Worker representation and voice across organizational boundaries

This chapter addresses the concept of worker voice and representation, as well as the forms they take, in the context of inter-organizational relationships. In these situations, we have to rely on alternative and more complex conceptions of employment and organizational relationships that allow for influences from 'non-employers' over the nature of work, as well as focus on the problems workers face in trying to express their voice beyond organizational boundaries. This requires us to examine the ways in which inter-organizational contracting changes existing mechanisms for voice or makes it difficult for some workers to express their opinions. Four cases are considered. Although precise developments in each case differed, depending on the interplay of different forces, the common theme was a reduction in worker voice following changes in contracting arrangements.