JOURNAL ARTICLE

Putting Workers on the Map: Towards a Labour Cartography.

  • Published In: Cartographica, 2023, v. 58, n. 1. P. 21 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: McFarland, Stephen 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on the project of labour cartography, which examines the historical and contemporary use of maps by workers and labour unions to represent and advance working-class interests. Labour cartography involves three main areas: recovering archives of maps created by workers and unions ("mapping from below"), analyzing spatial patterns of work and working-class life through historical GIS, and researching current applications of geographic information systems (GIS) by labour organizations to enhance democratic and strategic organizing. The article highlights how unions have historically appropriated, created, and deployed maps for internal coordination, legal and rhetorical purposes, and political advocacy, while also addressing challenges related to power, expertise, and participation within union hierarchies. Contemporary labour GIS projects use spatial analysis to support organizing, community partnerships, and supply chain strategies, reflecting ongoing efforts to integrate cartographic knowledge into labour activism.

Additional Information

  • Source:Cartographica. 2023/03, Vol. 58, Issue 1, p21
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Geography and Cartography
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:0317-7173
  • DOI:10.3138/cart-2022-0019
  • Accession Number:163965634
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Cartographica is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.