‘We All Stand Together’ (Or Do We?): Moral Underpinnings of the Emergence and Repression of Solidarity at Work

Why and when do we feel the impetus to act in solidarity with others? Labour and social movement scholars have long tackled this question to understand the rise and fall of trade unionism and collective action. In this article, we examine how solidarity can emerge by linking industrial relations scholarship with research on morality to clarify the interplay between moral emotions, perceptions of injustice and the construction of a sense of ‘we-ness’ underlying solidarity. Our theorisation extends existing debates by helping to make sense of the often fleeting character of solidaristic feelings, suggesting that the emergence of solidarity is underpinned by a feeling of compassionate anger that is particularly difficult to sustain under contemporary economic and moral regimes. By focusing on the moral-emotional bases of solidarity, we contribute to ongoing debates on the future of trade unionism and collective action.