G5 Doctoral dissertation (article)
Fighting marginalization with innovation : turn to transnational organizing by private sector trade unions in post-2008 Estonia (2020)

Kall, K. (2020). Fighting marginalization with innovation : turn to transnational organizing by private sector trade unions in post-2008 Estonia [Doctoral dissertation]. Tallinn University. Tallinna Ülikool. Sotsiaalteaduste dissertatsioonid = Tallinn University. Dissertations on social sciences, 135. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-9949-29-512-8

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kall, Kairit

eISBN: 978-9949-29-512-8

Journal or series: Tallinna Ülikool. Sotsiaalteaduste dissertatsioonid = Tallinn University. Dissertations on social sciences

eISSN: 1736-793X

Publication year: 2020

Number in series: 135

Number of pages in the book: 1 verkkoaineisto (202 sivua)

Publisher: Tallinn University

Place of Publication: Tallinn

Publication country: Estonia

Publication language: English

Persistent website address: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-9949-29-512-8

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Additional information: This dissertation was accepted for the defence of the degree of Doctor Philosophiae in Social Sciences by the Doctoral Studies Council of Social Sciences of Tallinn University on March 17th, 2020 and by the Dean of the University of Jyväskylä on June 17th, 2020.

Abstract

This thesis focuses on dismantling how servicing- and partnership-oriented Nordic and Baltic unions have initiated and sustained a radically innovative, project based, yet long-lasting transnational union organizing initiative, namely Baltic Organising Academy (BOA). It is an article-based dissertation and this analytical overview integrates the results of two relevant articles and three book chapters into a whole, developes a model of radically innovative union action and answers the following research questions: 1. What were the reasons and processes behind the initiation of the Baltic Organising Academy and its organizing campaigns? 2. What are the processes through which the BOA and its organizing campaigns have been sustained? 3. What have been the constraints for implementing organizing model union campaigns in Estonia? What effects the BOA and its organizing campaigns had on the Estonian union movement and on companies and sectors affected by the BOA? The analysis is based on a critical realist case study design, studying the Estonian BOA thoroughly by using different qualitative research techniques. I argue that BOA was initiated not because of a mere reaction to specific changes in the environment, but because of the deliberate efforts of the BOA activists who utilized available power resources and convincingly framed the Organising Academy as an innovative way to cure a problem that both Baltic and Nordic unions are facing. BOA activists also played a crucial role in keeping the Academy resilient. BOA and its organizing campaigns have not generated a smooth process of radical union innovation. From a critical realist stance, transforming the pre-existing social reality is a constrained process. In post-2008 Estonia, the constraints on practicing organizing model unionism firstly derive from the external environment. As regards barriers inherent in the union movement, the organizing approach assumes a considerable change in the ways that unions operate and int e role of union officials. Through BOA unions have been able to propagate considerable changes and increase and reuse their network embeddedness and gain more infrastructural and narrative resources. Most importantly, due to the BOA, Estonian unions have diversified their strategies, tactics and identity orientations. Nevertheless, BOA's organizing has several shortcomings, including being project-based, company-oriented and small-scale, that might hamper its wider and more long-term effects.

Keywords: trade union movement; international trade union movement; organisation into trade unions; organisational activities; development (active)

Free keywords: Estonia; transnational unionism; union innovation; union organizing; Baltic Organizing Academy (BOA)

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020