Green shoots from the grass roots? The National Shop Stewards Network

McBride, Jo; Stirling, John

doi:10.1111/ntwe.12024

Green shoots from the grass roots? The National Shop Stewards Network

McBride, Jo; Stirling, John

Authors

Professor Jo Mcbride joanne.mcbride@durham.ac.uk
Professor

John Stirling

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the significance of the Internet in rebuilding a shop stewards movement in a time of circumscribed trade union organisation and power. It takes the National Shop Stewards Network as the focus for empirical research and places the argument within the broader context of two historical periods of trade union activity. The study finds significant historical parallels in terms of the key questions of the relationship between a network and a movement and the virtual and real worlds. It suggests that the Internet is particularly significant in forging horizontal rather than vertical links between shop stewards and unions and also provides the potential for mutual support and solidarity. However, the empirical research suggests different levels of engagement with the network, which the paper categorises and it also illustrates how a political party can become engaged in the networking activity.

Citation

McBride, J., & Stirling, J. (2014). Green shoots from the grass roots? The National Shop Stewards Network. New Technology, Work and Employment, 29(1), 25-39. https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12024

Journal Article Type	Article
Online Publication Date	Mar 20, 2014
Publication Date	Mar 20, 2014
Deposit Date	Jun 19, 2018
Publicly Available Date	Jul 10, 2018
Journal	New Technology, Work and Employment
Print ISSN	0268-1072
Electronic ISSN	1468-005X
Publisher	Wiley
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	29
Issue	1
Pages	25-39
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12024
Public URL	https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1323909

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Copyright Statement
This is the accepted version of the following article: McBride, Jo & Stirling, John (2014). Green shoots from the grass roots? The National Shop Stewards Network. New Technology, Work and Employment 29(1): 25-39, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12024. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.