Organizing in the Era of Globalization Issues and Strategies Arun Kumar, Actrav-ILO-Turin

Changing World of Work Globalization, Economic Liberalisation, Privatisation & ‘withdrawal of State’ is changing the world of work Globalization, Economic Liberalisation, Privatisation & ‘withdrawal of State’ is changing the world of work More competition = more pressure on industries to reduce costs – leading to: Downsizing, increasing workload, insecurity of employment, preference for casual-contract labour, Outsourcing More competition = more pressure on industries to reduce costs – leading to: Downsizing, increasing workload, insecurity of employment, preference for casual-contract labour, Outsourcing Shift from Manufacturing to Services – from blue collar to white to ‘no collar’ workers – nature of employment from ‘appointment’ to ‘assignment’ Shift from Manufacturing to Services – from blue collar to white to ‘no collar’ workers – nature of employment from ‘appointment’ to ‘assignment’

Changing World of Work Labour law reforms (employment flexibility) Labour law reforms (employment flexibility) ‘Unorganizing’ the Organised & growing informal economy ‘Unorganizing’ the Organised & growing informal economy Weakening of TUs thru new Human Resource (HR) policies Weakening of TUs thru new Human Resource (HR) policies

Union Densities (Trends) USJapanEU Source: Jelle Visser, “Union Membership Statistics in 24 Countries”, Monthly Labour Review, January 2006.

State of Unionization Union memberships are down, Union memberships are down, memberships range from 3% - 19%; Unionisation lowest in agriculture & informal economy dominated countries & declining in most countries; Except – Sweden (81%), Finland (76%), Denmark (74%) Except – Sweden (81%), Finland (76%), Denmark (74%) Labour laws not favourable for organizing Labour laws not favourable for organizing

So, How do trade unions Organize? No ready made solutions, no single model; No ready made solutions, no single model; Strategies will depend on – Strategies will depend on –  Country legal framework (what rights exist?)  Type of industry and state of the industry  Nature of employment, types of workers (self employed/wage employed/home based/ contract/etc  Union resources (financial, material & people)  Image and status of the TUs  What else ?

Facing the Organizing Challenge Broadly Speaking, TU Actions need to be taken at two levels - Macro policy level – to create enabling environment for organizing Macro policy level – to create enabling environment for organizing In the field, at workplace – to promote organizing In the field, at workplace – to promote organizing

Macro level Actions TU movement needs campaigns at national level on issues such as – Labour law reforms to ensure the Right to Organise, to Union Recognition, for Collective Bargaining Rights (ILO Conventions 87 & 98) Labour law reforms to ensure the Right to Organise, to Union Recognition, for Collective Bargaining Rights (ILO Conventions 87 & 98) Tripartism–Right to be represented in the decision making bodies at Govt level Tripartism–Right to be represented in the decision making bodies at Govt level

Macro level Actions Campaign for domestic ‘social clause’ (Companies using public funds/ subsidies/national resources to respect workers rights) Campaign for domestic ‘social clause’ (Companies using public funds/ subsidies/national resources to respect workers rights) Partnerships with other social organizations/ linking workers movement with others Partnerships with other social organizations/ linking workers movement with others What else does Unions need to do? What else does Unions need to do?

Organizing Actions at Workplace Questions to be considered Why should a worker join the union? What can union give them in this age of flexible employment? Why should a worker join the union? What can union give them in this age of flexible employment? Where is our power in a market economy? – in numbers or ? Where is our power in a market economy? – in numbers or ? How have we been organizing so far? How have we been organizing so far? What new strategies can we develop for organizing and strengthening TUs? What new strategies can we develop for organizing and strengthening TUs?

Organizing Models Servicing Model Union/union officials provide collective & individual services to members; Union/union officials provide collective & individual services to members; Members dependent on the Union & its Office bearers to provide what they require. Members dependent on the Union & its Office bearers to provide what they require. Unions’ officials control union resources, strategies, interests & develop union tactics Unions’ officials control union resources, strategies, interests & develop union tactics NOT MUCH INVOLVEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP IN TU ACTIVITIES

Organizing Models Organizing Model Implies not just an approach to organizing but also a vision of union purpose & form. Implies not just an approach to organizing but also a vision of union purpose & form. Workers active participants rather than passive consumers, Workers active participants rather than passive consumers, Instead of just solving problems, union fosters activism, leadership & organization amongst workers – seeks to empower workers to solve their problems thru union Instead of just solving problems, union fosters activism, leadership & organization amongst workers – seeks to empower workers to solve their problems thru union

Organizing Models Organizing Model Requires - Organizing activities, led by lead organizers who motivate activism & self-help among workers; Organizing activities, led by lead organizers who motivate activism & self-help among workers; Education, research or communication activities; Education, research or communication activities; Develop campaigns, alliances & use members to support external organizing Develop campaigns, alliances & use members to support external organizing

Organizing Workers in the Economy Some ideas

Organizing Strategies 1.TU resources limited - We cannot go out & organize each & every worker. SO, can we then think of a way to make workers come to us? 2.Need to go beyond collective bargaining – into social welfare services – linking with govt programmes for providing access to workers for social welfare programmes

Organizing Strategies 3.Using group insurance schemes to provide social protection - health care, life insurance 4.Organizing thru thrift, credit and social welfare services (SEWA) 5.Organizing not at workplace but at workers living areas 6.What new services can TUs provide?

Organizing Strategies 7.Leveraging power of the ‘organised’- Eg. Railway unions extending their reach to hawkers, coolies, contractors workers, etc 8.Multi-union organizing – number of unions coordinating efforts to target a large establishment or number of small employers in the same industry 9.Use of IT to target workers in Call centres, home workers, tele-workers, etc 10. Use of company financial information – for organizing 11. Stock ownership as a tool to assert workers rights

Organizing Strategies For MNCs and those companies with Export interests in OECD countries – companies that are susceptible to consumer power – build links with international TUs (GUFs), NGOs and consumer movement. For MNCs and those companies with Export interests in OECD countries – companies that are susceptible to consumer power – build links with international TUs (GUFs), NGOs and consumer movement. Role of international labour solidarity and IFAs Role of international labour solidarity and IFAs

Organizing Migrant Workers Suggested Strategies Advocate for universal labour rights – abolish distinctions for temporary workers (delinking workers rights from nationality/citizenship) Advocate for universal labour rights – abolish distinctions for temporary workers (delinking workers rights from nationality/citizenship) Working at community level, Self-help groups – building leadership among migrants Working at community level, Self-help groups – building leadership among migrants Needs of Migrant workers? Set up Welfare & Service centres– health care & workers rights services – help lines Needs of Migrant workers? Set up Welfare & Service centres– health care & workers rights services – help lines TU Education and Rights Awareness Activities TU Education and Rights Awareness Activities

Organizing thru SHGs & Cooperatives relevant for informal economy workers, self employed and home based workers. builds workers own leadership and self reliance; brings in new activists into the labour movement, successfully used by the NGOs but not trade unions.

Organizing Strategies Using Workers Capital to promote Union Rights and other labour standards Using Workers Capital to promote Union Rights and other labour standards – Labour Social Clause in the Investment Pattern - Need to think beyond Rate of Interest.

Organizing Strategies Adopt & advocate policies that will apply to all workers and prevent further divisions of the workers in the labour market – that is, put all workers in one boat. Adopt & advocate policies that will apply to all workers and prevent further divisions of the workers in the labour market – that is, put all workers in one boat. And – what else can TUs do ??? And – what else can TUs do ???