The Tenneco rebellious. Labour resistance, social mobilization and “soft” institutional pressure in a case study on production relocation

  • Sergio González Begega Departamento de Sociología. Universidad de Oviedo
  • Holm-Detlev Köhler, Dr. Departamento de Sociología. Universidad de Oviedo
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5209/stra.70203
Keywords: Production relocation, Transnational company, Collective action, Protest repertoire, Conflict and power resources

Abstract

The article deals with the collective action strategies against production relocation. The research methology is a theorically informed single case study, based on the protest activities carried out by the workforce of Tenneco-Gijón. We examine the formation of micro-political coalitions at the local level to resist the decision to close the plant by the transnational company. The article uses an innovative theoretical approach, which looks at corporate behaviour as an open institutional order. The findings substantiate the role of conflict and power relations within transnational companies. We present evidence of the reversibility of corporate decisions on relocation and offer an empirical appraisal of effective labour mobilization with strong social and political support in case of industrial production restructuring.

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Author Biography

Holm-Detlev Köhler, Dr., Departamento de Sociología. Universidad de Oviedo

Holm-Detlev Köhler es Catedrático del Departamento de Sociología de la Universidad de Oviedo. Es miembro del grupo de investigación PROMEBI (Uniovi) y co-IP del protecto de europeo SODITREC. Entre sus líneas e intereses de investigación se encuentran las relaciones laborales comparadas, el cambio corporativo en empresas transnacionales y la sociología de la innovación. Tiene una extensa lista de publicaciones internacionales y nacionales. Ha sido coordinador de un número especial de la revista Employee Relations sobre Relaciones Laborales en el siglo XXI (2018). Es también co-autor del Manual de la Sociología del Trabajo y de las Relaciones Laborales (con Antonio Martín Artiles), Ed. Delta Publicaciones, Madrid, 3a edición 2010.

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Published
2020-12-21
How to Cite
González Begega S. y Köhler H.-D. (2020). The Tenneco rebellious. Labour resistance, social mobilization and “soft” institutional pressure in a case study on production relocation. Sociología del Trabajo, 97, 31-43. https://doi.org/10.5209/stra.70203
Issue
No. 97 (2020): Desindustrialización: memoria y lucha
Section
Artículos

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