An emerging transnational industrial relations? Exploring the prospects for cross-border labour bargaining

2017 ◽  
Vol 156 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 307-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Urs LUTERBACHER ◽  
Andrew PROSSER ◽  
Konstantinos PAPADAKIS
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Cross Border

scholarly journals Cross-border Trade Union Networks in Transnational Corporation: A comparison between sectors

Tempo Social ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-182
Author(s):  
Ricardo Framil Filho ◽  
Katiuscia Moreno Galhera ◽  
Leonardo Mello e Silva
Keyword(s):  
Trade Union ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Transnational Corporation ◽  
Commercial Banking ◽  
Private Governance ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Border Trade ◽  
Institutional Structures ◽  
Union Action

This article analyses cross-border trade union networks in Transnational Corporations (TNCs) in the metal and chemical, garment, retail, and commercial banking sectors in Brazil. Conceptualized as global union responses to the growing reach of TNCs, such networks have been established in different settings in the country and have engaged major corporations outside of traditional industrial relations frameworks, venturing into the controversial field of social dialogue, corporate responsibility, and private governance. From different research backgrounds, our findings suggest that union networks in TNCs can be used to rearrange union prerogatives across different levels but remain embedded in previous institutional structures. In this sense, such unions incorporate existing union boundaries, including the exclusion of relevant groups of workers, even as they can scale up the scope of trade union action.

Looking for European solutions. Trade unions in Central and Eastern Europe striving for cross-border solidarity

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-323
Author(s):  
Jan Czarzasty ◽  
Sławomir Adamczyk ◽  
Barbara Surdykowska
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Common Interest ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Uncertain Future

This article deals with the dilemmas faced by trade unions from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in the context of their relations with western European (EU-15) unions and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The issue of cross-border solidarity is re-examined, taking into account its historical meanings as well as current developments under the pressures of globalisation and EU integration. The article analyses key factors affecting East–West trade union relations – different views within the ETUC, discontinuities in European social dialogue, challenges faced by European works councils and the uncertain future of transnational company agreements. Major dilemmas CEE unions cope with vis-à-vis their western counterparts are outlined. The question of how to achieve a common interest platform for trade unions from Central and Eastern Europe and from western Europe is raised, followed by a suggestion that ‘downward convergence’ in industrial relations is bringing the two regions closer.

scholarly journals Solidarity Action in Global Labor Networks. Four Cases of Workplace Organizing at Foreign Affiliates in the Global South

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Peter Wad
Keyword(s):  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
International Labor Organization ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
International Labor ◽  
Corporate Network ◽  
Labor Networks

Globalization transforms workforces of transnational corporation from predominantly home countrydominated workforces into foreign-dominated, multinational workforces. Thus, the national grounding of trade unions as the key form of labor organizing is challenged by new multinational compositions and cross-border relocations of corporate employment affecting working conditions of employees and trade unions in local places. We assume that economic globalization is characterized by expanding global corporate network of vertically and horizontally integrated (equity-based) and disintegrated (nonequity-based) value chains. We also assume that globalization can both impede and enable labor empowerment. Based on these premises the key question is, how can labor leverage effective power against management in global corporate networks? This question is split into two subquestions: a) How can labor theoretically reorganize from national unions and industrial relations institutions into global labor networks that allow prolabor improvement in global workplaces? b) How and why has labor in a globalized economy secured the core International Labor Organization (ILO) international labor right to organize companies and conduct collective bargaining? The Global Labor Network perspective is adopted as an analytical framework. Empirically, a comparative case methodology is applied comprising four more or less successful industrial disputes where labor achieved the right to organize and undertake collective bargaining. The disputes took place in affiliated factories of foreign transnational corporations located in Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Turkey. The conclusion is that the combination of global labor capabilities and global labor strategizing must generate strategic labor power that adequately matches the weaknesses of the counterpart’s global corporate network in order to achieve prolabor outcomes. The most efficient solidarity action was leveraged by a cross-border alliance of workplace collectives, national industrial unions, and a global union federation using global framework agreements (GFAs) with key customers of the employer. The least efficient campaign relied primarily on domestic developing country state institutions supported by a foreign labor nongovernmental organization (NGO).

scholarly journals National Industrial Relations Systems and Cross-border Restructuring: Evidence from a Merger in the Pharmaceuticals Sector

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Edwards ◽  
Xavier Coller ◽  
Luis Ortiz ◽  
Chris Rees ◽  
Michael Wortmann
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Cross Border

Employers and Exceptionalism: A Cross-Border Comparison of Washington State and British Columbia, 1890––1935

2003 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 561-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREW YARMIE
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
American Exceptionalism ◽  
Social Background ◽  
Washington State ◽  
Regional Study ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
National Differences ◽  
State Interventions

Based on Sanford M. Jacoby's ““American Exceptionalism Revisited: The Importance of Management,”” this article tests his hypotheses about differences between American and Canadian employers. First, is ““exceptionalism”” useful for examining cross-national differences in capital/state/labor relations? Second, do Jacoby's independent and dependent variables make American employers different? Third, were American employers more individualistic, wealthy, aggressive, and hence effective in countering trade unions and socialism than employers elsewhere? This case study of Washington state and British Columbia employers and their organizations examines whether the two national groups differed in economic and social background, ideology, values, objectives, and tactics. This regional study reveals more similarities than differences ““in kind.”” It finds that socially and politically constructed factors, especially the extent of state interventions, created divergent cross-border industrial relations systems, rather than exceptionalism.

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