Global Restructuring, Labour and the Challenges for Transnational Solidarity

Andreas Bieler is Professor of Political Economy and Co-Director of the Centre for the Study of Social and Global Justice (CSSGJ) in the School of Politics and International Relations, University of Nottingham/UK. His research is predominantly focused on understanding the current struggle over the future economic-political model of the European Union (EU) and the possibilities to resist neo-liberal restructuring. He is author of Globalisation and Enlargement of the European Union (Routledge, 2000) as well as The Struggle for a Social Europe: Trade unions and EMU in times of global restructuring (Manchester University Press, 2006).Ingemar Lindberg is a former Researcher and Social Policy Adviser to the Confederation of Swedish Trade Unions (LO) where he was responsible for the Social Justice Project 1991 – 95 and the main report to the 1996 LO Convention. He has written many books and articles, the latest being Den globala kapiutalismen och det nya motståndet (Global capitalism and the new resistance, Atlas 2005).

‘Rich in contextual evidence, this book explains how globalizing processes elicit different responses from workers and beget varied outcomes. Bieler and Lindberg deftly weave together several case studies, showing obstacles and strategic possibilities for trade unions. Their analysis is a breakthrough in coming to grips with the nexus of globalization and social movements.’ - James H. Mittelman, University Professor of International Affairs, American University‘Liberation from the neo-liberal straight-jacket of uncontrolled globaleconomic power is impossible without the collective strength of working people.However labour has to change in order to achieve change. Trade unions need toreach beyond national boundaries, "standard" workers, and traditional labourissues to create the global, inclusive and innovative solidarity movementindispensable for change. This carefully edited book provides an excellentanalysis of the formidable challenges a progressive labour agenda is facing. Solidarity does not emerge automatically, however, the collection of casestudies provides encouragement that these challenges are not insurmountable as new broad coalitions emerge, new issues are taken up and cross boardersolidarity is practised. A must read for those who are concerned about globalsocial justice and democratic self-determination.’ - Frank Hoffer, ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities‘Bieler and Lindberg have brought together a great group of scholars and activists to address some of the most intractable issues in our current complex global modernity. Prominent among these are what it means to organize in today’s global economy and what are the new bases for solidarity when the space for politics cuts across the world. The many different perspectives in this book move us towards drawing this different type of map.’ - Saskia Sassen, Professor, Columbia University and author of Territory, Authority, Rights

• Part I: Introduction and Conceptual Considerations 1. Globalisation and the new challenges for transnational solidarity: an Introduction Andreas Bieler and Ingemar Lindberg 2. Trade unions, global competition and options for solidarity Richard Hyman Part II: Trade union solidarity across borders? 3. West-East European Labour Transnationalism(s): Rivalry or Joint Mobilisation? Magdalena Bernaciak 4. Detours of Solidarity: Experiences from Ericsson in Colombia Jonas Sjölander 5. Building Rank and File Activism: A Study of the Global Action Day Campaign in the History of the International Transport Workers’ Federation Mac Urata Part III: Transnational solidarity involving trade unions and social movements 6. Informal work and transnational organizing Ilda Lindell 7. What Does Transnational Labour Organizing and Solidarity Mean for Sri Lankan Free Trade Zone Women Workers? Samanthi Gunawardana 8. Victory through solidarity? The story of a women workers’ strike in Turkey’s Antalya Free Zone Tore Fougner and Ayça Kurtoğlu 9. Cross-border Wage Struggles in the Global Garment Industry: The campaign for an Asia Floor Wage Jeroen Merk Part IV: Transnational solidarity in defence of the public sector 10. Challenging privatisation and access to health care services: the role of trade unions Jane Lethbridge 11. Thinking through transnational solidarity: The case of SINTREAMCALI in Colombia Mario Novelli Part V: Trade union social movement co-operation in the developed world 12. How new social alliances changed politics in Norway Asbjørn Wahl 13. Trade union and social movement co-operation in the defence of the European public sector(and a postscriptum with Jan Willem Goudriaan) Andreas Bieler Part VI: What strategies towards transnational solidarity? 14. Making connections: Transnational solidarity through the internet Bruce Robinson 15. Varieties of solidarity: an analysis of cases of worker action across borders Ingemar Lindberg 16. Conclusions: A variable landscape of emerging transnational solidarities Andreas Bieler and Ingemar Lindberg