Locked In, Linked Up - The Interplay Between Platform Dependency, Solidarity And Collective Organizing In Gig Work - Master of Arts Thesis

Aug 23, 2026

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This thesis examines factors shaping gig workers’ interest in collective organizing actions, addressing a gap in existing gig-work literature. Drawing on prior research on collective action and gig platforms, it analyzes how platform dependency and online communities influence collaboration behaviors. Data come from semi-structured Zoom interviews with 14 location-based gig workers recruited through snowball and purposeful sampling. Interview transcripts are analyzed via an iterative phronetic approach, revealing distinct collaborator types and how competitive pressure and distrust can shape engagement.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages68

Reading Time2 h 51 min

AccessFree to download

Chapter One: Introduction

Chapter Two: Literature Review

Precarity in Gig Work

Solidarity and Collective Action in the Gig economy

Online Spaces as communities of support for solidarity

Online spaces as the center of conflicting interest

Role of platform Dependence in collective organizing

Chapter Three: Method Section

Data Collection

Data Analysis

Interview Guide

Method limitations and potential bias

Reflexivity

Chapter Four: Results

Types of collaboration

Active Collaboration

Conditional Collaborators

Non-active collaboration

Conceptual Diagram: How dependency influences solidarity and collective organizing

Factors influencing cooperation

Dependency

Solidarity in the community

Platform Design

Chapter Five: Discussion Section

Summary of findings

Contributions of the study

Implications Of Re

LOCKED IN, LINKED UP: THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN PLATFORM DEPENDENCY, SOLIDARITY AND COLLECTIVE ORGANIZING IN GIG WORK by Jeremy (Frantony) Lewis A thesis submitted to the faculty of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology Charlotte 2024 Approved by: Dr. Anne Kronberg Dr. Anita Blanchard Dr. Cliff Scott ©2023 Frantony Jeremy Lewis ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ABSTRACT FRANTONY JEREMY LEWIS. Locked In, Linked Up: The Interplay Between Platform Dependency, Solidarity And Collective Organizing In Gig Work (Under the direction of DR. ANNE KRONBERG) This study addresses a gap in the existing literature on gig work collective organizing by investigating the factors that influence their interest in such collective actions. Drawing on the works ofTassinari and Maccarone (2020) and Schor (2022), the study focuses on the role of platform dependency and online communities in shaping the behaviors associated with collective action among gig workers. I recruited participants via a combination of snowball sampling and purposeful online and offline methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom, involving 14 location-based gig workers. I analyzed the interview transcripts using a phronetic iterative approach. My findings reveal three distinct types of collaborators among gig workers, namely non-active collaborators, conditional collaborators, and active collaborators. Moreover, interviews shed light on how competitive pressure, manifested through aspects such as platform design features, platform dependency, toxic online groups, and distrust, can influence gig workers' engagement in collective organizing. DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this thesis to my advisor, Dr. Anne Kronberg, whose support and guidance have been instrumental in shaping the outcome of this study. Additionally, I extend my gratitude to my committee for their assistance and insights throughout this journey. To my cohort, friends, and rugby companions, I am grateful for enduring countless hours of my research rants and discussions. And your patience and encouragement have been vital to my progress, especially when I broke my ankle. Finally, I dedicate this work to the gig workers in our society, with a hopeful aspiration to contribute towards a more secure and stable future for you through the insights gained from this research Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................. vii LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................. viii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................... 4 Precarity in Gig Work: .............................................................................................................. 4 Solidarity and Collective Action in the Gig economy .................................................... 4 Online Spaces as communities of support for solidarity ................................................. 5 Online spaces as the center of conflicting interest .......................................................... 6 Role of platform Dependence in collective organizing ................................................... 9 CHAPTER THREE: METHOD SECTION ............................................................................ 11 Data Collection ........................................................................................................................ 11 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................ 13 Interview Guide ............................

FAQs

What main factors does the thesis identify as influencing gig workers’ collective organizing interest?

The study focuses on platform dependency and online communities, showing how these shape behaviors linked to collective action among gig workers.

How were participants recruited and what data were collected?

Participants were recruited using snowball sampling plus purposeful online and offline methods. The study used semi-structured Zoom interviews with 14 location-based gig workers.

What did the findings reveal about collaboration among gig workers?

The results describe three collaborator types: non-active collaborators, conditional collaborators, and active collaborators. They also show that competitive pressure—via platform design features, dependency, toxic online groups, and distrust—can affect engagement in collective organizing.

Aug 23, 2026

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