Worker resistance and response to the crisis of neo‐liberal capitalism
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01425451111174148 |
| Pages | 588-591 |
| Published date | 04 October 2011 |
| Date | 04 October 2011 |
| Author | Gregor Gall |
| Subject Matter | HR & organizational behaviour |
GUEST EDITORIAL
Worker resistance and response
to the crisis of neo-liberal
capitalism
Gregor Gall
University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to introduce the special issue on “Collective worker
responses to redundancy and restructuring”.
Design/methodology/approach – The editorial provides an overview and introduces the papers
which make up the special issue.
Findings – The six papers facilitate a deeper understanding of the issues and dynamics involved in
worker resistance and response to the crisis of neo-liberal capitalism.
Originality/value – The paper highlights how the papers in the special issue add new insights into
the topics at hand.
Keywords Union, Workplaceconflict, Restructuring, WesternEurope, Employee attitudes,
Economic models
Paper type General review
Introduction
Since late 2007, capitalism in the global north has undergone its most profound crisis in
a generation. This has taken the form of a sustained economic, ideological and political
crisis for an advanced form of neo-liberalism. The financial crisis became an economic
crisis precipitating an age of austerity, sending shockwaves through not just the
financial services sector, but also through manufacturing, construction, retail and now
the public services and state sectors. The crisis of – and for – capitalism is also
equally a crisis of – and for – organised labour, rather than an opportunity, if
organised labour is unable to effectively reject and resist capital’s terms for resolving
this crisis. When some critics initially thought they were living through the end of “the
end of history”, to use Francis Fukuyama’s well-known phrase, they were rudely jolted
and, thus, informed shortly afterwards by the reality that there was to be no revenge of
history for capitalism would not implode solely under the weight of its own
contradictions. So thus far, even sympathetic and engaged observers would have to
conclude that the ability of organised labour to offer widespread, let alone effective,
resistance has been shown to be left badly wanting. For example, in Eire pay cuts and
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0142-5455.htm
In the preparation of this special issue, the author would like to record his thanks to the referees
for the papers, of which there were two for each: Heather Connolly, Andy Danford,
Ralph Darlington, Ian Fitzgerald, Kerstin Hamann, John Kelly, Jo McBride, Mike Rigby,
Alan Tuckman, Martin Upchurch, Jeremy Waddington and Jim Wolfreys.
ER
33,6
588
Employee Relations
Vol. 33 No. 6, 2011
pp. 588-591
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0142-5455
DOI 10.1108/01425451111174148
To continue reading
Request your trial