The Role of Social Networks in Trade Union Recruitment: The Case Study of a Radical Union in Spain

Authors

  • Beltran Roca Universidad de Cadiz

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15173/glj.v7i1.2354

Abstract

In a general context of union decline, radical trade unions are experiencing a moderate growth in contemporary Spain. This article examines the channels through which workers join radical unions. It applies social network analysis to the study of recruitment in 2012 by the local branch of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) in El Puerto de Santa María, Spain. It concludes that pre-existing social networks (co-workers, family and friends) are essential in trade union recruitment. Due to the rapid growth of the local branch and to the characteristics of this union, the findings of this case study can shed light on the general debate on union membership.

Author Biography

Beltran Roca, Universidad de Cadiz

Beltrán Roca is lecturer in Sociology at the Universidad de Cádiz in Spain. He is member of the research group GEISA and Flacso-España, and has been visiting researcher at CONICET (Argentina), Yale (USA), LSE (UK) and Aix-Marseille Université (France). His research interests are: trade unionism, migrations, third sector and collective action. His last book is Contrapoder sindical (Trade Union Counterpower) ((FAL, 2013). He has published in journals such as Anthropological Quarterly, Labour History, Voluntas or Non-profit Management & Leadership.

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Published

2016-01-31

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1: January 2016

Section

ARTICLES

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