ACTIVITY Understanding Globalisation
AIMS
This activity will help you to:
· discuss the issues relevant to globalisation
· know about the interests of both government and multi-nationals on globalisation
· discuss how you can become involved in raising awareness of Globalisation
TASK
1 In groups, discuss why the following are interested in international issues:
· government
· multi-nationals
· trade unions
2 Discuss how you might begin to raise international issues in your workplace, branch, union.
REPORT BACK Put the key points on a poster and choose a spokesperson to give your group’s report.RESOURCES Globalisation and Trade Unions
Making Globalisation Work for People
Tutor Notes
This activity will allow reps to explore the reasons behind government and multi-nationals interest in international issues. It also raises issues for trade unions and illustrates why they need to be aware of international issues, and why international trade union solidarity is important. Each group should produce a flip chart with three columns that will demonstrate the differences between each group
It will also allow reps to discuss various ways and methods of getting involved in international issues.
Useful Contacts
Amnesty InternationalCommonwealth Trade Union Council (CTUC)
European Trade Union Congress (ETUC)International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
International Centre for Trade Union Rights (ICTUR)
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Public Services International (PSI)
World Development Movement (WDM)
Globalisation and Trade Unions
What is globalisation?
Globalisation is a term that is frequently use but seldom defined. It refers to the rapid rise in the amount of economic activity taking place between nations. Of course, globalisation is not new. People and goods have moved from country to country for centuries. The thing that makes globalisation such an important issue is the huge increase in the volume of this activity and the political agenda that has accompanied it: liberalising markets, deregulation (including removing legal protection for workers) and privatisation. New technologies also allow for investment and money to be moved around the world quite easily.
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Globalisation and the British Economy The British economy is said to have £40 billion in foreign investment means that 25,000 UK companies are under foreign ownership egg look at the railway companies or hi-tech companies. Inwardly Troubled The Observer 16 April 2000 |
Globalisation can be seen at different levels:
· People: movement of workers from both developing and developed countries in search of opportunities, child labour, low wages, denial of fundamental human rights, poverty and growth in haves and have nots.
· Economy: privatisation, free trade, relaxation of trade barriers, cutbacks in social security, health and education, unemployment, freeing of financial markets, outsourcing, growth in multinationals
· Environment: pollution, poor sanitation and hygiene, poor health and safety at work.
· Political: International trade agreements, third world debt, attacks on trade union rights and human rights
Why should trade unions be interested in globalisation?
Globalisation can be a force for good. It has the potential to generate wealth and improve living standards for workers. But it isn’t doing that very well at the moment. The benefits from increased trade, investment, and technological innovation are not fairly distributed.
The attack on wages, employment and job security does not just affect Britain. This is done on a global scale. The public sector in Britain has seen that through part privatisation and PFI multinational companies are now providing services once done by public workers. This is not new to other countries where cutbacks public spending, say in Guatemala, the banana companies provide medical and education assistance.
How does Globalisation affect trade unions?
Trade unions around the world have been severely affected by this global economy.
· One extreme is that trade unionists are persecuted, killed or tortured for demanding fundamental human rights or defending their public service e.g. SINTRAEMCALI union in Colombia.
· At another end, witness job losses in a number of sectors as companies shift production, or threaten to leave if new laws are brought in to protect workers, e.g. Nike in Indonesia.
How can trade unions, reps and members become involved?
There are several ways in which you may be able to get involved in campaigning;
· Branch affiliation and support
· Support ITS campaign
· Motions at conference
· Links with other unions eg twinning/solidarity activities
· Working with NGO’s, eg ICTUR, War on Want
Glossary
World Trade Organisation - Regulates trade agreements and determine the conditions for trade usually saying there should not be unfair advantage from one country to another including access to public services or through labour law www.wto.org.
World Bank and International Monetary Fund - Lends money to countries in need of economic restructuring called ‘structural adjustment programmes’. The main problem the conditions which the money is lent usually demanding cutbacks in public spending
NAFTA - Agreement to allow flow of goods from Canada through to Mexico. There is no right of freedom of movement or social rights added to this agreement.
International Labour Organisation - a UN body that has representations from Government, Business and Unions. They write international conventions that state minimum standards eg convention 87 on Freedom of Association. www.ilo.org
Export Processing Zones - Areas where the government of a country has said that companies will not pay tax or workers have rights to join trade unions.
International trade secretariat - Trade union sector representation, Public Services International represents public workers www.world-psi.org
Briefing document (1,000 words) issued 1 Nov 2001
