Reflecting on Social Movement Unionism in Hong Kong
The Case of the Dockworkers' Strike in 2013
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4975920 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Chris King-Chi Chan (0000-0002-7739-2116, City University of Hong Kong, corresponding author), Sophia Shuk-Ying Chan (Princeton University), Lynn Tang (0000-0003-2213-7537, Tung Wah College) |
| Year | 2019 |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 54-77 |
| Publication date | 2019-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Contemporary Asia (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0047-2336 • E-ISSN: 1752-7554 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/00472336.2018.1448429 |
| OpenAlex | W2795273071 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 30 |
By analysing the 2013 Hong Kong dockworkers’ strike, this article explores how workers, precariously situated in the world’s freest economy, fight for decent wages with the support of civil society. It is argued that the trade union movement in Hong Kong, a Special Administration Region of the People’s Republic of China, is a typical example of social movement unionism. It suggests that the rise of social movement unionism in Hong Kong was a practical strategy of social activists to support labour rights under the specific context of vulnerable structural power, weak institutional power, failed political unionism and a vibrant civil society. Social movement unionism has a “double-edged sword” effect on workers’ power: on the one hand, it has the potential to create societal power and strengthen associational power; on the other hand, it may compromise workers’ militancy and the possibility of stronger workplace bargaining power during workers’ struggle
China · Civil society · Collective bargaining · Compromise · Context (archaeology · Economics · Labour economics · Movement (music · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Social movement · Sociology · SWORD · Trade union · History · Labor Movements and Unions · Law · Political and Economic history of UK and US · Social Policy and Reform Studies
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| Unique citing works | 5 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2021 - 2025 (5) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 5 |