10.24416/UU01-T1AY2R

This database is compiled as part of my PhD project on the challenges that gig workers face when organising themselves in a worker-owned and worker-governed cooperative enterprise. The research project aims to provide insight into the viability and competitive (dis)advantages of platform cooperatives as one institutional approach for organising decent work in the gig economy by analysing the conditions under which cooperatives of gig workers can become resilient. To answer a sub-question, I used semi-structured interviews. The explorative design of this study allowed me to investigate the tensions that platform co-ops face from competing demands during their formation, and how founders manage these tensions. I used an interview protocol with ten basic questions, and some guidelines for asking further questions. First, I listed the self-described platform co-ops in the European gig economy from a directory by Internet of Ownership (https://ioo.coop/directory/). All cases that had their contact information available were contacted, and with additional snowballing 15 out of 48 identified cases accepted an interview. This includes also 4 cases that failed during formation or had to make a restart: Faircab, FoodFairies, Smart Hungary, and Smart NL. Geographically the cases are concentrated in Western-Europe, most prominently in France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, and to a lesser extent also in Spain and Italy. In all cases one or two founders could be identified, resulting in a total of 16 interviews. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and personal names were removed from the files. Analysis was assisted by NVivo 12 for open and axial coding, after which selective coding was conducted more manually while writing the findings and comparing with the paradox perspective literature.

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