Dynamics of contention in the gig economy: Rage against the platform, customer or state?

Alex J. Wood*, Nicholas Martindale, Vili Lehdonvirta

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalSpecial issue (Academic Journal)peer-review

38 Citations (Scopus)
187 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Protest in the gig economy has taken many forms and targets (platforms, customers, and state officials). However, researchers are yet to adequately account for this diversity. We use a European survey of Upwork and PeoplePerHour platform workers in the remote gig economy to investigate worker orientation towards different forms of protest. Results reveal that worker anger, dependence, and digital communication shape contention in the remote gig economy. Support for collective organisation is associated not only with anger at platforms but also workers’ dependence on the platform and communication with other workers. Whereas individual action against clients is associated only with anger and communication but not communication and support for state regulation is associated only with anger but not dependence or communication. We conclude that despite the novelty of these emergent social relations, the relational approach entailed by Mobilisation Theory can aid explanation of contention in the gig economy by shedding light on the dynamic process by which solidarity and dependence alter the perceived costs and benefits of particular remedies to injustice.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)330-350
Number of pages11
JournalNew Technology, Work and Employment
Volume38
Issue number2
Early online date27 Sept 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Brian Towers (BRITOW) and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

  • Gig economy
  • online freelancing
  • platform work
  • protest
  • mobilisation
  • resistance
  • state regulation

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