networked bargaining paper - GP + focus groups

[thin-lizard]

• revised reverse outline: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PB4AUAmYUMyFt8P0R6PBLi_Z1bBcWBjzdbRMqho4UTY/edit

• current draft w rough cut of focus groups: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LmtjhuiX_Cbzv51PLLu3E67mF13r10eNaBlKqOsdVqY/edit#heading=h.o5a3x9jbatqi

[thin-lizard]

• ex of mixed-methods study (survey + interviews) from Labor Studies Journal: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0160449X18803694

• good ex. of background section: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0160449X18756739

• another LSJ paper: comparison of experiences of faculty at union and non-union workplaces https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0160449X221142618

  perceptions of support - clear communication, access to in-person services...; impact of representation...

[thin-lizard]

• balance bw 'results' and 'discussion' / structure of 'results' section (hypotheses)
• contributions of this paper vs the case data

[thin-lizard]

• Venue = Labor Studies Journal
• Contribution:
  • the role / effect of worker center in a distributed workplace
• there is renewed intrest in organizing the service secotr
  • there are real wins where this was once thought to be impossible - eg starbucks amazon
  • but there are many ICs in this sector - precarious working conditions w legal and structural barriers to collective action
  • organizing looks different
    • workers are self-organizing and trad. labor organizations are adapting to organize
• the worker center has a role to play here
  • places to physically gather, places to receive support wrt working conditions and social services
  • institutions that advocate for policy changes
• we have a tangible example of the worker center here (no need to conceptualize what this would look like)
  • we focus on drivers' self-reported experiences
  • focusing on this particular issue - deactivation
• @lindseysschwartz will revise outline

[thin-lizard]

Revised outline is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PB4AUAmYUMyFt8P0R6PBLi_Z1bBcWBjzdbRMqho4UTY/edit

@nniiicc - if you have time to read before we meet tomorrow. General points I'd like to talk through tomorrow are the clarity of the argument and what should be elaborated on or removed to keep it tidy. There is still some 'writing to think' in the outline.

I still feel our findings are about 'the role of the worker center in policy implementation' - I'm worried that might not be appealing to the Labor Studies Journal, but I do think there is lit. to back it up. We can discuss. TY!

[thin-lizard]

Worker center theory memo: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SqNXKFNBQPoQTF7sf4_70ohbJYYv40Y3swGSBcR_5sc/edit

@nniiicc I'm crossposting this message from Slack: the link above is my memo for the ‘gig worker center’ paper - the link to the previous outline is at the top of the doc. The worker center model itself needs refining - but what I aimed to do with this is apply labor theory to explain why the worker center model is effective in platform labor. Main Qs for feedback: Do these theories work? I picked two complementary theories - they both pull from the same base concepts of power resources. Knowing they’d both need elaborating, would it be better to focus on one? Depending when you have time, we can set a time to meet the week of Aug 14. I’ll be in on Monday if you want to check in then. Thank you!

[thin-lizard]

@nniiicc here is the link to the current 'reverse skeleton' for this paper: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nthLMcWnUxUqpRtBp4_p8kxDmNkgOa80TzIsecxjCps/edit

• Big context is unionization of the service sector
• We've incorporated 'networked bargaining' theory to explain why worker centers can be an effective avenue for collective representation in platform labor
• We're using the DRC as a case of the 'gig worker center', drawing on the survey and focus groups to describe drivers' experiences of representation in deactivation disputes & related implications

I'd like us to use this 'reverse skeleton' as a firm outline for the paper. Feedback on the structure & soundness of the argument (what needs more explanation, what can be shifted around, ...) would be most helpful. Please also feel free to comment around anything else you pick up on. Thank you!!

[thin-lizard]

@nniiicc I added the hypotheses and motivations to the paper "skeleton". When you have a min to look over, I'd like to quickly check in around two points:

• I'm slightly concerned about space -- between the theoretical background, hypotheses, and study setting, we have a lot to get through before we present our findings.
• We previously talked about using RQs (see comment on p. 3). I'm wondering if RQs would help streamline the foregrounding, and also account for what we're drawing from from the focus groups?

I'm happy to discuss the next time we meet, but I'll watch for any comments in the meantime. TY!

[thin-lizard]

@nniiicc Here is a tentative writing schedule for the paper. I set weekly deadlines so we can decide on the order for writing each section. We can adjust depending on how youd like to plan co-writing. Feel free to leave comments or message me with feedback. Thanks!

[thin-lizard]

@lindseysschwartz -- NEW OUTLINE NEW GOALS

associational power focus groups compared to GP convening people associational thru the union and thoughts on unions / and efficacy of policy when we ask thoughts about unions their responses / differ immaturity of organizing in one sphere and a set of people starting to be organized - they have had some benefit - and have positive attitudes working WA also

• for CSCW journal