Passing the structure test

Jane McAlevey’s vision for higher education workers

Abstract

This article assesses the utility of Jane McAlevey’s organizing model for higher education workers amidst ongoing crises in the sector. While her vocabulary and methods are widely adopted, we argue that building workers' power requires embracing the theory underpinning her framework—one premised on the fundamentally antagonistic nature of class conflict and the collective strength generated through mass participation. This adversarial, mass-participation model offers  a vital corrective to dominant union practice in higher education. This “whole worker” framework faces significant challenges, including resource intensity, bureaucratic inertia, and forging “wall-to-wall” solidarity across a divided workforce. Engaging critically with McAlevey’s model remains a necessary strategic intervention for building transformative collective power.