How is the labor movement evolving as a response to increased globalization
Just as the future of work is uncertain, so is the future of trade unions. Globalization and demographic, environmental and technological changes are changing the labour markets of today and will determine those of tomorrow. In addition, the COVID-19 crisis has exposed and aggravated existing challenges. Globally, trade union membership has been going down over time, and with that trade unions’ ability to organize and service workers. Show
Among all the possible scenarios for trade unions, which one is most likely? For sure, the most favourable scenario is their revitalization, wherein trade unions find innovative tactics and form coalitions to represent all workers. Students at a centre for apprenticeship of young women, Hyderabad district, India. © ILO Trade unions during the COVID-19 pandemicWhereas the pandemic has laid bare the many dimensions of decent work deficits in the world of work, workers have also relied on trade unions to enhance job and income security, and access to social protection. Despite all the restrictions during the pandemic, trade unions assisted workers and their families in different ways, ranging from legal advice, setting up of emergency funds, awareness-raising campaigns, modified training programmes and advocacy on recognition of COVID-19 as employment injury, to the use of social media. Around 80% of countries worldwide used social dialogue, tripartite and/or bipartite, as part of the response to the COVID-19 crisis. The most frequent topics of negotiation have been social protection and employment measures, industrial relations, occupational safety and health (OSH), and fiscal measures. Trade unions have found innovative ways to reach out to new members and contribute to crisis responses through social dialogue. Here are two examples.
Swedish trade unionsSwedish trade unions have attracted new members after successfully negotiating with retail employers to avoid lay-offs and protect workers' wages during the crisis. While many organizing activities have been put on hold, the unions have continued to reach out to new members over telephone and through social media. Georgian Trade Unions ConfederationDuring the pandemic, the Georgian Trade Unions Confederation campaigned to help informal workers meet eligibility criteria and enhance the digital literacy they need to access governmental crisis support. 1/4 Textile workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, İzmir, Turkey. © ILO Where do trade unions stand now?Trade union membership worldwide has been going down over time, despite a number of bright spots in certain African or Latin American countries where membership increased. Different factors come into play in this overall decrease: Think of the shift from manufacturing to service jobs, the outsourcing of unionized jobs, the informalization of the economy and the changing employment relationship, and automation. In fact, trade union membership is lower for people in non-standard or precarious types of employment, such as temporary and own-account workers or workers in the informal and gig economy. Furthermore, legal restrictions and violations of trade union rights, such as the right to organize and to bargain collectively, are widespread. This affects trade unions’ ability to organize, to represent and to service workers. Not surprisingly, trade union membership is lower there where there are violations of trade union rights.
Sewing machine operator in a textile factory in Nicaragua. © ILO What can we expect for, and from, trade unions in the future?We see four possible scenarios for trade unions: marginalization, dualization, replacement and revitalization.
MarginalizationThe continuation of decreasing rates of unionization, in combination with aging unions. This may result in a gradual marginalization of trade unions around the world. DualizationTrade unions defend their current positions, servicing workers closest to them and in sectors where they are strong, for instance workers in a formal employment relationship and in big industries or the public sector. This would come at the cost of other, more precarious workers or less represented sectors. ReplacementTrade unions face competition from other organizations, such as non-governmental organizations, other intermediary agencies, labour lawyers or employers, for instance through alternative forms of worker participation, led by management and without trade union involvement. RevitalizationTrade unions find innovative tactics and coalitions to organize and defend all workers and to strengthen inclusive and effective social dialogue. 1/4 Window cleaner of a building under construction, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. © ILO The path for revitalizationMany positive examples exist of trade union revitalization, and these typically involve:
Scene from a farm benefiting from ILO-supported projects, Tunisia. Photo: © ILO Unions can meet the needs of under-represented workersTrade unions have been organizing and servicing emerging or traditionally under-represented groups of workers. Unions have addressed the needs of workers in the informal economy, for instance by organizing informal economy workers and integrating them into the formal structures of the trade union movement. The same is true for young workers. Although there are many obstacles to organizing and servicing workers in the platform economy, gig workers are organizing, through both traditional and innovative means, through existing unions, or by establishing new organizations.
Organizing workers in the informal economy
Organizing workers in the platform economy
Organizing young workers
Strengthening trade union internal governanceDemocratic internal governance is not only key for effective trade union operations, but also for assuring credibility among workers and the general public.
Speaking and acting as ONEMany countries and regions are characterized by trade union proliferation and fragmentation. However, improved trade union cooperation, where trade unions speak and act as one, has improved representation and impact on decision-making.
1/4 Adult training centre for construction trades in Dolakha district, an earthquake-affected area in Nepal. © ILO Inclusive and effective social dialogue increases trade union impactTrade unions must engage in inclusive and effective social dialogue to enhance decent work, but also on broader socio-economic and sustainable development issues that affect workers globally. The 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development is one platform for this broadened social dialogue.
ZimbabweIn Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) helped develop the national development strategy and progress report on the Sustainable Development Goals. The union’s inputs underscored the role of decent work in developing a pro-poor and pro-worker COVID-19 recovery process and a sustainable development strategy. Russian FederationIn the Russian Federation, trade unions’ effective engagement in national social dialogue secured the adoption of a new legislation on teleworking. ColombiaIn Colombia, the ILO collaborated with various sectoral and national trade unions in the agro- and rural economy to strengthen trade union organizing and representation in rural areas, particularly in the post-conflict context. This allowed trade unions to contribute to policymaking in alternative social dialogue forums – for example at the municipal and departmental level – on issues such as skills development or territorial planning. Republic of MoldovaIn the Republic of Moldova, trade unions collaboratively advocated for amendments to the law on labour inspection. A new law resulted from years of lobbying by the National Trade Union Confederation (CNSM), and awareness about the issue was also raised by the ILO’s Committee of Experts on the Application of ILO Conventions and Recommendations. 1/4 The Committee of the Whole, 108th (Centenary) Session of the International Labour Conference, Geneva, 2019. © ILO A future with trade union revitalizationThe four future scenarios for trade unions – marginalization, dualization, replacement and revitalization – are all possible, and in fact are all happening now, sometimes in the same country, in different sectors and in different combinations. For instance,
Various tools, such as foresight or scenario thinking, can be useful for trade unions in dealing with this uncertainty – to anticipate change, to explore possible futures, and enable transformative action. Yet in this context of multiple transitions, with trade unions are faced with so many serious challenges, they have shown great resilience and a remarkable capability to revitalize themselves in innovative ways. This bodes well for the future. Strong trade unions are needed now more than ever to build a world of work founded on sustainable development that ensures decent work for all. How does globalization affect labor movement?One of the effects of globalization is the migration of labor forces, something we started to see many decades ago. This migration occurs when people from one country or area move to another in pursuit of work and new opportunities. In recent history, this has become problematic for many countries.
What impact has globalization had on labor unions?In particular, studies find that globalization through competition in domestic and international goods and factor markets affects labor demand, thereby yielding a downward pressure on unions in developed economies.
How does globalization lead to exploitation of labor?Globalization has led to exploitation of labor. Prisoners and child workers are used to work in inhumane conditions. Safety standards are ignored to produce cheap goods. There is also an increase in human trafficking.
What has contributed to the increase in labor migration during the recent period of globalization?What has contributed to the increase in labor migration during the recent period of globalization? Workers are going to developed countries in search of better-paying jobs.
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