International Trade Union Movement

Windmuller, John P.

doi:10.1007/978-94-017-4361-7_6

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…The language barrier remains significant at the world level, especially for less educated trade unionists, and it remains one of the key capacities of the Global Unions to integrate information and experience from a diverse membership and use it not only to facilitate communication between them but also to forge common values and priorities for action. This is essential for all international organizations: as Kratochwil argues (1993: 448), a central function of international organizations 'is the interpretation of the "facts" and inferences about motivations', and Windmuller (1967Windmuller ( , 1987 and others agree that this is equally true of the day-to-day work of the Global Unions.…”

Section: What Do Global Unions Do and Why Do They Do It?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Unions as imperfect multilateral organizations: An international relations perspective

Cotton

Gumbrell‐McCormick

2012

Economic and Industrial Democracy

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This study applies an international relations framework and the notion of multilateral organizations as a means of understanding the nature of trade union internationalism and the conditions under which it operates. The authors argue that international trade unionism involves an imperfect multilateralism which requires close working relationships between small groups of unions in order to function, that is, a 'minilateral' method of working. By using this framework the authors attempt to highlight the intrinsic durability and adaptability of the Global Unions and also identify areas of activity that serve to strengthen them as organizations, primarily by building affiliates' engagement and investment in them.

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Section: What Do Global Unions Do and Why Do They Do It?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Unions as imperfect multilateral organizations: An international relations perspective

Cotton

Gumbrell‐McCormick

2012

Economic and Industrial Democracy

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“…This was minimalist and informational in approach: concerned with longer term objectives and distinct from bureaucratic approaches in terms of deliverables. Drawing on Waterman (1998) and Windmuller (1967), Hyman (2005a, p. 146) argues:With the advent of labour diplomacy, a distinctive model of international trade union bureaucratisation became the line of least resistance. We may note, that the double edged certification of labour as a “social partner” within the institutions of the European Union has had analogous effects: providing recognition and material resources, but incorporating the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) with an elite policy community largely detached from those it claims it represents.…”

Section: Some Historical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dimensions of internationalism and the politics of the labour movement

Lucio

2010

Employee Relations

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PurposeMuch is being claimed in terms of new forms of trade union networking and co‐ordination at the international level during the past two decades. However, there is a need to ground these views in terms of the reality and contexts of trade union activity. This article seeks to argue that tension within the different modes of international labour activity is nothing new. In fact, political and organisational differences in terms of the practices and strategies of the labour movement have been salient features of trade unionism for over a century. The article will map the interest in networking as a form of labour co‐ordination and the question of the emergence of competing international models of network‐based trade union action.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a general and literature review of the debates on labour internationalism supported by insights gained from a variety of research initiatives.FindingsAs noted by a variety of authors, the reality is that there are assorted types of global and international movements within trade unionism, which are based on four dimensions in terms of specific sectoral, ideological, organisational and national factors. There is a need is to understand the tensions between these models, and not just work from a “vertical” view of power based on hierarchies and levels.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is mainly a critical review of debates and discussions.Practical implicationsNetwork‐based initiatives should not just be contrasted with bureaucracy per se, but be understood in terms of distinct initiatives, meanings and politics. In fact, one could see the signs of emerging “managerialist” modes of labour internationalism.Social implicationsNew forms of trade union and worker representation in a global context are engaging with social and political issues – they are engaging with a range of social and organisational activities such as those of non‐government organisations. These represent an important debate on the way work‐related issues are organised around.Originality/valueThe paper indicates how the question of labour networking is a significant academic discussion and needs to be seen from different perspectives.

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“…Although the history of ITU overlaps with that of labour internationalism, strictly speaking the latter includes the former, which began with the creation of the International Trade Secretariats (ITS) by affiliating national unions operating in a particular sector (Logue, 1980;Lorwin, 1953;Windmuller, 1980). While internationalist in rhetoric, and occasionally also in practice as in the struggle for union rights and the eight-hour working day, the struggle for social reforms was soon confined to national level (Hyman, 2002) and ITU 'came to mean the interrelation of national trade unions bodies, whether this combination was to serve reformist, revolutionary, practical or moral goals' (Waterman and Wills, 2001: 306).…”

Section: Old and New Labour/union Internationalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

International Trade Unionism in a Globalizing World: A Case Study of New Labour Internationalism

Ghigliani

2005

Economic and Industrial Democracy

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In recent years, scholars and activists have identified the development of an emerging new labour internationalism (NLI), and pointed to its impact upon the structures and practices of international trade unionism (ITU). This article addresses this issue through a case study of an international action opposing the labour practices of McDonald’s, the world’s largest fast-food retailer. The evidence reveals a complex picture. Even though many of the features of the allegedly new labour internationalism are present, they seem to be more a matter of form than substance.

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International Trade Union Movement

Cited by 6 publications

References 1 publication

Global Unions as imperfect multilateral organizations: An international relations perspective

Global Unions as imperfect multilateral organizations: An international relations perspective

Dimensions of internationalism and the politics of the labour movement

International Trade Unionism in a Globalizing World: A Case Study of New Labour Internationalism

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