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Social media, the internet and the crisis of unionism

Author

Listed:
  • Nienhüser, Werner
  • Peetz, David
  • Murray, Georgina
  • Troup, Carolyn

Abstract

Public debates have been transformed by the internet and social media. This survey of employees in Germany and Australia asks: How are attitudes to unions shaped by use of traditional and social media and the internet? The results show that greater reliance on the internet and the use of social media tend to have a positive influence on trade union attitudes in both countries. It appears that even if social media spread anti-social conspiracy memes, they have little net effect in spreading anti-union ideology and may even be potentially useful for disseminating pro-union ideas.

Suggested Citation

  • Nienhüser, Werner & Peetz, David & Murray, Georgina & Troup, Carolyn, 2022. "Social media, the internet and the crisis of unionism," Working Paper Forschungsförderung 262, Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Düsseldorf.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:hbsfof:262
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    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/267849/1/p_fofoe_WP_262_2022.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    4. Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos & Julie Barnett, 2015. "Social Media in Union Communications: An International Study with UNI Global Union Affiliates," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 53(3), pages 508-532, September.
    5. Joern Pyhel, 2008. "Betriebliche Mitbestimmung und gewerkschaftliche Loyalitaetssicherung. Eine empirische Analyse des Einflusses des Betriebsrats und anderer Faktoren auf die Mitgliederbindung der IG Metall," Industrielle Beziehungen - Zeitschrift fuer Arbeit, Organisation und Management - The German Journal of Industrial Relations, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 15(1), pages 32-52.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    social media; trade unions; attitudes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects

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    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

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