We are very happy that together with Johanna Neuhauser, sociologist of migration, we can take part in Peter Birke’s book presentation Glass Borders!
Peter Birke monitored the online trade and meat industry in his study from 2017 to mid-2021. In some companies in these 2 industries, such as Amazon or Sanish Crown, almost none of the employees had a German passport. Both companies have been harshly criticized in public because of mass infection with COVID.
In his book, Birke also illustrates the protests and strikes that preceded this criticism. Not least, these protests and strikes determined the scope and limits of the reforms taken later.
It is necessary for migrants to self-organise, just as it is necessary for trade unions to organise if reforms such as the abolition of labour contracts are ultimately to lead to improved working and living conditions. This context is the focus of our event: we discuss experiences and disputes in industries where multiple precariousness and racialised management prevail.
The pandemic has also focused public attention in Austria on areas where workers without Austrian passports work in precarious conditions. More than half of the foreign workforce in Austria faces poor working conditions and atypical employment contracts, such as fixed-term contracts, freelancing, subcontracting or temporary work. Austria’s 24-hour care workforce started organising even before the outbreak of the pandemic. A year and a half ago, they and activists founded IG24, the association representing the interests of 24-hour carers. Since then, the association has been carrying out counselling work, fighting against poor working conditions and preparing a lawsuit against false independence, for which it has started an online fundraising campaign!
Thursday 9 June 2022, 18:00
Music under the almond tree: Glass Borders & Hirsch Fisch
echoraum
Sechshauser Strasse 66, 1150 Wien