Social Movement Unionism
Encyclopedia
Social Movement Unionism is a trend of theory and practice in contemporary trade unionism. Strongly associated with the labour movements of developing countries, Social Movement Unionism is distinct from many other models of trade unionism because it concerns itself with more than organising workers around workplace issues, pay and terms and conditions. It engages in wider political struggles for human rights, social justice and democracy. Social Movement Unionism grew out of political struggles in developing countries and was theorised as a distinct industrial relations model in the late 1980s and early 1990s .
In this model, trade unions are not distinct from social movements and form part of a wider ecosystem of political activism that includes faith groups, civic and residents' organisations and student groups. These are usually organised into democratic umbrella organisations along a popular front
model. The umbrella organisation generally has a programme or manifesto that all affiliates commit themselves to.
A prime example of social movement unionism is the link between the trade union federation Cosatu and the wider anti-apartheid struggle through the United Democratic Front
in South Africa
in the 1980s. More recently, Cosatu has successfully campaigned with the Treatment Action Campaign
for access to medication for HIV
-Aids
. Social Movement Unionism is also a feature of the industrial relations of Brazil
. Philippines
and South Korea
.
SMU is widely considered to be a highly dynamic and successful model, as evidenced by the success against apartheid and for treatment access, and by the fact that countries practising this model have generally bucked the trend of trade union decline experienced in the developed world. For instance, union density grew in South Africa by 130% between 1985 and 1995 , during a period of steep decline in many developed countries.
In the developed world, Social Movement Unionism it is strongly associated with the organising model
of trade union
ism, and overlaps with Community Unionism
. Social Movement Unionism attempts to integrate workers, trade unions and the labour movement into broader coalitions for social and economic justice. Thus, in principle, unions and other organisations support each other in what are seen as mutually beneficial goals.
The campus living wage
work of unions, which have frequently worked with chapters of United Students Against Sweatshops
, are an example of the principle in practice. Similarly, the 'Teamsters for Turtles' (as their t-shirts had it) at Seattle signalled a willingness of sections of the labour movement to engage with environmental concerns.
Other prominent examples include the relationship between Reclaim the Streets
and the Liverpool Dockers (UK) during their strike in the late '90s
; and the relationship between the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
and progressive US students during the Boot the Bell campaign. Various labor-environmental coalitions also fit this social movement model.
causes can come from within the scope of their respective collective agreements
. Unions are increasingly demanding that new collective agreements contain clauses that are intended to further social justice. The inclusion of social justice support in a negotiated contract
, compels all parties to support these causes in a legally binding way.
This may extend to funding the education of rank and file
union members in various social justice issues (ie. fair trade
policies, anti-poverty initiatives, anti-globalization
campaigns and race, gender and human rights issues, etc.) and/or financial or technical support for non-union causes. Generally speaking, social movement unionism advocates greater levels of democracy
and equality for all people, regardless of union membership.
, some unions are pushing for the inclusion of various social justice clauses to be added to the collective agreement
. One example of this may be a demand that a percentage of future wages be transferred to a fund to be used to effect social justice issues nationally or internationally on behalf of the union membership. Another example is a recent trend of demanding a portion of hourly wages to be deferred to a P.E.L. (paid education leave) fund, to allow union members to leave the work place for a period of time, at no loss of pay, so they can attend social justice seminars and educational programs. These demands are forwarded as proposals to the employer during collective bargaining negotiations.
In this model, trade unions are not distinct from social movements and form part of a wider ecosystem of political activism that includes faith groups, civic and residents' organisations and student groups. These are usually organised into democratic umbrella organisations along a popular front
Popular front
A popular front is a broad coalition of different political groupings, often made up of leftists and centrists. Being very broad, they can sometimes include centrist and liberal forces as well as socialist and communist groups...
model. The umbrella organisation generally has a programme or manifesto that all affiliates commit themselves to.
A prime example of social movement unionism is the link between the trade union federation Cosatu and the wider anti-apartheid struggle through the United Democratic Front
United Democratic Front
*United Democratic Front *United Democratic Front *United Democratic Front , a political party in Malawi, which won the 2005 general election.*United Democratic Front *United Democratic Front...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in the 1980s. More recently, Cosatu has successfully campaigned with the Treatment Action Campaign
Treatment Action Campaign
The Treatment Action Campaign is a South African AIDS activist organization which was founded by the HIV-positive activist Zackie Achmat in 1998. TAC is rooted in the experiences, direct action tactics and anti-apartheid background of its founder...
for access to medication for HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
-Aids
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. Social Movement Unionism is also a feature of the industrial relations of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
SMU is widely considered to be a highly dynamic and successful model, as evidenced by the success against apartheid and for treatment access, and by the fact that countries practising this model have generally bucked the trend of trade union decline experienced in the developed world. For instance, union density grew in South Africa by 130% between 1985 and 1995 , during a period of steep decline in many developed countries.
In the developed world, Social Movement Unionism it is strongly associated with the organising model
Organising model
The organising model, as the term refers to trade unions , is a broad conception of how those organisations should recruit, operate and advance the interests of their members...
of trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ism, and overlaps with Community Unionism
Community Unionism
Community unionism describes the spectrum of ways in which trade unions work collaboratively with community organisations over issues of common importance to both...
. Social Movement Unionism attempts to integrate workers, trade unions and the labour movement into broader coalitions for social and economic justice. Thus, in principle, unions and other organisations support each other in what are seen as mutually beneficial goals.
The campus living wage
Living wage
In public policy, a living wage is the minimum hourly income necessary for a worker to meet basic needs . These needs include shelter and other incidentals such as clothing and nutrition...
work of unions, which have frequently worked with chapters of United Students Against Sweatshops
United Students Against Sweatshops
United Students Against Sweatshops is a student organization with chapters at over 250 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In April 2000, USAS founded the Worker Rights Consortium , an independent monitoring organization that investigates labor conditions in factories that...
, are an example of the principle in practice. Similarly, the 'Teamsters for Turtles' (as their t-shirts had it) at Seattle signalled a willingness of sections of the labour movement to engage with environmental concerns.
Other prominent examples include the relationship between Reclaim the Streets
Reclaim the Streets
Reclaim The Streets is a collective with a shared ideal of community ownership of public spaces. Participants characterize the collective as a resistance movement opposed to the dominance of corporate forces in globalization, and to the car as the dominant mode of transport.-Protests:Reclaim The...
and the Liverpool Dockers (UK) during their strike in the late '90s
Liverpool Dockers' Strike
The Liverpool Dockers' Strike lasted from 1995 to 1998.Although referred to as a strike it was strictly a dispute because the employers, the MDHC had actually used the opportunity to sack the dockers who were caught up in a separate dispute.The Liverpool dockers refused to cross a picket line set...
; and the relationship between the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Coalition of Immokalee Workers
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is a non-profit organization in Immokalee, Florida whose members are "largely Latino, Haitian, and Mayan Indian immigrants working in low-wage jobs throughout the state."Founded in 1993, the group has seen major success on several fronts...
and progressive US students during the Boot the Bell campaign. Various labor-environmental coalitions also fit this social movement model.
Union initiatives
Union support for social justiceSocial justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
causes can come from within the scope of their respective collective agreements
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
. Unions are increasingly demanding that new collective agreements contain clauses that are intended to further social justice. The inclusion of social justice support in a negotiated contract
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
, compels all parties to support these causes in a legally binding way.
This may extend to funding the education of rank and file
Rank and file
In politics and labor unions the rank and file are the individual members of an organization, exclusive of its leadership. The phrase originated in the military, denoting the horizontal "ranks" and vertical "files" of individual foot-soldiers, exclusive of the noncommissioned officers....
union members in various social justice issues (ie. fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
policies, anti-poverty initiatives, anti-globalization
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
campaigns and race, gender and human rights issues, etc.) and/or financial or technical support for non-union causes. Generally speaking, social movement unionism advocates greater levels of democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and equality for all people, regardless of union membership.
Collective bargaining
During contract negotiations or collective bargainingCollective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
, some unions are pushing for the inclusion of various social justice clauses to be added to the collective agreement
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
. One example of this may be a demand that a percentage of future wages be transferred to a fund to be used to effect social justice issues nationally or internationally on behalf of the union membership. Another example is a recent trend of demanding a portion of hourly wages to be deferred to a P.E.L. (paid education leave) fund, to allow union members to leave the work place for a period of time, at no loss of pay, so they can attend social justice seminars and educational programs. These demands are forwarded as proposals to the employer during collective bargaining negotiations.
Further reading
- Report of a 2001 Jobs With Justice Conference entitled Building Social Movement Unionism, indicating the assumptions which lie behind the term and revealing some practical strategies.
- Social Movement Unionism and Progressive Public Policy in New York City, a paper by Jeremy Reiss.
- Chapter on Social Movement Unionism in the booklet Fighting Back with Social Movement Unionism: A Handbook for APL Activists, produced by the Alliance of Progressive Labour in the Philippines.
- This brief article gives some idea of how the term in question is so connected and conflated with the organising model, and the realisation of the need for (another) 'new unionism'].
- Labor Notes magazine