Research shows that union inclusion is critical to resisting precariousness, yet the role of institutional power is not adequately addressed. Through an investigation of eight retailers in four countries, this study uniquely examines how inclusive union strategies, cost competition and institutional power interact in different ‘spheres of action’. In the product market sphere, unions struggle to prevent labour cost competition between firms from eroding working conditions. In the production sphere, unions struggle to prevent labour cost competition between workers in a single firm from eroding working conditions. This article finds that multi-level sources of institutional power are a precursor to effective union inclusion and articulating action towards threats from cost competition. I thereby argue that union efforts to resist precarious work are contingent on access to power from institutions. The article concludes with reflections on how institutional power relates to other forms of power.

中文翻译：

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用制度权力与不稳定的工作作斗争：工会的包容性及其跨行动领域的限制

研究表明，加入工会对于抵制不稳定至关重要，但机构权力的作用并未得到充分解决。通过对四个国家的八家零售商的调查，本研究独特地考察了包容性工会战略、成本竞争和制度权力在不同“行动领域”中的相互作用。在产品市场领域，工会努力防止企业之间的劳动力成本竞争侵蚀工作条件。在生产领域，工会努力防止单一公司工人之间的劳动力成本竞争侵蚀工作条件。本文发现，制度权力的多层次来源是有效加入工会和针对成本竞争威胁采取明确行动的先导。因此，我认为工会抵制不稳定工作的努力取决于从机构获得权力。文章最后反思了制度权力与其他权力形式的关系。