The polyphonic spree: the case of the Liverpool dockers.
Carter, Chris ; Clegg, Stewart ; Hogan, John ; Kornberger, Martin
2003
34
4
September
290-304
case study ; docker ; labour relations ; information technology ; Internet ; labour dispute ; trade union role
Labour relations
English
Bibliogr.
"This paper is concerned with the possibilities opened up for Trade Unions by the internet age. The paper analyses forms of resistance, their preconditions and organisational backgrounds. It is argued that polyphonic organisation and, closely linked, new organisational forms, provide a strong basis for power relations and strategies of resistance. The paper starts with a brief introduction to the dispute between the Dockers of Liverpool and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. Contextualising the evolving issue in the broader picture of trade union crisis and renewal, the case study is theorised using linguistically informed approaches to management and organisation theory. Introducing these theoretical developments, the potential of new organisational forms for power relations and resistance are elaborated."
Paper
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