Neoliberal Globalization and Trade Unionism: Toward Radical Political Unionism?

Abstract

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Accounting and social movements: An exploration of critical accounting praxis

“…The 'new' anti-capitalist activists also include a resurgence of 'new' trade union organising models, known as social movement unionism (SMU). The organising strategy for SMU involves a number of innovative approaches that go beyond traditional trade union labour practices, commonly linking or developing partnerships with organisations beyond the workplace (Upchurch & Mathers, 2012). Essentially, the union looks to, and forms links with, the demands of other new movements -neighbourhood groups, women's organisation, environmental movements -often engaging in the political arena during periods of flux, and linked to resistance against capitalism (Moody, 1997).…”

“…Upchurch and Mathers (2012) state that anti-corporate campaigning, union-community coalitions and alliances, and internationalism can all be used by unions trying to re-establish their societal efficacy, based on a social movement orientation. UCU demonstrates some of these characteristics.…”

Age, work and pensions in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong: An institutional perspective

“…Here, the literature on New Social Movements (NSM) (Offe, 1985) concerning how new alliances form (and dissolve) to protect existing rights and create new ones within the context of global economic and social change might be relevant. However, Upchurch and Mathers (2011) argue that the de-politicised de-classed approach of NSM limits its explanatory value in explaining, first, how existing institutions mobilise opposition/support along existing social class lines and, second, the interface between new and existing institutions and the state in responding to both global and national economic and social change. Instead, Upchurch and Mathers (2011: 277) suggest that the role of union agency in developing 'innovative forms of action to sustain opposition' to neoliberal state and employer policies be discussed.…”

Post‐crisis Corporate Governance and Labour Relations in the EU (and Beyond)

“…As Upchurch and Mathers suggest,`the changing relationship of trade unions to the state is a central matter to consider' and`the political dimension is at the heart of an analysis of how union identities are changing in relation to neoliberal globalization.' 123 They warn that`the end of the``compact'' between union and the state or employers increases the risk of repression', 124 and this brings about the need for greater mobilization and`innovative forms of action to sustain opposition'. 125 An increasingly significant strategy for trade unions is to use the possibility of their associational power and to shift towards a social movement footing.…”