Exposing Exploitation: Lessons from the Gräfenhausen lorry strike on the strategic use of supply chain law

Abstract

This article presents a case study of a wildcat strike by lorry drivers that took place in the Gräfenhausen rest area in Germany, in 2023, in order to explore the potential of the German Supply Chain Act (GSCA) and similar laws to combat labour exploitation and activate collective action by migrant workers. Despite adverse circumstances, the successful strike showed that supply chain laws can unveil exploitation. The case demonstrates the emergence of collective agency through the supply chain approach. Vulnerable migrant workers are susceptible to exploitation due to socioeconomic and legal circumstances, and they are, in general, unlikely to successfully claim their rights. The success of the Gräfenhausen strike resulted from building social relations, a broad network of supporters, and the strategic use of the GSCA to pressure companies at the end of the supply chain to pay outstanding wages. Such supply chain laws provide important resources for social actors addressing exploitation as a human rights issue and transforming exploited workers into rights holders. The Gräfenhausen case underscores the essential role of solidarity and collective support alongside legal mechanisms for the successful enforcement of rights.