Stephane Le Queux

Social Movement and Unionism in France: A Case for Revitalization?:

From the mid-1990s onwards, France has been rocked by ongoing social protests. This article considers whether and how these protests provide a strategic context for the “revitalization” of labor organizations. After providing insights into the French industrial relations system, particular attention is given to three cases: the organizing of unemployed and migrant workers, the alter-globalization movement, and recently established independent trade union Solidaires, Unitaires et Démocratiques, which epitomize emerging forces and contradictions at play. The conclusion reconsiders the revitalization thesis in the light of these cases.

Between “too big to fail” and “too small to matter” : The borderless financial crisis and unions

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of union responses to globalisation and, in particular, the global financial crisis; the consequences of the financial crisis for workers; and lessons from the experience. Design/methodology/approach - The authors examined numerous union statements, declarations, reports and actions as well as extensive documentary evidence from other sources. The focus was on the behaviour of supranational trade unions, including the European Trade Union Confederation, the International Trade Union Confederation and Global Unions. Findings - The supranational unions’ methods gradually shifted in the 2000s from reliance on institutional politics to collaboration with broader alter-globalisation protest movements, though this carried risks. The global financial crisis appeared to be a strategic opportunity for trade unions, but while they developed sophisticated policy packages, they were unable to change the behaviour of global institutions. This accentuated the shift in union strategy. Governments initially set aside free market ideology for stimulus packages, but failed to regulate to prevent future crises. Workers bore the brunt of the crisis. The experience highlighted the contradictions facing unions dealing with global issues. Practical implications - The outcomes of crises depend on the actions, strategies and prior strengths of the parties. Different outcomes emerged from prior crises and may emerge from future ones. Originality/value - Few studies have examined the role of supranational unions in the context of the financial crisis. A clearer understanding of the weaknesses of and impediments to supranational union responses may increase the likelihood that future crises will be better understood and be followed by more effective responses.

The Global Financial Crisis and Employment Relations

In an expensively decorated office high above Wall Street, financier Charles Smith sat down to read all the documentation surrounding the ‘CDO squared’ (CDO2) he was about to purchase. The CDO2 was a privately issued bond; the underlying assets backing it were a multitude of collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) – bonds issued against mixed pools of assets, mostly loans. Each of the underlying CDOs was 200 pages long, so in order to understand the CDO2, worth many millions of dollars, Mr Smith had to read through 1.1 billion pages of text associated with 94 million mortgages and other instruments within that CDO2. He sat with his coffee and commenced reading on 2 January 2008, and with meal and coffee breaks had finished by 7 August 2863.1

Managing diversity in the South Pacific

This chapter examines the approaches to diversity management in the South Pacific, specifically New Zealand, Australia and two French Pacific Territories – Polynesia and New Caledonia. The focus of the analysis is on gender and racial equality. The chapter will examine the legislative requirements promoting diversity and equality; organizational programs to promote diversity and equality; and the equity and diversity challenges confronting each of the countries/territories. In terms of equity and diversity there are three common features across the region. All have indigenous populations with unique cultures and histories that have in general been marginalized in terms of access to jobs and wealth. All have a colonial legacy as European settlement was imposed across the region in the 18th and 19th centuries and, to different degrees, indigenous communities and lifestyles have been irrevocably altered. Finally, immigration from Europe, and more recently from Asia, has been an ongoing feature of the region. Diversity management and equal employment opportunities (EEO) issues are important across the region with major inequalities by gender, race, age and ethnicity in terms of employment access and labour market outcomes.

Industrial relations in New Caledonia: context and focus on the Kanak Indigenous people’s labour struggle in the background of the politics of reconciliation and decolonisation

This article examines industrial relations in New Caledonia with a focus on Indigenous labour. Caledonian industrial relations are absent from English speaking industrial relations literature. Therefore, the first objective of this article is to provide a general introduction to the broad industrial relations context including an overview of the political economy; key features of the labour market; labour market regulation and labour issues. The second objective is to provide historical and contemporary insights on the Kanak labour struggle and political (anti-colonial) activism. The research is informed by interviews in 2011 and 2014 and ongoing participant observation among Kanak political forces. Our argument is twofold. First, Caledonian industrial relations are politicised within the politics of reconciliation – the political platform for a so-called common destiny. Second, the politics of reconciliation have been deployed in response to the long-lasting indigenous struggle for sovereignty, with Kanak organised labour at the forefront of this struggle.

AUSTRALIAN TRADE UNION POLITICS IN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: WHICH WAY FORWARD?

At a time when the ACTU aims at taking advantage of the new legislative ground to capitalise in membership growth, this paper sets out to explore prospects for the future of solidarity by providing a wider perspective. After echoing calls for a revitalisation of trade unions, attention is given to social movements that emerged at the turn of the twenty-first century in protest against globalisation. A heuristic presentation of the labour problem in the light of those movements is then provided. Acknowledging the recent convergence between international labour and global justice movements, and the shift of labour internationalism towards new politics of contention and campaigning, the concluding section attempts to critically examine what is in store for Australian organised labour.At a time when the ACTU aims at taking advantage of the new legislative ground to capitalise in membership growth, this paper sets out to explore prospects for the future of solidarity by providing a wider perspective. After echoing calls for a revitalisation of trade unions, attention is given to social movements that emerged at the turn of the twenty-first century in protest against globalisation. A heuristic presentation of the labour problem in the light of those movements is then provided. Acknowledging the recent convergence between international labour and global justice movements, and the shift of labour internationalism towards new politics of contention and campaigning, the concluding section attempts to critically examine what is in store for Australian organised labour.