VARI E TI ES OF SOCIAL UNIONISM: TOW A RDS A FRAMEWORK FOR COM P ARISON

Abstract

In academicandactivistdebatesaboutunion renewal, thereplacementofbusinessunionism withsocial unionismisseenas central to the labour movement’sshort-and long-term survival. Socialunionism, generally understood toinvolve bothengagementwith social justicestruggles beyond the workplaceand methodsof unionactivitybeyond the collective bargaining process,is claimedtoincreasethe labourmovement’sorganizing capacity, bargaining power, andsocialand political weight.However, despite its increased importance, socialunionism’svariousmeanings,strategies,and implicationsremain relativelyunexamined,and verydifferent approachesare often lumped together. Using concepts from socialmovement theory, thispaperproposesananalyticalframeworkfor systematically comparing differentconcretemanifestationsof socialunionism.In particular, socialunionistinitiatives varyaccordingto 1) the ethos orcollective action frameused to rationalize union activity; 2)therepertoireor strategic meansusedtoacton thatethos;and3) theinternal organizational practicesandpower relations whichshape who isinvolved indefiningandcarryingout