Global challenges for Labour

Background:

Unions around the world operate in a complex and rapidly changing environment. In response to the industrial revolution of the 19th century organised labour fought for (labour) legislation and welfare provisions to make the ruthless dynamic of a free market compatible with a democratic and inclusive society. Especially in the industrialised countries, this struggle has been a remarkable success within many nation-states during the second half of the twentieth century. At the beginning of the 21st century, the new wave of globalisation is eroding the regulatory capacity of the nation-state and the capacity of trade unions to defend social achievement at this level. Diminishing labour rights and welfare provisions, informalisation of employment relations and growing inequality in most countries are calling for internationally coordinated responses to global problems.

The conference will discuss two key questions:

• Institutions for global governance – what is needed from a trade union point of view and how to achieve it?
• Employment and wages in a global economy - how to respond to downward pressure?