Underground unionization: Socio-spatial strategy within a neoliberal labor regime

Abstract

Building on labor sociology, labor geography, and politics, this article explores how workers develop a socio-spatial strategy for creating unions under repressive labor regimes in neoliberal contexts. The study uses a comparative multi-case research design, drawing on 46 interviews with union leaders across 30 companies from all economic sectors in Chile—a quintessential example of extreme neoliberalism. The analysis reveals the clandestine and secret processes through which workers orchestrate the formation of unions in a strategy consisting of three tactical phases: initial coordination, withdrawal and institutionalization in external safe spaces, and surprise re-entry. The text contributes to theory-building on union spatial strategies and offers insights applicable across decentralized labor systems.