SINGLE GLOBAL SUPER UNION WITHIN A DECADE? An international trade union could be created within a decade, the leader of one of Europe’s biggest trade unions has declared. The UK union Amicus has...

SINGLE GLOBAL SUPER UNION WITHIN A DECADE?

An international trade union could be created within a decade, the leader of one of Europe’s biggest trade unions has declared. The UK union Amicus has signed solidarity agreements with IG Metall in Germany and two unions in the USA. It is looking for agreements with other unions in other countries. The general secretary of Amicus said, ‘Our aim is to create a powerful single union that will cross international boundaries to challenge the global forces of capital. It will increase the collective bargaining power of unions.’ Trade union leaders are worried by the growth of globalisation that has weakened their power and reduced their membership. Because employers can now easily transfer production to low-cost countries, the unions’ power to bargain and negotiate higher pay deals has been much weakened. The answer, according to Amicus, is to ‘globalise trade unions’ too. A single global union would be able to negotiate with multinationals on behalf of members throughout the world and this might prevent worker exploitation in very low-wage economies. The general secretary added, ‘Our aim is to match up to globalised industry. We will force multinational companies to sign deals with one single international union. This will stop them making changes to workers’ pay and rights in one country without consulting unions elsewhere.’

20 marks, 40 minutes

1. Define the term ‘single-union agreement’. [2]

2. Explain how a trade union’s members might benefit from collective bargaining. [4]

3. Analyse a potential benefit to employees and a benefit to employers of a ‘globalised union’. [4]

4. Evaluate how multinational companies might be affected by the development of one large international trade union. [10]

Key concept question

20 marks, 40 minutes

With reference to one organisation that you have studied, evaluate the importance of ethics and change in employee and employer relations. [20]