DIGITAL LABOUR PLATFORMS AND TRADE UNIONS IN GERMANY AND POR-TUGAL

Abstract

Digital labour platforms have emerged in the last decade and have raised much concern about the precariousness of working conditions that can accompany them. This phenomenon has challenged mainstream trade unions in Germany and Portugal. The aim of this research was to compare trade union initiatives to mobilise power of influence, particularly cooperation with other social actors and discourse with society at large, to improve the working conditions of cloud- and gigworkers. Using semi-structured interviews, document analysis and direct observation as sources of evidence, a case study was conducted focusing on IG Metall and STRUP. The research findings suggest that there are weaknesses and strengths in both initiatives analysed: at IG Metall, on the one hand, absence of street demonstrations and cooperation with trade unions in the Global South; on the other hand, FairCrowdWork, Frankfurt declaration, FairTube, scientific cooperation. At STRUP, on the one hand, no transnational trade union cooperation initiatives, embryonic digitalisation; on the other hand, TVDE book of demands, street demonstrations, collaboration with scientists. It concludes that an interconnection between “analogue” and “digital” trade union power resources, as well as between the Global North and South, is needed to address the challenges of the platform economy.