Opposing Forms of Power Through a University Student Labor Union’s Advocacy for Its Student Members

Abstract

This qualitative research study explores critical theory within the context of a university student labor union, the Student Labor Union (SLU)’s advocacy for the needs of its members. Through grounded theory methodology, interviews, and observations, this study examines how and why the SLU’s leading members lobby for the needs of fellow students. The construct of opposing forms of power, a modification of Freire’s (1970/2000) power construct, emerged from the interview and observation data and served as the conceptual framework for this study. This construct of opposing forms of power was exemplified through the three themes of tangible versus intangible power, conceptual versus empirical power, and deceptive versus honest power that emanated from the SLU’s leading members’ words and actions. It has implications for the study of critical literacy in that it illustrates how critical literacy is expressed through contrasting types of power in the language and activities of the labor union’s student leaders.

On one hand, we’re supposed to be confronting the state and leading the workers, but on the other hand, when the workers say we’ve had enough, you know what, we’re going to remove our labor power, we’re going to cease working until we get higher pay, for example or whatever it is that the members of the union may want, now all of a sudden, we’re supposed to become the state and so we’re supposed to stand against the workers and say hey no guys, let’s just settle this through a contract. (Roxanna, December 13, 2013)