Coalitional power in digital capitalism: Alliances of gig and tech workers

Abstract

In response to new labor and management regimes fostered by tech firms, a variety of collective action phenomena by workers have emerged in the recent decade. Strikes, protests and blockades have been launched by platform ‘gig workers’ in delivery, ride-hailing and other industries around the world. More recently, salaried tech work professionals in several countries have launched unionizing campaigns and walkouts to protest labour conditions and ethical standards in the industry.

While the struggles of gig workers and tech workers mostly evolve separately, dynamics of common coordination and coalition-building have been visible. Despite their usually contrasting class positions, both spontaneous and strategic alliances between platform gig workers and tech work professionals have taken place on several occasions. To gain more systemic knowledge on this, my paper investigates a recent case of such coalition-building. Based on fieldwork in Berlin, I argue that coalitions between different segments of the working class can serve as a power resource for workers to challenge the fragmenting character of labor relations in digital capitalism.

My case focuses on a delivery tech firm that has encountered resistance and protest within their gig workforce due to precarious working conditions, safety issues and firings. During these efforts, workers have cooperated with a group of organized tech workers. They have engaged in knowledge sharing, coordinated street protests and legal support. In my analysis, I argue that both groups were able to draw on common conflict lines against the company on basis of their experiences as migrant workers and migrant organizers, as well as through their shared experience of strategically using German workplace representation laws in their interests.

The empirical foundation of my argument stems from ethnographic research during and after the described protests, organizing events, court cases as well as from qualitative interviews with activists from both groups. Theoretically, I draw on the Power Resource Approach (PRA) developed in the research around trade union revitalization. The concept of coalitional power, a part of the PRA, points to the potential of worker groups to forge coalitions with other groups to challenge capital. The aim of my analysis is to develop a more systematic approach of coalitional power.

My paper starts with an overview of digital capitalism as a fragmenting terrain for workers. In a second part, I describe the efforts of gig worker groups and tech worker movements to challenge capital. Third, the case of the coalition between gig workers and tech workers in Berlin is described. Here, the role of the urban space for such alliances is highlighted. In a fourth part, the case is analyzed according to the PRA with a special emphasis on coalitional power. Finally, implications of this case for labour in the tech sector are discussed.