Organizing Precarious Professionals

An unfortunate reality of our time, precarious employment encompasses a vast array of occupations.  Archaeologists working on contracts in Québec are precariously employed, low-income workers who nevertheless regard themselves as professionals. Two years ago, they unionized much of their profession.

A forthcoming article in the fall issue of Labour/le Travail, vol. 88, using participant action research, explores how this difficult-to-organize group of workers unionized. Setting up a workers’ committee prior to union accreditation proved to be a key to their success.

For more information on vol. 88 of Labour/Le Travail: www.lltjournal.ca