Depoliticization of the Chilean labour movement: an analysis from the perspective of Political Action as a trade union revitalization strategy

Abstract

Increasing fragmentation and de-politicization have marked the transformation of Chilean trade unionism in the last few decades. As such, the present article argues that these transformations have directly influenced the limited use and development of the political action trade union revitalization strategy. Using semi-structured interviews with trade union leaders, human resource managers, labour lawyers and field experts the following article will illustrate how these changes have directly influenced the Chilean company-level trade unions and their efforts to achieve renewal. The findings directly aims towards the critical role played by the country’s institutional framework in the implementation of renewal strategies, specifically the political action strategy.