Trade Union Strategies towards Platform Workers: Exploration Instead of Action (The Case of Hungarian Trade Unions)

TL;DR

This study explores how Hungarian trade unions are approaching the emerging challenge of platform work, focusing on their strategies and preparedness amidst increasing global platform employment.

Contribution

It provides a qualitative case study analysis of Hungarian trade union strategies towards platform workers, highlighting their exploratory approach rather than immediate action.

Findings

Trade unions are mainly exploring strategies rather than implementing concrete actions.

Hungarian trade unions recognize the need to adapt to platform work but lack definitive policies.

The study offers suggestions for unions to better manage platform work transitions.

Abstract

Although the share of platform work is very small compared to conventional and traditional employment system, research shows that the use of platform work is increasingly growing all over the world. Trade unions have also paid special attention to the platform work because they know that the transfer of a percentage of human resources to the platforms is undeniable. To this end, the trade unions prepare themselves for the challenges and dynamics of this emerging phenomenon in the field of human resources. Using a qualitative research method and a case study of Hungary, the present study aimed to identify the strategies adopted by Trade Unions to manage the transition to platform works and provide suggestions for both practitioners and future research.