Challenges of International Trade Union Movements

This week's article is about the challenges of the international trade union movements. As seen in all the research we (the students) have done throughout our emplyoment relation studies, it's been clear that since the 1980's through privatisations, deregulation of the financial sector and of employment relations and the expansion of neoberalism's new era. These changes were followed by a massive expansion of financial markets along with their normal speculative excesses that then led to severe economic crises as the GFC currently happening which generates a catastrophic social and very ugly political consequences. Spain for example, currently carries an unemployment rate of 24,5% and 6,7% in the USA, these rates increase dramatically when analysed the 18-25 year old workers which raises to 53,4% in Spain and 13,5% in the USA. These numbers are important to note as the global context has certainly changed from the 1980's where 18-25 year old workers had a much easier access to jobs.

On a global context it can be said that the right-wing populist parties have gained much greater influence than the left-wing odd parties. The economy has been switching from a national states economy to a global financial economy, the labour has been shifting to capital, the industrialised countries of the northern hemisphere are being overtaken by emerging economies of the southern hemisphere which in many cases have very weak trade unions systems and are not being strengthening by the former super-powers in which unions were a major force. 

Finally, over the past 30 years an unprecedented technological advance has been witnessed in the communication and transport sector, which many researchers find as a pre-requisite and the primary engine of the ongoing process of a capitalist globalisation. Some scholars say that the ultimate colonisation is underway with the domination of companies rather than governments. As a result capital is in a position to internationalise itself as never before while avoiding the pressure of trade unions and of progressive political forces at the level of the individual nation states. 

In such a context, times are tough for the international trade union movement; much harder than they were 25 years ago. The challenges are gigantic given the inability of nation states to control international capital, the sentiment of helplessness, the frustration spreading among people resulting in the rise of xenophobic and right-wing populist forces. 

At least at a continental level, nations should unite themselves and fight for a vision of equality, social justice and sustainable development.

Post based on article 'The Right Challenges Of International Trade Union Movement' by Vasco Pedrina written on: 04/12/2013 and published on: The Social Europe Journal. http://www.social-europe.eu/2013/12/international-trade-union-movement-challenges/