CROSS-BORDER SOCIAL DIALOGUE AND AGREEMENTS: An ...

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The ITGLWF’s policy on cross-border dialogue – Miller and opaque web of relations among the various tiers of outsourced production. The second part focuses on the strategy of the ITGLWF in the areas of multinational research and networking, which are viewed as a necessary step in any efforts to organize workers and pave the way towards a form of social dialogue across borders. The third section of the chapter outlines some reasons that explain the particular approach taken by the ITGLWF towards cross-border dialogue with multinational companies (MNCs) in the industry, including the absence of transparency of supply chains, the (mis)perception of codes of conduct as satisfactory forms of global social compliance, the rise of multi-stakeholder initiatives and the embedded culture of “union avoidance” in the industry. The final section outlines the background to the conclusion of the first international framework agreement (IFA) in the TCF sector with an MNC. Textiles, clothing and footwear: Figures and misperceptions In 2006, the ITGLWF undertook a survey of union membership in the sector (see table 7.1). With a 30 per cent response rate, the survey reveals a decline in trade union membership. Even where trade union recognition has been achieved (some 2,000 new units being recognized in the last few years) collective bargaining remains seriously underdeveloped (ILO, 2000, pp. 60-69; for a case study see Miller, 2005; 2007; ICFTU, 2006; Miller et al., 2007), and in many cases undermined by the adoption of alternative modes of workers’ representation whose independence is often questionable (Fair Labor Association, 2005). Table 7.1. Results of ITGLWF membership survey, 2006 Region Responses/ Affiliated Members New Members Net New affiliates membership members lost gain/ units based on loss organized levies Africa 23 / 59 379 250 95 345 10 393 16 605 –6 212 1 438 Americas 7 / 36 238 635 23 853 6 523 3 339 3 184 4 Asia & Pacific 19 / 70 461 705 195 842 16 066 17 951 –1 885 234 Europe 24 / 62 700 859 217 051 26 118 28 774 –2 656 302 Total 73 / 241 1 780 449 532 091 59 100 66 669 –7 569 1 978 Source: Returns to ITGLWF 2006 Membership Survey as of July. 163
Cross-border social dialogue and agreements Box 7.1. ITGLWF agenda for action on multinational enterprises, 2004 The ITGLWF will: A. promote cooperation between affiliates dealing with the same multinational enterprises; B. build an organizing strategy throughout the operations of selected multinationals operating in the sector, including European, US, Taiwanese and Korean companies, which covers the operations in importing countries, as well as contracting, subcontracting and licensing operations; C. in conjunction with its regional organizations, develop a dialogue with multinational enterprises with a view to concluding international framework agreements relating to trade union organization and collective bargaining as well as to information and consultation rights; D. promote the creation of world-wide company councils within individual multinational corporations; E. encourage affiliates to make use of framework agreements and codes of conduct as a tool for organizing workers and improving working conditions; F. campaign to reduce the number of codes of conduct in operation, to ensure they are firmly grounded in the main Conventions of the ILO, are managed on a multi-stakeholder basis and are applied with the same intent as the ILO Conventions and that they include a system of implementation, internal monitoring and viable independent verification, with regular impact assessments; G. campaign to ensure that codes of conduct are not used as a substitute for effective labour legislation, nor as an alternative to union organization; H. demand that companies externally sourcing their production provide full disclosure of their suppliers worldwide; I. campaign to make merchandisers and retailers responsible for the conditions under which goods they market are produced; J. campaign for changes to national and international company legislation which would require companies to take into account and publicly disclose their social, environmental and economic impacts with a view to securing a legally binding international framework on corporate responsibility. Source: ITGLWF. Consequently, the policy of the ITGLWF on “cross-border social dialogue” (see box 7.1) cannot be disassociated from a strategy for “crossborder organizing” (Frundt, 2000). Because production in the TCF sector is buyer-driven (Gereffi, 1999) — outsourced by retailers and 164
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CROSS-BORDER SOCIAL DIALOGUE AND AG
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Published by the International Inst
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Cross-border social dialogue and ag
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Contributors Dominique Bé, an econ
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Contributors Nathan Lillie is Assis
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Acronyms BWI Building and Wood Work
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Introduction Konstantinos Papadakis
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Chapter 1 International framework a
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International framework agreements:
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International framework agreements
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The ILO Maritime Labour Convention,
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Chapter 9 A report on the European
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