The impact of globalisation on trade unions : Cosatu's present and future engagement in international issues

[摘要] The effects of 'accelerated globalisation' can not be denied when observing moderninnovations shaping human life. Its development and consequent revolutionaryimpact is unlike any other in modern history. The last half of the twentieth centurywitnessed changes in exponential terms, such as informational and technologicalinnovations that constantly redefine the way people function. This study focuses onthe effect of globalisation on trade unions, paying particular attention to the formationof liberal economic conditions, the rise of global capital flows, and the diversificationof workers, working conditions and employment patterns.Globalisation has led to the formation of new social, economic, and politicalconditions which have made it increasingly difficult for trade unions to function intraditional ways. At the heart of this lies the fundamental opposition of capital tolabour, and increasingly so under conditions of global competition. Trade unions, areorganisations that represent worker interests through solidarity and strength innumbers, traditionally at the national level but increasingly they are being challengedon a global level. Thus, due to various internal and external factors, the situationmany unions find themselves in is one of survival instead of growth and influence.The case study of Cosatu was chosen due to the benefit of analysing theorganisation's past success as well as present situation. Although it has not beenunaffected by the problems facing unions worldwide, it has managed to achieve somenotable successes in the process. The practice of social movement unionism has beenhighly effective in mobilising under-represented groups, and is found to still beeffective in South Africa, although at a diminished scale.It is imperative for all unions to restructure the way they function so as to incorporatepreviously marginalised groups, to utilise technology and globalisation to theiradvantage, and to educate potential new entrants to the labour market.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University