Description
How can American unions survive in our increasingly globalized business environment? Historically, U.S. unions have looked inward for their membership. However, with the trend toward multinational corporations, free trade pacts, and dismantling of import barriers, organized labor has been losing ground in the United States. This book suggests that U.S. unions can look elsewhere to expand their role, by creating ties with workers and unions in other countries, and by including immigrant workers – who are growing in ever-increasing proportion in the United States – in their ranks. How can this be accomplished? Through “social movement unionism,” which would change unions’ orientation less toward the market and more toward social issues and rights. Unions in a Globalized Environment is divided into three parts. The first two parts examine union attempts a cross-border solidarity with workers and unions abroad, and unions’ relations with immigrants. Expanding on these ideas, the third section explores the types of internal transformations needed to revitalize the flagging U.S. labor movement.
