Organizing Migrant Care Workers in Israel: Industrial Citizenship and the Trade Union Option

Abstract

The authors examine the feasibility of trade unionism for migrant care workers, based on a recent organizing drive in Israel. Distinguishing between trade unions and other civil society organizations, they re-examine the concept of workers’ collective action, looking at what constitutes a trade union and to what extent unions can address the specific concerns of migrant care workers. They conclude that, despite the numerous problems involved in organizing migrant care workers, and the vulnerabilities intrinsic to migration processes, gendered work and the occupation of care, trade unions play an important role in establishing industrial citizenship and forming political agency.

Keywords: Unionizm, Trade Unions, Migrant Care Workers, Workers’ Collective Action, Industrial Citizenship

JEL Classification: J50, J51, J53, J83, J81