I have just published the article ‘“Workers of the world, unite?” Globalisation and the quest for transnational solidarity’ in the journal Globalizations. In this article, I discuss the structural setting of labour agency at this point in time and evaluate two broad responses by trade unions and social movements, the Decent Work, Decent Life initiative as well as the Labour and Globalisation Network.
As a result of the transnational organisation of production across
borders and an increasing informalisation of work, trade unions find it
ever more difficult to represent the interests of their members and
broader society. This work assesses both the possibilities and obstacles
for trade unions to build transnational, intra-, and inter-movement
solidarity. The agency of labour is analysed against the background of
structural change in the global economy as well as the fundamental
dynamics of capitalism. Two main strategies initiated within the World
Social Forum spaces are explored: those of Decent Work, Decent Life
headed by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and related
organisations and focusing on side agreements to free trade treaties,
and initiatives by the Labour and Globalisation Network to increase
cooperation with social movements.
I conclude that neither of the two initiatives can provide a one-size-fits-all approach in today's complex terrain of struggle. Rather, different industrial sectors require a different strategic and organisational response. While co-operation between different trade unions may work well in transnational production structures, for example, co-operation between trade unions and social movements may be more appropriate for the resistance against public sector restructuring and privatisation (see also
Globalisation and Trade Unions: different challenges and a variety of responses).
Prof. Andreas Bieler
Professor of Political Economy
University of Nottingham/UK
Andreas.Bieler@nottingham.ac.uk
Personal website: http://www.andreasbieler.net
2 July 2012
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