COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong: Investigating Democratic Framing of Social Movement Unionism

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges to healthcare workers in Hong Kong, particularly in the early days of the outbreak in 2020. A recent study published in the Journal of Industrial Relations highlights the importance of democratic framing of social movement unionism in the face of such crises. The research, conducted by City University of Hong Kong, examines a short health workers' strike held in February 2020, which demonstrated the effectiveness of strong democratic trade unionism in mobilizing healthcare workers and promoting citizen and health workers' safety.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found that the strike was a result of the organization's effort to pressure both the employer and the government to enhance safety measures for both citizens and healthcare workers.
• The strike was the last instance of successful independent union mobilization in Hong Kong before the shift from laisse-faire industrial relations to state authoritarianism, which favored the national political elite.
• The research highlights the importance of democratic framing of social movement unionism in responding to crises, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The study concludes that mobilization through strong democratic trade unionism combined membership and societal interests, providing an example of social movement framing that demonstrated its effectiveness.
• The research also notes that the establishment of the trade union during the massive civil unrest in 2019 and its swift organization of the strike within 2 months of its formation showcases its capacity for action.
• The study highlights the critical role of the Strategic Research grant from the Public Policy Research, Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office, Hong Kong Government, in supporting this research.
• The work of the research team, led by City University of Hong Kong, provides valuable insights into the impact of the pandemic on healthcare workers in Hong Kong and highlights the importance of democratic institutions in responding to crises.
• The Journal of Industrial Relations published research on the 2020 health workers' dispute and demonstrated its significance, highlighting the value of peer-reviewed research in understanding the impact of the pandemic.
• The research sheds light on the importance of social movement framing that combined membership and societal interests, exemplified in the health workers' strike.
• The study emphasizes the significance of understanding the context of the pandemic and its impact on healthcare workers, particularly in the face of the shift from laissez-faire industrial relations to state authoritarianism.

Statistics:

• The health workers' strike in Hong Kong in early 2020 was a short strike, taking place over a few weeks.
• The strike represented the last instance of successful independent union mobilization in Hong Kong.
• The Public Policy Research, Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office, Hong Kong Government, provided financial support for the research through the Strategic Research grant.
• The research was published in the Journal of Industrial Relations, a peer-reviewed journal that can be contacted at: Sage Publications Inc, 2455 Teller Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.
• The research highlights the critical role of democratic institutions in responding to crises, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources:

• NewsRx. New COVID-19 Study Findings Reported from City University of Hong Kong (A Strike In the Time of Covid-19 Pandemic: the 2020 Health Workers' Dispute In Hong Kong). Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. August 28, 2022; p 348.
• Journal of Industrial Relations. A Strike In the Time of Covid-19 Pandemic: the 2020 Health Workers' Dispute In Hong Kong, published in 2022.
• Sage Publications Inc. The Journal of Industrial Relations, published in Thousand Oaks, CA, USA.