Take-off, turbulence and turnaround

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to explore the evolving nature of the work of cabin crew in a Scandinavian carrier in three eras, drawing on theories of gender and emotional labour.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on ethnographic data from fieldwork, interviews and documents.FindingsFrom being a feminized and temporary occupation for young, upper- and middle-class women in the 1970s, the occupation became a full-time job and with greater diversity of cabin crew. Today there are signs of the job becoming a precarious and temporary one of demanding and devalorized work in a polarized and class-divided labour market. Changing circumstances impact on the emotional labour requirement and terms and conditions at work.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation is that the research design was not initially longitudinal in the sense that the author does not have exactly the same kind of data from each era. The author has, however, been involved in this field for two decades, used multiple methods and interacted with different stakeholders and drew on a unique data material.Practical implicationsThe development in aviation is contributing to new discriminatory practices, driving employee conditions downwards and changing the job demands. This development will have practical consequences for the lives and families of cabin crew.Social implicationsThe analysis illustrates how work ‘constructs' workers and contributes in creating jobs that are not sustainable for the employees. Intensification of work, insecurity and tougher working conditions also challenge key features in the Nordic model such as proper pay, decent work and a life-long employment. Much indicates that the profession is again becoming a temporary one of demanding work with poor working conditions in a polarized and class-divided labour market.Originality/valueThe research contributes to the literature on emotional labour, gender and the evolving nature of the work of cabin crew. The unique data material, the longitudinal aspect of the research and the focus on a single network carrier are good in charting changes over time.

Entgrenzte Flexibilität im Homeoffice

Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht die Situation von Beschäftigten und Mitbestimmungsgremien im Homeoffice jenseits und in der Corona-Krise. Adressiert wird die Frage, inwiefern das Ausweichen ins Homeoffice als gesteigerte Qualität einer ohnehin flexibilisierten betrieblichen Arbeit zu deuten ist und welche Folgen damit einhergehen. Die Analyse basiert auf 47 Interviews, die seit Januar 2020 im Rahmen von zehn Betriebsfallstudien in den Bereichen Chemie/Pharmazeutik, Metall/Elektro, Nahrungsmittelindustrie und Dienstleistungen erhoben wurden. Die empirischen Befunde verweisen dabei insbesondere auf Herausforderungen in drei Bereichen: alltägliche Arbeitspraxis und Kollegialität, Geschlechterarrangements und Arbeit der betrieblichen Interessenvertretung. Zunächst skizziert der Beitrag die bisherige betriebliche Regelungspraxis orts- und zeitflexibler Arbeit;im Weiteren werden die empirischen Erkenntnisse zu den drei genannten Themenbereichen vorgestellt. Abschließend diskutiert der Beitrag die neue Qualität des Arbeitens als „entgrenzte Flexibilität".Alternate :This paper examines the situation of employees and works councils while working from home beyond and in the Corona crisis. It addresses the question of the extent to which the switch to working from home can be interpreted as an extension of the specific character of flexibilized work, and what the consequences are. The analysis is based on 47 interviews that have been conducted since January 2020 as part of ten company case studies in the chemical/pharmaceutical, metal/electrical, and food industries and in the services sector. The empirical findings point in particular to challenges in three areas: everyday working practice and collegiality;gender arrangements;and the practice of works councils. In the beginning, the article outlines the existing practice of regulating flexible work and working time;subsequently the empirical findings on the three topics mentioned are presented. Finally, the article discusses the new character of working as "de-bounded flexibility”.

State of care for EU mobile workers' rights in the Dutch meat sector in times of, and beyond, COVID-19

PurposeWith a focus on the position of EU mobile workers in the Dutch meat industry, this article discusses the multi-level State efforts to enhance protection of workers who experienced limited protection of existing State and private enforcement institutions. The COVID-19 pandemic, with virus outbreaks at Dutch meat plants, fuelled public and political will to structurally improve these workers' precarious work and living conditions. Yet, the process of policy change is slow. The authors show it is the gradual transformation in the institutional environment that the State needs to counter to become more protective for EU mobile workers.Design/methodology/approachUsing the gradual institutional change approach and the concept of State ignorance, the authors examine State responses drawing on interviews with expert stakeholders in the public and private domain, public administration records and newspaper articles.FindingsThrough knowledge creation, boosted social dialogue mechanisms, enhanced enforcement capacity and new housing legislation, the Dutch State focuses on countering gradual institutional change through which existing institutions lost their effectiveness as protectors of EU mobile workers. The organization of work is, nevertheless, not (yet) fundamentally addressed with tighter public legislation.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the role of the State as multifaceted actor in institutional change processes towards increased protection for EU mobile workers.

Cooperating for a better future

Este documento aborda lo que considero los principales problemas del mundo, aunque reconozco que también hay otros problemas en la actualidad, como la inflación y la guerra en Ucrania. Intentaré abordar los principales problemas, que son de interés para el CIRIEC, que es una organización internacional que presta especial atención a lo que se denomina el Tercer Sector" o "Economía Social", un área que se sitúa entre el sector empresarial privado y el gobierno a pesar de que no soy, debo admitirlo, un experto en este último campo. Lo trataré en el contexto de la discusión de un par de problemas a los que nos enfrentamos en el mundo y que me parecen realmente importantes. El primer problema es la desigualdad económica, de la que sé algo. El segundo problema es el cambio climático y los problemas medioambientales, que creo que son los más importantes. También me referiré al final a algunos problemas relacionados con la pandemia del COVID. En todos los problemas, lo que podríamos llamar el Tercer Sector puede desempeñar un gran papel.Alternate :This paper addresses what I consider to be the world's main problems, although I recognise that there are also other problems at present, such as inflation and the war in Ukraine. I will try to address the main problems, which are of interest to CIRIEC, which is an international organisation that pays particular attention to what is called the Third Sector" or "Social Economy", an area that lies between the private business sector and the government despite I am not, I must admit, an expert in this last field. I will deal with it in the context of discussing a couple of problems we face in the world that I think are really important. The first problem is economic inequality, which I know something about. The second problem is climate change and environmental problems, which I think are the most important. I will also refer at the end to some problems related to the COVID pandemic. In all the problems, what we could call the Third Sector can play a big role.

Sozialpartnerschaft unter Spannung

Dieser Beitrag untersucht anhand von Pressemitteilungen, Gastbeiträgen der Vorsitzenden und Presseinterviews, wie die Tarifparteien der deutschen Metall- und Elektroindustrie, Gesamtmetall und IG Metall, die Corona-Krise in der Öffentlichkeit darstellten. Die mit dieser Untersuchung eingenommene Framing-Perspektive verspricht Aufschluss darüber, wie die Tarifparteien die Handlungsfähigkeit der Sozialpartnerschaft einschätzen und welche Prioritäten sie setzen. Die Sozialpartnerschaft steht auch in den Kernbereichen des deutschen Wirtschaftsmodells in zunehmendem Maße unter Druck. Das spiegelt sich auch in unserer Analyse wider. Während auf den ersten Blick in der Beschreibung der Krise und dem Ruf nach staatlichen Hilfen zur Unterstützung der Wirtschaft und Sicherung der Beschäftigten eine Interessenkoalition besteht, ist diese genauer betrachtet durch ein starkes Ungleichgewicht gekennzeichnet. Nicht nur handelt es sich um rein strategische Kooperation bei spezifischen Themen (Autoprämie, Kurzarbeitergeld). Die Arbeitgeberseite besteht außerdem auf Lohnzurückhaltung und lässt die gewerkschaftlichen Aufrufe zur weiter reichenden gemeinsamen Verantwortungsübernahme unbeantwortet. Insbesondere vor dem Hintergrund weiterer Auswirkungen der Pandemie auf den Arbeitsmarkt wird so die gewerkschaftliche Verhandlungsmacht geschwächt und die Sozialpartnerschaft gerät weiter unter Druck.Alternate :This paper examines how the collective bargaining parties of the German metal and electrotechnical industry, Gesamtmetall and IG Metall, portrayed the Corona crisis in the public sphere. The empirical basis consists of press releases, guest contributions by the chairpersons and press interviews. The framing perspective adopted by this study promises to shed light on how the collective bargaining parties assess the agency of social partnership and what priorities they set. Social partnership is generally coming under increasing pressure even in the core areas of the German economic model. This is also reflected in our analysis: While at first glance there is a coalition of interests in the description of the crisis and the call for state aid to support the economy and provide employement security, a closer look reveals a strong imbalance. Not only is this common interest restricted to purely strategic cooperation on specific issues. What is more, the employer side insists on wage restraint and leaves unanswered the trade unionsʼ calls for joint assumption of social responsibility. Particularly against the backdrop of further effects of the pandemic on the labor market, this weakens the unionsʼ bargaining power and puts further pressure on the institutional pattern of social partnership.

Interessenpolitik in der Corona-Krise

Der Beitrag beleuchtet die Rolle der Mitbestimmung in der Ausnahmesituation der Pandemie. Anhand von exemplarischen Befunden aus drei Handlungsfeldern – der Entwicklung und Umsetzung von Maßnahmen zum Infektionsschutz, der Stabilisierung der Beschäftigung sowie der Verlagerung von Arbeit ins Homeoffice – wird der Frage nachgegangen, ob die Beteiligung am betrieblichen Krisenmanagement zu einer Stärkung oder Schwächung der Interessenvertretung führt. Die Befunde zeigen eine aktive und häufig auch als erfolgreich wahrgenommene Betriebsratsarbeit, sie zeigen aber auch erhebliche Branchenunterschiede, fortgesetzte Spaltungstendenzen und erweiterte Beteiligungsoptionen, denen die Verankerung in der Mitbestimmung fehlt. Dies deutet auf Pfadabhängigkeiten einer Mitbestimmung im Krisenmodus hin.Alternate :This paper deals with the role of co-determination in the extraordinary situation of the pandemic. Presenting exemplary findings from three fields of action, i.e. development and implementation of measures for infection prevention, stabilization of employment, and relocation of work into the home office, the paper addresses the question whether participation in crisis management leads to a strengthening or weakening of the workersʼ interest representation. The empirical findings reveal an active role of the works councils which in most cases has been perceived as successful. On the other hand, there are also indications of significant differences according to branches, continued tendencies toward fragmentation, and extended participation options lacking anchoring in the codetermination norms and institutions. These results point to path dependencies of codetermination in the crisis mode.

Has the seasonal workers directive missed its target? Evidence from Italy during the pandemic

In 2014, the European Union adopted the Seasonal Workers Directive to achieve a twofold aim: meeting employers' demand for flexible and cheap labour and enhancing protection for third-country national (TCN) workers. Especially Article 23, the equal treatment provision, triggered a cautious optimism among scholars and trade unions, which looked at the Directive as a source of increased protection for seasonal workers. However, trade unions also pointed out the limited reach of the Directive, criticising its lack of commitment and ambition. Over the years, and especially during the Covid pandemic, it became clear that the Seasonal Workers Directive did not represent a game-changer for TCN seasonal workers, whose increased protections remained true only on paper. This contribution draws on the case of Italy during the pandemic to understand the reasons for the Directive's limited impact. The article critically examines the different political tensions underpinning the adoption of the Directive, to better understand why the Directive is not applied in practice and how it impacts the labour market and migrants' social conditions.

Danger, keep out! Trade union rights of entry during the COVID-19 pandemic

The closures and restrictions imposed at workplaces around Australia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have raised unprecedented issues for trade unions seeking to exercise rights of entry in accordance with Part 3–4 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). Section 491 requires that union officials seeking to exercise a statutory right of entry comply with any ‘reasonable request' by an occupier about an occupational health and safety (OHS) requirement that applies to the premises. This had led to disputes about the appropriateness of requirements imposed by employers to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection and transmission. This paper will discuss three recent Fair Work Commission (FWC) decisions which consider the reasonableness of requests limiting entry to premises in this context. Although the cases had different outcomes, the FWC's findings demonstrate how an employer's OHS obligations relating to COVID-19 will be weighed against the objects of Part 3–4. Overall the FWC has taken a practical and nuanced approach to such disputes, and expected some cooperation between employers and unions. The limited scope of these decisions does, however, leave some questions relating to rights of entry during the pandemic unanswered.

Making the ethical case for effective domestic abuse policy and practice: the role of trade unions

PurposeThis paper focusses on the role of trade unions in policy and practice designed to address the workplace impact of domestic abuse. The paper aims to examine this union remit through the lens of corporate social responsibility (CSR).Design/methodology/approachIn-depth interviews were conducted with 39 union representatives in a region of England to capture their views on and experiences of supporting members experiencing domestic abuse.FindingsThere is a clear ethical model by which the unions might articulate the key moral, legal and business drivers in determining effective domestic abuse policy and practice. Furthermore, the degree of "proximity”, in terms of union deliberation with employers and particularly joint action following disclosure, suggests that unions could play a key part in achieving "substantive” domestic abuse policy and practice within organisations.Originality/valueDespite unions' capacity to offer significant support to employers and employees, the role of unions in addressing the workplace impact of domestic abuse is under-researched. With reference to the concept of CSR, the article adds to the knowledge of how to address the workplace impact of domestic abuse.

Public Health in Asia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Global Health, Migrant Labour, and International Health Crises

Tayeb reviews Public Health in Asia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Global Health, Migrant Labour, and International Health Crises edited by Anoma P. van der Veere, Florian Schneider and Catherine Yukping Lo.

Guest editorial: Corporate social responsibility and COVID-19 global crisis: managerial and financial perspectives in developed and emerging countries

[...]management behavior plays a crucial role in developing CSR strategies. [...]with the development of new theoretical constructs and new models, it is necessary to better understand the dynamics and critical factors of the relationship between CSR and company performance as well as the context in which they operate (Lin et al., 2019;Surroca et al., 2010). In developed countries, CSR has become an important element for firms, as CSR strategies enhance their competitiveness and corporate reputation (e.g. Becker-Olsen et al., 2006;Aguilera et al., 2007). [...]of particular interest – in terms of context influences – are also countries considered as fastest-developing, such as BRICS, CIVETS, Next Eleven, and MINT, in which different cultural and social aspects can influence CSR strategies in different ways compared to developed countries (e.g. Aguinis and Glavas, 2019;Sardana et al., 2020). [...]this special issue aimed to attract rigorous research studies from scholars all over the world, contributing to enrich theoretical and practical knowledge about CSR, helping scholars – as well as executives of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), emerging market SMEs, multinationals enterprise (MNEs) and emerging market MNEs (EM-MNEs) – to navigate through, overcome and learn from the COVID-19 global crisis.

Arbitrating "Just Cause" for Employee Discipline and Discharge in the Era of Covid-19

Raphael reassesses the limits of "just cause" during a current global health crisis that has the potential to fundamentally alter labor relations and the role of the modern labor arbitrator. The ethical consequences of this expanding role are then considered. She breaks down traditional theories for articulating "just cause" in light of changing historical conceptions of the limits of arbitral discretion. She concludes with how the current public health and labor crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic has the potential to expand the public role of the labor arbitrator in "just cause" discharge and discipline grievances. While additional arbitration issues are likely to arise in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, they are beyond the scope of this work.

NEW TRADE AND ECONOMIC REGIONALISM: A SPACE OF OPPORTUNITIES IN GREATER EURASIA

The article is devoted to the issues of trade and economic integration in the Greater Eurasia region. The trends of regionalization in the Asia-Pacific region based on multilateral trade deals are studied. The analysis of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the prerequisites for its conclusion, and the effects of implementation has been carried out. These issues were considered in conjunction with the implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, including considering the current prerequisites for its expansion. The authors investigate the issues of conjugation of the EAEU and integration processes in the Asia-Pacific region within the framework of the idea of the Greater Eurasian Partnership. Specific proposals for the organization of work, based on the mechanisms for implementing the EAEU’s international legal personality, have been formulated. An overview of the possible results of the conclusion of the Agreement in Greater Eurasia in the economic and geopolitical context is presented.

Organizing Workers in the Informal Economy in Selected African and Latin American Countries: The Potential of Trade Union and Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) partnerships

The article gives an account of the result of the research developed in response to the call made by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Open Society Foundations (OSF) in 2021 to carry out a project that would identify the potential of the link between unions and cooperatives to organize workers in the informal economy in African and Latin American countries. Researchers from ODI, London, with the collaboration of researchers and practitioners from Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, identified and documented partnership examples through which to shed light development processes, identify learning on successes and challenges, and inform recommendations for future support. A country case study of Colombia is provided to illustrate the variety, complexity and possibilities of the topic studied. Three nascent partnership experiences, linked in different ways to the social and solidarity economy, demonstrate the potential of this approach to promote fair trade, responsible consumption and local markets, boost entrepreneurship and create decent working conditions for workers who traditionally face informality.Alternate :El artículo da cuenta del resultado de la investigación desarrollada en respuesta a la convocatoria realizada por la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT) y la Open Society Foundations (OSF) en el 2021 para llevar a cabo un proyecto que permitiera identificar los beneficios del vínculo entre los sindicatos y la Economía Social y Solidaria (ESS) para organizar los trabajadores de la economía informal en países africanos y latinoamericanos. Investigadoras de ODI, de Londres con la colaboración de investigadoras de Brasil, Colombia, Ghana, Kenia y Uganda, identificaron y documentaron casos que permiten analizar los procesos de desarrollo de alianzas, proporcionando aprendizajes a partir de los éxitos y desafíos como también recomendaciones para el futuro. Se revisa en especial el caso colombiano, para ilustrar la variedad, complejidad y posibilidades del estudio desarrollado;allí, se describen tres experiencias, todas en etapas tempranas, vinculadas con diferentes expresiones de la economía social y solidaria que demuestran los potenciales de esta relación para fomentar el comercio justo, el consumo responsable y los mercados locales;dinamizar el emprendimiento en los territorios y crear condiciones de trabajo digno para los trabajadores que afrontan tradicionalmente la informalidad.

Desarrollo cooperativo a partir del impulso sindical. El caso de las Cooperativas de Artistas y Oficios Conexos en Uruguay

El cooperativismo uruguayo se caracteriza por su fuerte vinculación con gremios y sindicatos, siendo la figura cooperativa frecuentemente utilizada como herramienta para abordar las reivindicaciones sindicales. Es el caso de las Cooperativas de Artistas y Oficios Conexos (CAOC), una nueva figura jurídica en el país, creada a partir de negociaciones entre los sindicatos de las artes escénicas y el Estado, que busca incluir en la seguridad social a un sector informal y tradicionalmente desprotegido. Este trabajo analiza, a partir de un estudio de caso de abordaje cualitativo, la singularidad de la relación entre estos sindicatos y las dos primeras cooperativas de artistas establecidas (Valorarte y Coopaudem). El objetivo es comprender el funcionamiento de estas organizaciones que, tal como se observa en el abordaje conjunto ante la crisis COVID-19, configuran un claro ejemplo de la posibilidad de generar alianzas estratégicas entre sindicalismo y cooperativismo. El rol protagónico de los sindicatos en el proceso de conformación de esta clase de cooperativas, así como en la fundación de las dos mencionadas CAOC, confirma la clara vigencia de estas cooperativas como herramienta sindical. Asimismo, se constata que esta relación cuasi simbiótica presenta fortalezas en lo operativo y en la consecución de los fines de cada organización, constituyendo una modalidad novedosa e innovadora, pero también tensiona los principios de libre membresía y autonomía cooperativa. Finalmente, se valora que profundiza debilidades en la inserción y vínculo con el resto del sector cooperativo, con quien mantienen un escaso contacto desde su génesis.Alternate :Uruguayan cooperativism is characterized by strong links with guilds and unions, and the cooperative figure has often been a tool to address their demands. This is the case of the Cooperatives of Artists and Related Trades (CAOC), a new figure in the country, created as a result of negotiations between the Performing Arts Unions and the State, which seeks to include an informal and traditionally unprotected sector in the social security system. This paper analyzes, on the basis of a qualitative case study, the singularity of the relationship between these unions and the first two established artists' cooperatives (Valorarte and Coopaudem). The objective is to understand the functioning of these organizations which, as observed in the joint approach to the COVID-19 crisis, are a clear example of the possibility of generating strategic alliances between unionism and cooperativism. The leading role played by trade unions in the process of estabishing this type of cooperatives, as well as in the founding of the aforementioned CAOCs, confirms the clear relevance of this ooperatives as a trade union tool. Likewise, it is noted that this quasi-symbiotic relationship presents strengths in the operational aspect and in the achievement of the goals of each organization, constitutes a novel and innovative modality, but also compromises the principles of free membership and cooperative autonomy. Finally, it is assessed that this relation deepens the weaknesses these organizations inclusion and links with the rest of the cooperative sector, with whom it has had little contact since its inception.

Mot de l’éditeur: Le travail et l’emploi à l’ère de la Covid-19

[...]Fang Yuan, Fang Lee Cooke, Teng Zhong and Fansuo An have written a compelling piece about a hitherto largely unexplored aspect of working life in China (in English). [...]Jocelyne Barreau, Christelle Havard and Angélique Ngaha Bah defend an analytical model, based on process studies, which shows how International Framework Agreement effectiveness is influenced by the positions, behaviors and interactions negociators (In French). Fourth, Marc-Antonin Hennebert, Chloé Fortin-Bergeron and Oliver Doucet, provide a more orthodox industrial relations-type focus in their theoretical contribution examining determinants of union commitment amongst young workers (in English).

Collaborative public service provision archetypes in healthcare emergencies: a case of COVID-19 administration in Sri Lanka

Purpose>This paper examines how the properties and patterns of a collaborative “networked hierarchy” incident command system (ICS) archetype can provide incident command centres with extra capabilities to manage public service delivery during COVID-19.Design/methodology/approach>The paper illustrates the case of Sri Lanka's COVID-19 administration during its “first wave” (from 15 February to 1 September 2020). Primary data were collected through in-depth interviews with government officials who were directly involved in the administration of the COVID-19 outbreak. Secondary data sources were government publications and web sources. The data were analysed and interpreted by using narrative analysis and archetype theory respectively.Findings>The findings highlight how Sri Lanka's public sector responses to COVID-19 have followed a collaborative “networked hierarchy” ICS archetype. More specifically, the government changed its normative ICS “properties” by incorporating a diverse group of intergovernmental agencies such as the police, the military, the health service and administrative services by articulating new patterns of collaborative working, namely, organisational values, beliefs and ideas that fit with the Sri Lankan public service context.Originality/value>In responding to high magnitude healthcare emergencies, the flexibility of a collaborative networked ICS hierarchy enables different balances of organisational properties to be incorporated, such as hierarchy and horizontal networking and “patterns” in public service provision.

WELLBEING ECONOMICS: BEYOND THE LABOUR COMPLIANCE & CHALLENGE FOR BUSINESS CULTURE

This is an article of Labour Economics and Law & Economics, which explains the paradigm switch, from welfare state economy to wellbeing economics. This switch means the change of rules, institutions and processes, moving from a level of heteronomous responsibility with a public compliance system (controlled by the Public Institutions with statutory law and sanctions) to pass to the next level of autonomous responsibility with a social accountability and self-compliance system (decentralized network with improvements in the business culture by contracts and commitments). It is paid attention to the state of the art, with a comparative study of the scientific and professional sources and the knowledge production. Finally, there is a diagnosis in the challenges of wellbeing economics and its autonomous compliance to face the COVID-19 crisis and Horizon 2030.

AVOIDING A PIE IN THE FACE

Antitrust law has been here before. About fifty-five years ago, inflation was just beginning to creep up. Political and labor unrest characterized a national dissatisfaction with the status quo. And antitrust enforcers were pressing the law to its edges--and winning. These were just a few of the ingredients that would change US politics over the next two decades. Here, Walter offers a word of caution: tread carefully. To the extent that reformers still want to address concentrated labor markets through antitrust law, they should proceed mindful of reform's fragile political support and potential backlash.

The global ‘hot shop’: COVID‐19 as a union organising catalyst

There is an emerging narrative that the global COVID‐19 pandemic has led to a resurgence of labour activism. Despite this popular narrative, scholars lack empirical data on the relationship between workers' exposure to the pandemic and their interest in collective representation. Using original survey data from 240 ride‐hail drivers, I find that greater exposure to the COVID‐19 virus is associated with greater interest in joining a labour union. This article provides the first empirical evidence linking the COVID‐19 pandemic to the recent wave of labour activism, giving rise to what I refer to as a ‘global hot shop’ phenomenon.