scholarly journals The Place and Importance of Associations in Strengthening Trade Unions

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
MA. Ali ihsan Çelen

Developments in the globalization process play an important role in the power loss of trade unions. This situation reveals the problems of unionization in the current industrial relations system. At this point, associations with aspects similar to the trade unions and important non-governmental organizations (NGOs), have an important place in terms of understanding the position, the importance, and the functions of today's industrial relations system where different ways of solutions are sought for unionism. In this context, this investigation focuses on the role, importance and functions of associations in the protection and reinforcement of the existing forces of the trade unions.The investigation aims to evaluate the position, importance and the potential functions of the associations in development of new strategies for strengthening the trade unions, and to suggest new ideas on this direction. The topic (in the direction of the determined purpose) was evaluated under the titles of ‘change and transformation in trade unionism’, ‘new strategies discussed and developed in the process of strengthening the trade unions’, and ‘the associations in development of new strategies’. According to basic findings, in the process of the re-empowerment of trade unions, associations are emerging as important NGOs in the realization of positive scenarios and taking precautions against negative scenarios. In conclusion; besides unionization, importance should be attached to association in every matter. In this process, associations should function in the independent status, in the dependent status, and in the core status.

Author(s):  
Scott Joanne

This chapter discusses the concept of private and quasi-private standards in the environmental domain. While many of these standards involve the labelling of compliant products, others do not. The chapter begins by defining the concept of private and quasi-private standards, examining their rise and the reasons for this. A standard is considered to be private when the document in question is adopted by one or more non-governmental entities, including for example firms, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and trade unions. Private standards may be firm- or sector-specific, or they may focus on a particular commodity such as sugar, palm oil, or soy. Meanwhile, the concept of a quasi-private standard is less clear and needs to be carefully defined. The chapter then looks at how these standards interact with international law in a variety of important ways. It also assesses the effectiveness and legitimacy of private and quasi-private standards.


2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Lang ◽  
Mona-Josée Gagnon

Many analysts of Brazilian industrial relations share a determinist vision of the country’s trade unionism, according to which the unions maintain a paradoxical yet atavistic relationship with the heavy body of laws that provide them with advantages while limiting their freedom. We tested this vision by conducting field enquiries into the daily activities of two Brazilian unions: the ABC Metalworkers Union and the Seamstress Union for the Sao Paulo and Osasco Region. In this article, we present the results of our case studies and what they reveal about Brazilian trade unionism’s relationship with the labour legislation. We also briefly discuss former trade union leader and current President Lula’s recent attempts to reform the country’s labour relations system.


2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-131

John W. Budd of the Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies, University of Minnesota reviews “Trade Unions in Western Europe: Hard Times, Hard Choices”, by Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick and Richard Hyman. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Explores the challenges facing trade unions and their responses in ten west European countries—Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Italy. Discusses varieties of industrial relations and trade unionism; challenges and responses; renewing power resources—recruitment, representation, and mobilization; restructuring trade unionism—mergers and organizational redesign; bargaining in adversity—decentralization, social partnership, and the crisis; unions and politics—parties, alliances, and the battle of ideas; beyond national boundaries—unions, Europe, and the world; and reconciling strategy and democracy. Gumbrell-McCormick is Senior Lecturer in Management at Birkbeck College, University of London. Hyman is Emeritus Professor of Industrial Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science.”


Author(s):  
Rolf Skjong

In the maritime industry the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the UN organization responsible for developing international safety and environmental protection regulations. IMO has now developed the second version of ‘Guidelines for Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) for use in the IMO rule making process’. The Guidelines are available as circulars both from the Marine Safety Committee (MSC) and the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC). This standard is, as far as the author knows, the first risk assessment standard adopted in an UN organization. The work with developing this standard was initiated in 1995 at IMO based on an UK initiative. As there have been some attempts to develop internationally accepted risk assessment and risk management standards also in other industries, this paper tries to describe some of the experience and lessons learned from developing and implementing FSA at IMO. Paralleling the development of the guidelines there has been a number of applications of the guidelines, recently focusing on bulk carrier safety. Relevant studies have been carried out by UK, by Japan, by Norway and International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), and by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). These studies will be briefly reviewed with respect to methods used, assumptions made and conclusions drawn. The entire process from the initial terms of reference formulated by IMO to the final decisions is considered. The main conclusion is that the maritime industry has made a lot of progress, quite fast, in the use of risk assessment as part of the decision making process. This being the case, despite the many communication problems that arises in discussing risk issues in international forums. Furthermore, the FSA has helped balancing the often conflicting interest of the flag states and non-governmental organizations present in IMO. In 2004, a new initiative was taken on developing Goal Based Standards at IMO. This initiative was taken by Greece and Bahamas, and has now been debated at three meetings of MSC. The paper will also discuss the relationship between GBS and FSA based on the experience gained.


2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-591
Author(s):  
Eckhard Voss

This article examines a number of aspects of the industrial relations practices of foreign investors in central and eastern Europe, focusing on trade union structures, employee interest representation, and consultation and social dialogue at the company level. Based on evidence from selected companies in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, the paper argues that the experiences of multinational companies with regard to employee interest representation and shop-floor trade unionism should be regarded as ‘laboratories of learning processes' which are not only having an impact on the ongoing transformation of industrial relations and corporate cultures in the new Member States but also on the whole of Europe, most notably the future shape of institutionalised employee participation.


1957 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold Karan Jacobson

One of the significant structural differences between the organization of economic and social work under the League and under the United Nations is the extent to which non-governmental organizations (NGO's) have been allowed to participate. NGO's have been granted far greater privileges in the UN than they enjoyed in the League. Initially, they were formally recognized in Article 71 of the Charter, which gives the Economic and Social Council the right to make “suitable arrangements” for consultation with them. While defined in differing ways during different periods, consultative status under this article has, subject to various conditions, always included the right to participate in the debates of ECOSOC, its commissions and committees, and to propose items for inclusion in their provisional agenda. NGO's have made extensive use of these privileges. Their use, however, as well as the entire record of NGO action in the UN, has been inseparably linked with the cold war. Russian demands at San Francisco for privileges for the newly created, communist-controlled World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) were a contributing factor in the decision to include Article 71 in the Charter. The initial definition of this article resulted primarily from the interaction of pressures by the Soviet Union and the WFTU and the western response.


1983 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Arthurs

The development of trade unionism amongst managers poses a challenge to traditional conceptions of industrial relations. This paper discusses government policies towards managerial unionism and the justifications which have been put forward for restricting the trade union activity of managers. It argues that concern about managerial unionism is built upon three main assumptions: (a) managers will be faced with conflicting loyalties and placed in the impossible position of attempting to satisfy the contradictory demands of employer and union; (b) the unionisation of managers will lead to an unacceptable shift in the balance of power from employers towards trade unions; (c) the presence of managers will compromise the independence of trade unions. The conclusion is reached that the limitations which many governments place upon managerial unionism are based upon assumptions which, although not entirely without foundation, are generally incorrect.


1970 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rick Snell

I have used a proposition developed in Kerry Howe's seminal work Where the Waves Fall (1984) to offer an explanatory framework for understanding industrial relations in the South Pacific. The paper concentrates on applying this analysis to a key moment in Western Samoan industrial relations, the 1981 public service strike. The key concept used in this analysis is mutual adjustment. The concept refers to an interactive process between foreign institutions, such as trade unions, and pre-existing institutions and values like fa' a Samoa (the cultural and political value system of Western Samoa). While the 1981 strike, and South Pacific industrial relations in general, can be interpreted from a nwnber of pespectives rhe approach used in this paper may offer a method that does not obscure the full interplay between Western values and institutions and local forces.


2019 ◽  
pp. 357-388
Author(s):  
م.د.مصطفى ابراهيم سلمان

The American vision of the Non-governmental Organizations in Iraq the topic area of that’s paper dealing with Civil Society as concept and practice, its already consider as Western concept and associated with liberalism and political development, they are many definitions of its but most significantly is all organizations, agencies, trade unions and non-governmental institutions, that’s agencies were established after 2003 and received funds from United States and UN development agencies. The non- governments organizations played a significant role as support and develop many cultural, healthy, educational, and social projects, also that’s organizations try to reduction the effects of terrorists actions especially after ISIS seized many cities in North of Iraq. That’s paper will focus upon role of United States of America to support the NGO as main mechanism of democracy and political transitions in Iraq.


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