title_sort digital communication as a global challenge for trade unions lessons from brazil and portugal
topic Digital communication
Trade unionism
Facebook
Brazil
Portugal
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-20702021000200183&tlng=en
work_keys_str_mv AT hermesaugustocosta digitalcommunicationasaglobalchallengefortradeunionslessonsfrombrazilandportugal
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