Transnational Labor Movements

transnational labor movements

labor organizations, campaigns, or networks that cross national borders to address issues affecting workers in multiple countries

multinational corporations that outsource production to countries with low labor costs

Who do transnational labor movements target?

support each other’s struggles and recognizing shared challenges

How do workers in transnational labor movements repsonse?

international law, global labor standard, media campaigns, consumer pressure

What tools do transnational labor movements use to influence corporate behavior?

changed incentives of global brands in a way that aligned them with workers’ incentives for stronger labor protections

According to Berliner, what did successful transnational labor organization result in, and what is his main argument?

1. Honduran workers reported to their labor unions

2. Unions reported violations to US NGOs

3. NGOs inspected and reported findings to buyers (universities)

4. Students persuaded universities to end contracts with brands due to their codes of conduct

According to Berliner, what was the process for implementing pressure on the brands?

successful international organizing of domestic workers

What does Fish outline in “Dignity Overdue”?

1. domestic workers organized locally, nationally, then transnationally

2. movement built support from migrant networks, unions, and feminist/human rights organizations from across boarders

3. Eventually got support from high profile international institutions/NGOs

4. Invited to ILO to present case and pressure for labor protections

According to Fish, what was the process for pressuring the ILO on the transnational level?

framed issues in terms of “human rights”

According to Fish, how to domestic workers get the attention of high profile NGOs?

shows how migrants are vulnerable to exploitation when legal protections are weak

How is The Great Escape an example of the effects of global migration used as labor sourcing?

workers entered under formal visa programs and legal frameworks to debt bondage, unsafe working conditions, withholding freedom of movement, and bad housing conditions

(globalization can lead to trapped labor)

How is The Great Escape an example of forced labor/human trafficking under legal cover?

the workers organized an escape, plan legal action, campaign, and protest with Soni’s help, which shows that collective organization is effective when provided support

How is The Great Escape an example of the power of organization with transnational support?

NGOs connected workers to legal, advocacy, and media networks

How is The Great Escape an example of the influence of NGOs on transnational labor unions?

migrant workers are systematically vulnerable to exploitation under global labor systems but collective action and transnational organizing can assert labor rights

What is the main argument in The Great Escape?