Labour and the Challenges of Globalization : What Prospects For Transnational Solidarity?

This book critically examines the responses of the working classes of the world to the challenges posed by the neoliberal restructuring of the global economy. Neoliberal globalisation, the book argues, has created new forms of polarisation in the world. A renewal of working class internationalism must address the situation of both the more privileged segments of the working class and the more impoverished ones. The study identifies new or renewed labour responses among formalised core workers as well as those on the periphery, including street-traders, homeworkers and other 'informal sector' workers. The book contains ten country studies, including India, China, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Canada, South Africa, Argentina and Brazil. It argues that workers and trade unions, through intensive collaboration with other social forces across the world, can challenge the logic of neoliberal globalization. Contents 6 List of figures 11 List of tables 13 Acknowledgements 14 Foreword: rebuilding the unity of the ‘labour front’ 15 1 The future of the global working class: an introduction 24 Theoretical and conceptual starting points 25 Globalization, the ‘working poor’ and inequality 31 A brief overview based on country reports 34 2 The contested politics of gender and irregular employment: revitalizing the South Korean democratic labour movement 46 Neoliberal democratic regimes: breaking militantunionism 48 Labour market resegmentation: gender and the expansion of irregular employment 52 Overcoming exclusionary unionism: organizing the periphery 55 Conclusion: the friction of new directions 65 3 Globalization and the informalization of labour: the case of South Africa 68 Introduction 68 The transition to democracy in South Africa 68 The reorganization of labour 71 The persistence of poverty and rising inequality 74 Union responses to the challenges 77 Other organizational responses 82 Conclusion 85 4 Globalization and labour in India: emerging challenges and responses 88 Introduction 88 The Indian labour market in historical perspective 88 Trade unions in India: between high fragmentation and low unionization 92 What future for Indian trade unions? 97 5 How China’s migrant labourers are becoming the new proletariat 104 Preface 104 Background: ‘marketization’ under the typical ‘dual system’ 105 Analysis 112 Some predictions 117 Researchers’ findings 118 6 The globalization of capital and its impact on the world of formal and informal work: challenges for and responses from Argentine unions 121 The impact of neoliberal globalization on the working class 121 The informalization of work in the formal and informal sectors: growing deterioration of wages and the loss of effective working-class power 123 Responses by unions to these challenges 127 Main current challenges 134 7 Neoliberal policies, labour market restructuring and social exclusion: Brazil’s working-class response 138 Brazil from 1930 to 1980: economic dynamism, income concentration and the role of the labour movement 138 Economic opening, privatization and attraction of foreign investments: the new forms of dependency 141 Increased ‘social debt’: unemployment, informality and exclusion 146 Responses of and challenges to the working class and the social movements 153 8 The impact of globalization on trade unions: the situation in Japan 162 Introduction 162 Intensified global competition and changes in the work environment 164 Neoliberalism and the withdrawal of worker protection 171 International labour movement cooperation 177 Conclusion 181 9 Challenges facing the Canadian labour movement in the context of globalization, unemployment and the casualization of labour 184 The labour market context 185 The structure of the Canadian labour movement 187 The advantages and challenges of organizing 191 Challenges for the Canadian Labour Congress 195 Conclusion 199 10 German trade unions between neoliberal restructuring, social partnership and internationalism 201 Introduction 201 The myth, reality and impact of globalization 202 Challenges for trade unions 206 Trade unions’ responses and strategies 212 Outlook: what future for German trade unions? 219 11 Swedish unions and globalization: labour strategies in a changing global order 222 Introduction 222 Labour market stratification 225 Swedish trade unions and the transnational restructuring of social relations 226 Conclusions: future strategies for the Swedish labour movement 233 Interviews 239 12 Building alliances between formal and informal workers: experiences from Africa 240 Globalizing informality and challenges for collective organizing 240 Overview of relations between trade unions and organizations of informal workers: African experiences 243 Mozambique: an alliance across theformal–informal divide 246 The benefits and challenges of organizing across the formal–informal divide 248 Global informality, international organizing and scaling up alliances 250 Conclusion 252 Interviews with leaders of informal workers’ organizations in Africa 252 13 European integration: a strategic level for trade union resistance to neoliberal restructuring and for the promotion of political alternatives? 254 Introduction 254 European integration and the myth of social Europe 255 Trade unions in Europe: a comparative overview 258 Trade unions at the European level: between social partner and social movement 261 Conclusion: an alternative strategy for European labour 266 14 A trade union internationalism for the 21st century: meeting the challenges from above, below and beyond 271 Introduction 271 The structures of international unionism 272 Labour internationalism under globalization: within and beyond unions 274 The international unions respond 275 The global justice and solidarity movement and a global civil society in construction 278 Contrasting the responses 279 Questions remaining: a global working class? globalized unionism? a reinvented labour internationalism? 280 Update 2007 284 15 What future strategy for the global working class? The need for a new historical subject 287 Shortcomings of present strategies 289 Divisions within the global working class: the need for transnational solidarity? 292 Possibilities for more offensive strategies towards transnational solidarity 295 Concluding remarks 305 Bibliography 310 Notes on contributors 338 List of abbreviations 342 Index 348 Contents......Page 6 List of figures......Page 11 List of tables......Page 13 Acknowledgements......Page 14 Foreword: rebuilding the unity of the ‘labour front’......Page 15 1 The future of the global working class: an introduction......Page 24 Theoretical and conceptual starting points......Page 25 Globalization, the ‘working poor’ and inequality......Page 31 A brief overview based on country reports......Page 34 2 The contested politics of gender and irregular employment: revitalizing the South Korean democratic labour movement......Page 46 Neoliberal democratic regimes: breaking militantunionism......Page 48 Labour market resegmentation: gender and the expansion of irregular employment......Page 52 Overcoming exclusionary unionism: organizing the periphery......Page 55 Conclusion: the friction of new directions......Page 65 The transition to democracy in South Africa......Page 68 The reorganization of labour......Page 71 The persistence of poverty and rising inequality......Page 74 Union responses to the challenges......Page 77 Other organizational responses......Page 82 Conclusion......Page 85 The Indian labour market in historical perspective......Page 88 Trade unions in India: between high fragmentation and low unionization......Page 92 What future for Indian trade unions?......Page 97 Preface......Page 104 Background: ‘marketization’ under the typical ‘dual system’......Page 105 Analysis......Page 112 Some predictions......Page 117 Researchers’ findings......Page 118 The impact of neoliberal globalization on the working class......Page 121 The informalization of work in the formal and informal sectors: growing deterioration of wages and the loss of effective working-class power......Page 123 Responses by unions to these challenges......Page 127 Main current challenges......Page 134 Brazil from 1930 to 1980: economic dynamism, income concentration and the role of the labour movement......Page 138 Economic opening, privatization and attraction of foreign investments: the new forms of dependency......Page 141 Increased ‘social debt’: unemployment, informality and exclusion......Page 146 Responses of and challenges to the working class and the social movements......Page 153 Introduction......Page 162 Intensified global competition and changes in the work environment......Page 164 Neoliberalism and the withdrawal of worker protection......Page 171 International labour movement cooperation......Page 177 Conclusion......Page 181 9 Challenges facing the Canadian labour movement in the context of globalization, unemployment and the casualization of labour......Page 184 The labour market context......Page 185 The structure of the Canadian labour movement......Page 187 The advantages and challenges of organizing......Page 191 Challenges for the Canadian Labour Congress......Page 195 Conclusion......Page 199 Introduction......Page 201 The myth, reality and impact of globalization......Page 202 Challenges for trade unions......Page 206 Trade unions’ responses and strategies......Page 212 Outlook: what future for German trade unions?......Page 219 Introduction......Page 222 Labour market stratification......Page 225 Swedish trade unions and the transnational restructuring of social relations......Page 226 Conclusions: future strategies for the Swedish labour movement......Page 233 Interviews......Page 239 Globalizing informality and challenges for collective organizing......Page 240 Overview of relations between trade unions and organizations of informal workers: African experiences......Page 243 Mozambique: an alliance across theformal–informal divide......Page 246 The benefits and challenges of organizing across the formal–informal divide......Page 248 Global informality, international organizing and scaling up alliances......Page 250 Interviews with leaders of informal workers’ organizations in Africa......Page 252 Introduction......Page 254 European integration and the myth of social Europe......Page 255 Trade unions in Europe: a comparative overview......Page 258 Trade unions at the European level: between social partner and social movement......Page 261 Conclusion: an alternative strategy for European labour......Page 266 Introduction......Page 271 The structures of international unionism......Page 272 Labour internationalism under globalization: within and beyond unions......Page 274 The international unions respond......Page 275 The global justice and solidarity movement and a global civil society in construction......Page 278 Contrasting the responses......Page 279 Questions remaining: a global working class? globalized unionism? a reinvented labour internationalism?......Page 280 Update 2007......Page 284 15 What future strategy for the global working class? The need for a new historical subject......Page 287 Shortcomings of present strategies......Page 289 Divisions within the global working class: the need for transnational solidarity?......Page 292 Possibilities for more offensive strategies towards transnational solidarity......Page 295 Concluding remarks......Page 305 Bibliography......Page 310 Notes on contributors......Page 338 List of abbreviations......Page 342 Index......Page 348 Foreword : Rebuilding The Unity Of The Labour Front / Samir Amin -- The Future Of The Global Working Class : An Introduction / Andreas Bieler, Ingemar Lindberg And Devan Pillay -- The Contested Politics Of Gender And Irregular Employment : Revitalizing The South Korean Democratic Labour Movement / Jennifer Jihye Chun -- Globalization And The Informalization Of Labour : The Case Of South Africa / Devan Pillay -- Globalization And Labour In India : Emerging Challenges And Responses / Praveen Jha -- How China's Migrant Labourers Are Becoming The New Proletariat / Wen Tiejun -- The Globalization Of Capital And Its Impact On The World Of Formal And Informal Work : Challenges For And Responses From Argentine Unions / Isabel Rauber -- Neoliberal Policies, Labour Market Restructuring And Social Exclusion : Brazil's Working-class Response / Kjeld Jakobsen And Alexandre De Freitas Barbosa -- The Impact Of Globalization On Trade Unions : The Situation In Japan / Wakana Shutô And Mac Urata -- Challenges Facing The Canadian Labour Movement In The Context Of Globalization, Unemployment And The Casualization Of Labour / Geoff Bickerton And Jane Stinson -- German Trade Unions Between Neoliberal Restructuring, Social Partnership And Internationalism / Heiner Dribbusch And Thorsten Schulten -- Swedish Unions And Globalization : Labour Strategies In A Changing Global Order / Andreas Bieler And Ingemar Lindberg -- Building Alliances Between Formal And Informal Workers : Experiences From Africa / Ilda Lindell -- European Integration : A Strategic Level For Trade Union Resistance To Neoliberal Restructuring And For The Promotion Of Political Alternatives? / Andreas Bieler And Thorsten Schulten -- A Trade Union Internationalism For The 21st Century : Meeting The Challenges From Above, Below And Beyond / Peter Waterman -- What Future Strategy For The Global Working Class? : The Need For A New Historical Subject / Andreas Bieler, Ingemar Lindberg And Devan Pillay. Edited By Andreas Bieler, Ingemar Lindberg And Devan Pillay. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [287]-313) And Index. Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of figures -- List of tables -- Acknowledgements -- Foreword: rebuilding the unity of the 'labour front' Samir Amin -- 1 The future of the global working class: an introduction Andreas Bieler, Ingemar Lindberg and Devan Pillay -- Theoretical and conceptual starting points -- Globalization, the 'working poor' and inequality -- A brief overview based on country reports -- 2 The contested politics of gender and irregular employment: revitalizing the South Korean democratic labour movement Jennifer Jihye Chun -- Neoliberal democratic regimes: breaking militant unionism -- Labour market resegmentation: gender and the expansion of irregular employment -- Overcoming exclusionary unionism: organizing the periphery -- Conclusion: the friction of new directions -- 3 Globalization and the informalization of labour: the case of South Africa Devan Pillay -- Introduction -- The transition to democracy in South Africa -- The reorganization of labour -- The persistence of poverty and rising inequality -- Union responses to the challenges -- Other organizational responses -- Conclusion -- 4 Globalization and labour in India: emerging challenges and responses Praveen Jha -- Introduction -- The Indian labour market in historical perspective -- Trade unions in India: between high fragmentation and low unionization -- What future for Indian trade unions? -- 5 How China's migrant labourers are becoming the new proletariat Wen Tiejun -- Preface -- Background: 'marketization' under the typical 'dual system' -- Analysis -- Some predictions -- Researchers' findings -- 6 The globalization of capital and its impact on the world of formal and informal work: challenges for and responses from Argentine unions Isabel Rauber -- The impact of neoliberal globalization on the working class This book examines the main challenges facing the world labor force and possible responses from trade unions. The working classes across the world are feeling the effects of globalization and the race to the bottom that it encourages. Core jobs for workers in the developed world are being outsourced to countries where pay and conditions are terrible and union membership is often forbidden. Much of the work of the world economy is now taking place in a burgeoning informal sector, making worldwide organization of labor very difficult. Case studies from 11 different countries, including China, Germany, Canada and South Africa, illustrate what is happening and show how workers and trade unions can successfully adapt to the neoliberal world. Examines the role of the workers worldwide in relation to the challenges posed by the neoliberal restructuring of the global economy. Argues that a renewed working class internationalism must bridge the situation of hyper-competition and the expanding informalisation of work. Using ten case studies from developing and developed countries, identifies responses from actions undertaken by formalised workers as well as informal ones