The collective dimension of platform work

Abstract

The present research aims at inquiring if a collective dimension exists and how to strengthen it in platform work. Firstly, the consistency of the characteristics of platform work with the collective dimension of labour law is verified from a theoretical point of view. Even if difficulties in building a collective dimension emerge, it is then shown that some collective initiatives, taken by self-organised and non-unionised movements but also by Trade Unions, have been occurred in working on-demand via apps, especially with reference to the food delivery sector. A different story can be told about crowdwork where the collective dimension is completely neglected, with the exception of few original experiences, supported also by Trade Unions, put in place online, due to the virtual character of the crowdwork workplace. However, these initiatives are considered not sufficient in order to build a collective dimension, as they are not enough to guarantee the communication among workers from which a collective interest can rise. For this reason, the Proposal of the European Union requesting platforms to provide crowdworkers with specific virtual infrastructures on the platforms themselves, enabling a communication among workers similar to that which takes place in the physical workplace, is pivotal to facilitate discussions and exchanges of ideas among workers, from which a collective organisation, holding a collective interest, could slowly develop.