Labour standards and capacity in global subcontracting chains: evidence from a construction MNC

Davies, Steve; Hammer, Nikolaus; Williams, Glynne; Raman, R. Jaya; Ruppert, Clair Siobhan; Volynets, Lyudmyla

doi:10.1111/j.1468-2338.2011.00620.x

Cited by 31 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Multiple sources of information, including earlier studies of IFAs (e.g., Hammer ; Davies et al. ; Papadakis ; Niforou ), also allowed data analysis triangulation (Jick ). Moreover, we received valuable feedback on the results of our case study research from representatives of management and unions in workshops organized in the four aforementioned countries.…”

Section: Ifas As An Instrument For Dealing With Risk and Uncertainty mentioning

confidence: 99%

Labor, Risk, and Uncertainty in Global Supply Networks—Exploratory Insights

Sydow

Frenkel

2013

J of Business Logistics

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Arising from widespread outsourcing and, in particular, offshoring, goods and services are increasingly provided by supply networks that rely on global logistic systems. While the risks and uncertainties involved in this strategy have been widely acknowledged in the literature on interorganizational networks and supply chain management, labor conditions and labor relations—and related human resource management issues—have thus far been neglected. Starting from a perspective that takes into consideration that global supply networks are not only confronted with calculable risks but also genuine uncertainties, we explore the conditions under which labor may constitute a source as well as a means for dealing with risk and uncertainty. The study is based on a review of the relevant interorganizational network and supply chain management literature and is informed by an investigation of International Framework Agreements (IFAs) in 10 European corporations and their supply networks. IFAs—in addition to unilateral codes of conduct—could be used to detect and cope with labor‐related risk and uncertainties. However, our findings reveal that this is not the case. This leads to some tentative theoretical conclusions and implications for dealing with risk and uncertainty in global supply networks.

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Section: Ifas As An Instrument For Dealing With Risk and Uncertainty mentioning

confidence: 99%

Labor, Risk, and Uncertainty in Global Supply Networks—Exploratory Insights

Sydow

Frenkel

2013

J of Business Logistics

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“…It is also varied in terms of its focus on different facets of labour transnationalism, such as why GFAs do not result in meaningful gains at the local level, or the roles of supranational institutions such as European Works Councils. Examples can be seen in the works of Barrientos and Smith (2007), Davies et al (2011), Riisgaard and Hammer (2011) and Williams et al (2013). The units of analysis in this strand are also diverse, including movements, campaigns, bilateral alliances, multilateral alliances, global union federations, global value chains and, of course, GFAs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constructing Transnational Solidarity: The Role of Campaign Governance

Sarkar

Kuruvilla

2019

Brit J Industrial Rel

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Our inductive study of two transnational labour solidarity efforts focuses on the role of campaign governance. Specifically, we study contrasting campaign strategies, tactics and coalition structures in campaigns by two global union federations, UNI Global Union and the IUF, contextualized in terms of how these campaigns unfolded in India. Our contribution consists of two arguments. The first is that a degree of internal consistency amongst different campaign elements is important for success, and the second is that a mode of articulation that allows for local concerns in affiliate countries to find voice in global campaigns is more likely to result in concrete gains at the local level.

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“…It has been argued that GUFs, as sectoral federations, are positioned in very different ways with regard to strategy and the implementation of action across production networks and this is also thought to shape the politics of inter-union relations (Cumbers et al, 2008). The need for GUFs to develop varied, carefully designed and contextappropriate strategies in order to exercise power and influence over employers and states has also been noted (Brookes, 2013: 194), while studies of specific campaigns and initiatives (Davies et al, 2011;McCallum, 2013;Niforou, 2012) have shown the significance of local or regional context in determining the success or failure of avowedly 'global' initiatives -whether it be the established organizational forms and repertoires of local or national unions or the configuration of politics, governance or employment relations in particular settings. This would appear to be especially relevant to the effect of global campaigns and regulatory initiatives on workplaces situated in the Global South where unions are often weak, fragmented and have limited institutional and associational power (Brookes, 2013).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With regard to global agreement making, for instance, some studies have pointed to the positive effect of IFAs/GFAs under certain circumstances, but many others emphasize the limited translation of formal agreement making at global/corporate level into action by managers, workers and unions at industry or enterprise level (Davies et al, 2011;Niforou, 2012). This is in part a problem of the failure to build implementation measures into agreements that are ultimately far removed from local contexts.…”

Section: Agents Of Change or Marginal Actors?mentioning

confidence: 99%

The global union federations in international industrial relations: A critical review

Ford

Gillan

2015

Journal of Industrial Relations

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In recent decades, trade unions have been challenged to attempt to develop new forms of representation, action and institutional engagement in response to the increasingly transnational character of production and service delivery. This has necessarily required a shift in focus beyond national boundaries, and thus beyond the traditional scale of industrial relations systems. Among the most important actors in these attempts to globalize industrial relations have been the global union federations (GUFs), which represent national sectoral federations in key industries. Over several decades, the GUFs have sought to engage with multinational corporations through various strategies including policy campaigns and the negotiation of Global Framework Agreements and have provided support for workers and their unions in different national settings, including emerging labour movements in the Global South. This article reviews the growing literature on transnational industrial relations, focusing on the historical development of the GUFs, their core repertoires of action and their impact on industrial relations practice both internationally and within national boundaries. In doing so, it identifies and assesses not only the opportunities for GUF interventions in international industrial relations, but also the many obstacles -including resource constraints and dependence on unions at other scales -that limit their reach and ability to achieve these strategic goals.

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Labour standards and capacity in global subcontracting chains: evidence from a construction MNC

Cited by 31 publications

References 23 publications

Labor, Risk, and Uncertainty in Global Supply Networks—Exploratory Insights

Labor, Risk, and Uncertainty in Global Supply Networks—Exploratory Insights

Constructing Transnational Solidarity: The Role of Campaign Governance

The global union federations in international industrial relations: A critical review

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