Socio-Spatial Strategies of Worker Centres: An Ethnography of Alt- Labour in NYC

Abstract

This article examines the typology of worker centres from a socio-spatialperspective. Drawing on ethnographic and qualitative fieldwork and applying the multi-dimensional TPSN (Territory, Place, Scale and Network) framework, it analyses threeworker centres: Make the Road New York (MRNY), Retail Action Project (RAP) and Laun-dry Workers Center (LWC). Each model is the result of the predominance of certain log-ics of action, political strategies, and spatialities. The multidimensional socio-spatialapproach allows us to identify the advantages and problems of each strategy. MRNYshows a territory-based strategy that combines membership participation with effectiveadvocacy on different scales. RAP, despite focusing on services, has been able to over-come the fragmentation of the retail industry and escalate to regulating labour relationsat the industry level. LWC prioritises workplace organising and shows a high level ofexperimentalism and grassroots base, although the results of their irradiation strategyare very modest.