Antagonism beyond employment: how the ‘subordinated agency’ of labour platforms generates conflict in the remote gig economy

Abstract This article investigates why gig economy workers who see themselves as self-employed freelancers also engage in collective action traditionally associated with regular employment. Using ethnographic evidence on the remote North America, UK and Philippines, we argue that labour platforms increase agency of to contract clients thus reduce risk false self-employment terms worker–client relationship. However, doing so, create a new source subordination platform itself. We term this phenomenon ‘subordinated agency’, demonstrate it entails ‘structured antagonism’ manifests three areas: fees, competition worker voice mechanisms. Subordinated creates desire for representation, greater even unionization towards platform, while preserving entrepreneurial attitudes clients.