Hot eller möjlighet – En komparativ studie om fackföreningars benägenhet att stötta papperslösa arbetare

The thesis seeks to through institutional theory identify institutional factors that shape the seemingly contradictable behavior of trade unions towards undocumented migrant workers. Using institutional theory, the discussion about trade unions relationship to undocumented migrant workers can be shifted from morality and ideology to a question of possibilities. By comparing trade unions relationship towards undocumented migrant workers in seven different countries the thesis identifies four institutional factors that seem to make trade unions more inclined to support undocumented migrants. A high level of institutional embeddedness and a high level of centralization of the trade unions both seems to make the trade unions less inclined to support undocumented migrant workers. At the same time, a large number of undocumented migrants living in the country make trade unions more inclined to support undocumented migrant workers. While a high level of deportability of the undocumented migrants makes the trade unions less inclined to support undocumented migrant workers. From this the conclusion is drawn that institutional theory is usable for identifying patterns even in cases where actors seem to act contradictory. This raises question about the possibilities of agency within institutions and what influence individual agency can play in shaping trade union policy