Local Dynamics as a Resource for Labour Protests: The Case of Wildcat Strikes in the Metal Industry in Turkey, 2012-2016

This article analyses the role of local dynamics on trade unions’ mobilisation capacity at the national level, with a focus on the wildcat strikes in the metal sector in Bursa, a city in north-west Turkey, from 2012 to 2016. It studies to what extent local dynamics such as alliances with local branc...

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Main Author: Isil Erdinc
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: McMaster University Library Press 2020-09-01
Series:Global Labour Journal
Online Access:https://mulpress.mcmaster.ca/globallabour/article/view/3962
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author Isil Erdinc
author_facet Isil Erdinc
author_sort Isil Erdinc
collection DOAJ
description This article analyses the role of local dynamics on trade unions’ mobilisation capacity at the national level, with a focus on the wildcat strikes in the metal sector in Bursa, a city in north-west Turkey, from 2012 to 2016. It studies to what extent local dynamics such as alliances with local branches of political parties, workplace demonstrations, and local electoral and union organising campaigns contributed to protests against national government policies. The research and analysis are based on both qualitative data collected during fieldwork and on quantitative data from a variety of Turkish and international sources. Through an analysis of the wildcat strikes, the article contributes to the literature on labour movements and strikes in authoritarian contexts. Differently from the majority of the existing literature on this issue, it focuses on the workplace level rather than analysing the relations between government officials and the trade union confederations at the national level. By doing this, it shows that, despite the oppressive context at the national level, trade unions may regain power at the sectoral level. KEYWORDS: trade unions; metal industry; Turkey; authoritarian regime; social movements
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spelling doaj.art-865400144d17443188b408555679bebf2022-12-21T17:22:53ZengMcMaster University Library PressGlobal Labour Journal1918-67112020-09-0111310.15173/glj.v11i3.3962Local Dynamics as a Resource for Labour Protests: The Case of Wildcat Strikes in the Metal Industry in Turkey, 2012-2016Isil Erdinc0Université Paris 1 Panthéon-SorbonneThis article analyses the role of local dynamics on trade unions’ mobilisation capacity at the national level, with a focus on the wildcat strikes in the metal sector in Bursa, a city in north-west Turkey, from 2012 to 2016. It studies to what extent local dynamics such as alliances with local branches of political parties, workplace demonstrations, and local electoral and union organising campaigns contributed to protests against national government policies. The research and analysis are based on both qualitative data collected during fieldwork and on quantitative data from a variety of Turkish and international sources. Through an analysis of the wildcat strikes, the article contributes to the literature on labour movements and strikes in authoritarian contexts. Differently from the majority of the existing literature on this issue, it focuses on the workplace level rather than analysing the relations between government officials and the trade union confederations at the national level. By doing this, it shows that, despite the oppressive context at the national level, trade unions may regain power at the sectoral level. KEYWORDS: trade unions; metal industry; Turkey; authoritarian regime; social movementshttps://mulpress.mcmaster.ca/globallabour/article/view/3962
spellingShingle Isil Erdinc
Local Dynamics as a Resource for Labour Protests: The Case of Wildcat Strikes in the Metal Industry in Turkey, 2012-2016
Global Labour Journal
title Local Dynamics as a Resource for Labour Protests: The Case of Wildcat Strikes in the Metal Industry in Turkey, 2012-2016
title_full Local Dynamics as a Resource for Labour Protests: The Case of Wildcat Strikes in the Metal Industry in Turkey, 2012-2016
title_fullStr Local Dynamics as a Resource for Labour Protests: The Case of Wildcat Strikes in the Metal Industry in Turkey, 2012-2016
title_full_unstemmed Local Dynamics as a Resource for Labour Protests: The Case of Wildcat Strikes in the Metal Industry in Turkey, 2012-2016
title_short Local Dynamics as a Resource for Labour Protests: The Case of Wildcat Strikes in the Metal Industry in Turkey, 2012-2016
title_sort local dynamics as a resource for labour protests the case of wildcat strikes in the metal industry in turkey 2012 2016
url https://mulpress.mcmaster.ca/globallabour/article/view/3962
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