The Industrial Determinants of Transnational Solidarity: Global Interunion Politics in Three Sectors

Abstract

This article compares forms of labour transnationalism in three industrial sectors: motor manufacturing, maritime shipping and clothing and textile manufacturing. In each case, unions engage in very different transnational activities to reassert control over labour markets and competition. As institutions of transnational cooperation deepen, unions continue to struggle with competitive tensions (worker to worker and union to union) which vary from one industry to another. The Industrial Determinants of Transnational Solidarity: Global Interunion Politics in Three Sectors Mark Anner Pennsylvania State Ian Greer Cornell University Marco Hauptmeier Cornell University Nathan Lillie University of Helsinki Nik Winchester Cardiff University ABSTRACTThis article compares forms of labour transnationalism in three industrial sectors: motor manufacturing, maritime shipping and clothing and textile manufacturing. In each case, unions engage in very different transnational activities to reassert control over labour markets and competition. As institutions of transnational cooperation deepen, unions continue to struggle with competitive tensions (worker to worker and union to union) which vary from one industry to another.

TNC Motives for Signing International Framework Agreements: A Continuous Bargaining Model of Stakeholder Pressure

“…Complementing these studies are the more review-based studies conducted by Carley (2005), Fairbrother and Hammer (2005), Hammer (2005), Anner et al (2006), and Egels-Zandén and Hyllman (2007). Hammer (2005) and Sobczak (2007) are helpful in listing and categorising existing IFAs and in discussing their legal dimensions, while Anner et al (2006) compare IFAs and alternative transnational union strategies and Egels-Zandén and Hyllman (2007) compare IFAs and codes of conduct.…”

“…Hammer (2005) and Sobczak (2007) are helpful in listing and categorising existing IFAs and in discussing their legal dimensions, while Anner et al (2006) compare IFAs and alternative transnational union strategies and Egels-Zandén and Hyllman (2007) compare IFAs and codes of conduct. However, due to their broad foci, none of these studies deals in detail with the processes leading up to the signing of IFAs.…”

“…In practice, this means that when transnational corporations (TNCs) offshore operations, mainly to Asian countries, they are involving themselves in national industrial relations systems characterised by only limited enforcement of workers' rights. This lack of enforcement of national labour laws and limited protection of workers' rights has led workers' rights representatives (both labour unions and non-governmental organisations) to attempt to establish transnational industrial relations systems to complement existing national systems (Esbenshade, 2001;Riisgaard, 2005;Anner et al, 2006;Kuruvilla and Verma, 2006).…”

Europaarbeit der Gewerkschaft ver.di. Vorschlag einer feldtheoretischen Perspektive

“…Um die Heterogenität der Europaarbeit ver.dis zu illustrieren, sollen danach kurz drei Fachbereiche porträtiert werden, die unterschiedlichen Branchenbedingungen ausgesetzt sind und die sich besonders stark in ihrer Betroffenheit von "Europa" und ihrer europäischen Arbeit unterscheiden. Danach Anner et al 2006). Damit handele es sich im Verkehrsbereich um "wirklich gelebte internationale Arbeit" (Interview 06).…”

The Global Union Federations and temporary labour migration in Malaysia

“…There is a growing literature on transnational solidarity campaigns and the role of the Global Union Federations (GUFs) in negotiating international framework agreements (e.g. Anner et al, 2006;Cumbers et al, 2008;Fairbrother and Hammer, 2005;Garver et al, 2007;Ghigliani, 2005;Wills, 2002), but virtually no studies of GUF trade union aid projects or their impact in particular national contexts (exceptions include Croucher, 2004;Dibley, 2011, 2012). 1 Trade union aid is used for many different purposes, among them, to underwrite the basic running costs of developing-country trade unions, fund organising projects or specialist training, or mount particular industrial or policy campaigns.…”