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Mobilising societal power: Understanding public support for nursing strikes

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  • Mary Naughton

Abstract

Framing is regarded as the primary mechanism through which unions generate societal power. This article examines the relationship between societal power and framing in a significant case study—a nursing strike that successfully challenged austerity wages in Ireland. Through analysis of messages of support for the strike in newspapers and on Twitter, the sources of societal power in the conflict are identified. The findings indicate that the framing strategies unions adopt and public acceptance of these strategies depend on historical and sectoral factors. In the instant case, nurses benefitted from increased societal support for the broader labour movement and recent waves of protest.

Suggested Citation

  • Mary Naughton, 2022. "Mobilising societal power: Understanding public support for nursing strikes," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(2), pages 93-109, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:indrel:v:53:y:2022:i:2:p:93-109
    DOI: 10.1111/irj.12356
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bradon Ellem & Caleb Goods & Patricia Todd, 2020. "Rethinking Power, Strategy and Renewal: Members and Unions in Crisis," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 58(2), pages 424-446, June.
    2. Christian Lévesque & Gregor Murray, 2013. "Renewing Union Narrative Resources: How Union Capabilities Make a Difference," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 51(4), pages 777-796, December.
    3. Nicolo Rosetti, 2019. "Do European trade unions foster social solidarity? Evidence from multilevel data in 18 countries," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 84-101, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. John Kallas, 2026. "Deepening Our Understanding of Labor Action: Examining How Workers Organize Different Types of Strikes in the United States," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 65(1), pages 64-79, January.
    2. John Kallas, 2025. "What If You Mobilize Effectively and Still Do Not Win? Reclaiming a Relational Understanding of Strike Outcomes and Employer Power Resources," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 63(2), pages 233-246, June.

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