International Journal of Labour Research

Digital activism as a pathway to trade union revitalization

Technological change is of critical importance for the future of unions. On the one hand, the rapid rise of the platform economy and the decentring of industrial work pose an enormous threat to their very existence. On the other hand, digital tools offer a plethora of opportunities for union engagement with existing members, but also with workers in traditional and emerging sectors with low rates of unionization. This paper examines the experiences of 11 peak union bodies across six countries in the Asia-Pacific region.