A strike in the time of Covid-19 pandemic
The 2020 health workers’ dispute in Hong Kong
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21349124 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Bill Taylor (0000-0001-9563-1646, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, corresponding author), Ming Yui Issac Chan (The London School of Economics and Political Science Department of International Development, UK) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 64 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 711-733 |
| Publication date | 2022-11-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Industrial Relations (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0022-1856 • E-ISSN: 1472-9296 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/00221856221114449 |
| PMID | 38603253 |
| OpenAlex | W4287092737 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 27 |
A short health workers’ strike held in early 2020 in Hong Kong at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrates the importance of democratic framing of social movement unionism. A trade union was established during a period of massive civil unrest against the local government in 2019 and then proceeded to organise a strike within 2 months of formation to pressure both their employer and the government to enhance citizen and health workers’ safety as the pandemic entered Hong Kong. The paper explains the organisation, progress and reaction to the strike by different stakeholders. The case exemplifies mobilisation through strong democratic trade unionism and provides an example of social movement framing that combined membership and societal interests. The strike represents the last instance of successful independent union mobilisation in Hong Kong as governance shifted from laisse-faire industrial relations that favoured the local capitalist elite to state authoritarianism focussed on obedience to the national political elite
Authoritarianism · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · Democracy · Economics · Elite · Framing (construction) · Geography · International trade · Pandemic · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Social movement · Sociology · State of emergency · Trade union · Unrest · Employment and Welfare Studies · Labor Movements and Unions · Law · Public Administration · Social Policy and Reform Studies
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| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,33 |
| Citation span | 2023 - 2025 (3) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 4 |