Globalization and work: The role of trade unions in balancing globalization

Résumé du document

The trade-union teams of a company, a branch or a territory, are confronted daily with the stakes in globalization. It is the case when, because of the saturation of the mobile telephony market in Europe, Mitsubishi closes its unity of Vitré to become established in China; when to increase its profitability, Marks and Spencer closes 18 shops in France; when, to decrease high production costs Dim decides to close its French sites to become established in Eastern Europe. When confronted with these accelerated reorganizations, union activists have difficulty in perceiving the benefactions that globalization has on economic growth. They get organized then directly by creating trade-union networks.

The changing environment of the world requires new approaches and strategies on the part of unions if they are to remain major social actors contributing to dynamic and equitable growth. According to a report by the International Labor Organization (ILO), globalization, which brings formidable challenges to unions, also provides them with opportunities to play a far more effective and politically important role in society.

Extraits

[...] How to naviguate in globalized labour markets : the problem of job loss More precisely it is possible to describe the effects of globalization on work through firms strategies. In industrial nations, globalization strengthened the pressure of international competition and accelerated the losses of employments in certain sectors and certain regions, further to the outsourcing and further to the relocation of the companies activities. First it is notable that the least qualified workers find themselves worse off in term of job security, wages and working conditions and it can be explained by the combination of the two responses to tougher competition, the race to cut costs and the race to innovate. [...]

[...] It obliges them, on the contrary, to have a bigger grip of responsibility and to become forces of proposition into the ITUC. This challenge will ask essential thorough questions to the national unions. Can they give themselves the means to coordinate better their positions and their demands? To accept new transfers of responsibility? To accept partnerships with the NGOs and at the European level? Answer in a few years. Bibiliography Denis COLLIN : La fin du travail et la mondialisation - Idéologie et réalité sociale. L'Harmattan MONDIALISATION ET RÉGULATION SOCIALE, Tome F. [...]

[...] new challenges for a stronger organization What is new and different from previous organizations, according to the ITUC, is that this global trade union would be able to balance globalization, to be a counterforce of it. The new ITUC will composed of the affiliated organisations of the former ICFTU and WCL together with eight other national trade union organisations that will for the first time affiliate to a global body. ITUC statuts and programme are very large. In the letter adressed to all the interntional federations of trade unions, it is presented as The most unified and significant organization in the history of international trade unionism. [...]

[...] How to reconcile divergent positions between the employees of the North and those of the South? In spite of these difficulties, this globalized trade union is a big step forward in the construction of a social globalization. It helps workers to accept reality: we need globalization, but we can regulate it to make it more fair and a benefit for all. As Bill Jordan, General secretary of the Brussels-based International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, explained in an article (November Trade Union World): Stopping globalization is both unrealistic and undesirable. [...]

[...] As the ILO's World Labour Report 1997-98 explained: The structures and very concept of trade unionism vary from one country to antoher. Workers's economic interests also differ; opposition to lay- offs in an industrialized country can obstruct the transfer of activities to and the resulting job creation in a developing country ; pressure for substantial improvements in worker protection in the latter can be interpreted there as an indirect means of avoiding competition from a cheaper work force. Generally speaking it appears to be part of human nature to put one's own concerns before those of the workers of other countries. [...]