A Global Union For Global Workers: Collective Bargaining and Regulatory Politics in Maritime Shipping (Studies in International Relations)

This is a book about how global unionism was born in the maritime shipping sector. It argues that the industrial structure of shipping, and specifically the interconnected nature of shipping production chains, facilitated the globalization of union bargaining strategy, and the transnationalization of union structures for mobilizing industrial action. This, in turn, led to global collective bargaining institutions and effective union participation in global regulatory politics. This study uses a variety of source and analytical techniques, relying heavily on interviews with union official and other maritime industry people in many countries. Front cover 1 Contents 8 List of Tables 10 List of Figures 12 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations 14 Acknowledgments 20 Chapter One. Introduction 22 Chapter Two. The Maritime Industrial Environment 44 Chapter Three. Global Collective Bargaining1 60 Chapter Four. Transnational Union Networks and Enforcement1 86 Chapter Five. Global Regulatory Politics and Skill Certification 110 Chapter Six. Global Regulatory Politics and Labor Standards in the ILO 126 Chapter Seven. Breaking No Eggs and Making No Omelets 142 Chapter Eight. Conclusion 164 Appendix A 176 Appendix B 178 Appendix C 180 Appendix D 182 Appendix E 188 Appendix F 190 Appendix G 192 Notes 194 Bibliography 204 Index 218 Back cover 232 Illustrates how unions in one industry successfully set global minimum wages and working conditions, and participated authoritatuively in global governance in their industry. This book highlights the potential for the labour movement to become an effective transitional force and participant in democratic global governance.