The Internationalism of Labour Movement - Article Example

Running head: Internationalism of Labour Movement Internationalism of Labour Movement [Writer’s Name] [Institution’s Name] Abstract The ideas presented in this article are to formulate the opinion as to how much the recent globalization has impacted on the internationalism of labour movement. All the articles or research studied for this article conclude that globalization has played a positive role in uplifting or acknowledging the once so illegal an idea. The main focus is to highlight special concern areas for the labour movement’s growth and how it is now able to communicate to organizations around the world on issues that are global. The paper has been divided into three main parts. Beginning with an overview of how and when the Labour movement initiated and what were the issues they faced in the early 19th century. The first part concludes on the importance of such a movement especially for the working class and how it has uplifted their lives. In the second part we study the globalization and its role for the success of the labour movement. The strength these workers have gained with the access and sharing of rights and knowledge that enables them to demand for these rights. The conclusion drawn on the basis of all the work studied is presented in the last part and will support the argument that is the base for this article. Internationalism of Labour Movement Overview The labour movement began in Europe at the time of the “industrial revolution”. It was a when the jobs in the agricultural sector had dropped down and more workers shifted to the industrial sector. This idea or shift was resisted by many groups like “Tolpuddle Martyrs” of “Tolpuddle, Dorset” were not only penalized but were also sent away for making groups or labour unions (Richardson, 2000). Forming unions at the time was considered illegal. The labour movement’s memento was increased to a large extent by the end of the 19th and beginning of 20th century. There was an introductory text, “Rerum Novarum”, which was also known as "On the Condition of the Working Classes" (Nesvig, 2007). In this official article several points were included which are as follows: 1. The hours set for the workers per day. 2. Salary or wage as per the set up. 3. Ban on the working children 4. Labour to be given rights to organize unions 5. Regulating the labour conditions by the state. After the document was released the floundering movement began to flourish not only in the Europe but also in North America after that. Actions taken by this labour movement have directed the ways to building reforms and the rights of the labour, globally. The rights include basic points like a weekend that includes two days, the minimum pay that can be given to a worker, paid and unpaid leaves, and working time for the employees that is on average eight hours. For the economic progress and to maintain democracy it is considered important that there should be a free and active workers movement. Globalization and World Labour Movement In majority of the countries such movements related to labour, not only faced certain hindrances and also defeat from the middle of the 1970s. Many of these countries are still protective, even if the tide of resistance globally against the liberalisation did lead to protests or disputes all around the west side of Europe and part of America. The hypothesis in “ Forces of Labour: Workers movement and globalisation since 1870” states that labour working in different geographical areas are all connected because of the universal division of the workers and to an extent worldwide state organism (Silver, 2004). Considering this it is noticeable how all such cases may be interrelated all around the world without the barriers of time or the rules of different countries. According to Silver all such research tactics which will be able to deal effectively with critical problems and also the comparisons of national and cross national systems is totally insufficient. The industry has always used the labour as a force to benefit or gain on capitalism. They find refuge in setting the international systems for labours as it provides a justification in case of societal changes and class distinction. Lot of data that is provided helps the reader to understand that all the activities of the so called unions were deployed by the companies themselves. They gain attention not only of the media but of the world. We study different era and trends where unrest or riots were categorized under labour movement. Although it is true that because of the labour movement the working class has gained cooperation for their welfare and their families. They have gained rights which were not known to the labour class before. However in providing these laws companies have benefited a great deal as well. Until the globalisation channels increased there were areas of the world where such rights or movements were unheard of. However under the increasing awareness through media and other services the labour or working class all around the world are aware of their rights. We can see the growth or the life cycle of the movement as beginning from an individual company, to city or industry level, going to the national level and now they have become international labour movements. Around the globe the workforce is combined on one platform and they communicate with each other on their particular interest levels. Let us weigh the negative aspects with the positive ones when discussing the globalization of labour movement. The negative factors include child labour, forced labour, discrimination due to gender, and the freedom of association which is still lacking in areas like EPZs. However they have started to work at the multinational level and organize their activities. They are now able to discuss terms and conditions on a larger scale, out of the scope of their own industry or country. They know how to voice their issues and concerns to the authorities that support them and will help sustain their progress. Such movements have now come to the level of being Trade unions. In her edited article “Trade union responses to globalization: A review by the Global Union Research Network” Schmidt highlights that the most important part of the society is the “Trade Unions”. They play a major role as far as enforcement of rules is concerned in order to obtain a just internationalism and to help the growth and development. They also prove to be pivotal not only in influencing but also help the implementation of such rules. One may find some innovation in the response development from the movement in the multifaceted challenges and their impact with regards to globalization. The trend that can be clearly seen on the rise is how these unions are adding to their list issues where they can easily involve the organizations working worldwide and highlight their policies. Due to certain factors in the international market the trade unions which are now global have gained a lot of power. For example because of the increasing strength of the Multinational Enterprises these unions have been involved in the discussions on a global scale through agreements such as the IFAs. The IFAs which is short for the “International Framework Agreements” helps these trade unions or movements in arranging worldwide drives and to extend and deepen their support and help on a multinational scale. Looking at the perspective that these main unions all respond to the globalization factor as a basic need in order to expand their agendas, we can point out the significance of such a set-up and the level of its grouping. Another main factor is the function of International Labour Organization (ILO) and the benchmark in which the globalization is attained in a fair manner. We now continue to see what is the ILO and its role for the internationalism for labour movement. As its name suggests the International Labour Organization is a United Nations agency that works with three groups bringing together (United Nations, 2009) i. governments, ii. employers and iii. workers These three bodies relate to its affiliated countries in the common act to encourage respectable work environment or condition all around the world (ILO, n.d.). Has globalisation brought about the inception of such an organization? The answer to this is yes. If not for the international communication channels the labourers would not have been able to voice their problems. Under the ILO it is now a global standard of rights for all the workers and the rules that will apply not only to male workers but to female workers as well. The standards of the international labour have proven to be a basic way to increase and speed up the methods to provide better work surroundings. However the basic standards for the labourers have to be valued by all the member countries of the ILO, no matter is they have been approved by the states; the fact is quite the opposite. Globally the labour movements are gathering together the community so as to assert force on all such States that do not value the core principles to bring about the basic changes. In another article “Imperialist Globalization and Labour” there is a compelling argument on how globalization has affected the labour movement through the years. Globalization has opened a new terrain according to Ashim Roy (n.d). His article relates to how from the 80’s the labour movement which started because of the industrialism has reached an international level. The misconception that dominates the western world about the developing countries are not capable of building a logical, effective and continued political movement for bringing changes in the society are highlighted here. This misapprehension is drawn all the way through a planned imitation of “images, reports and studies” all pointing to the need of having “political will, fatalism, universal corruption”. Apart from that it also requires the disintegration of communal complaints and the lack of a unified towards democracy. The article highlights that the main feature of this globalization is the appearance of a widespread monetary interest through the diffusion of the “national capital of the imperialist countries, uniform global market in money capital and the development of international finance institutions to sustain and safeguard this generalized financial interest.” Although Roy stresses that globalization has had a negative effect which he considers as “social clause” in his article. The effect of globalization on the employment rate is drastic and as figured out in the article shows a massive drop. This according to him is an ongoing effect and a major concern for the Trade unions. Although his data is based on what the economic conditions were more than a decade ago. Currently, the trade unions have attained a much stronger position in the global market and their communication amongst different countries is far better. Evans (2002) suggests in the article “The rules of globalization: A place for labour” that in contrast to the famous myth, the more serious risk for the labourers because of globalization is not business or investment. Many of the members already rely on these sources of revenue. The risk or danger exists in the legal or authoritative role of the countries especially where it is helpful in providing the market regulations. According to him the last two decades were over powered by the reoccurrence of “liberalisation, privatisation and deregulation”. Consequentially the government ignored its responsibilities at setting up structure for basic policies such as tax rates, economic or exchange rate policies. We have examples like the “Californian power cuts” that highlights the need for a proper structure of systems for the international market control. Globalization has not only increased social responsibilities but of that of the state as well. Unless the governments are favouring or supporting such roles or movements, the positive effects will not be felt. The article concludes that these “global unions” have set a variety of measures aimed at the establishment of a better directive of” international financial markets”. Furthermore we see the need for this topic to become a not so philosophical argument with respect to its role of the public sector. This would thus accept the fact that to have a good public sector is not only a social requirement but that of the economical necessity as well. The reaction of the labour movement to the effect of globalisation is not to lament changes or to react protectively. “The response is to campaign for the mechanisms of governance to manage them” (Evans, 2002). Conclusion Through the various articles and research material studied it is observed that all through the years the role of labour movement has been constantly evolving. Internationalism of the labour movement came in to the scene in the early 19th century and was much developed and advanced since the industrial revolution. These international unions look to their local governments and the international organizations to guarantee “proper regulation, taxation and transparency” that concerns the actions of private ownership and to avoid heavy funding. However, the important fact is that through globalisation many organizations are now involved in supporting the movement. We discussed the role of ILO a leading organization of the UN that sets rules or standards that are to be applied internationally. For workers in the developing countries as well, these movements have proven to be a milestone. Prohibiting child labour, gender discriminations to name a few have been the major steps that have been taken with the help of these global organizations. The circumstances thus provided by the globalisation have increased the awareness of the labour movement be it America, Australia, Europe or Asia. References Evans, J. (2002). The rules of globalization: A place for labour. [Online] Available at: http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/719 [Accessed 26 October 2009]. Nesvig, M. A. (2007). Religious culture in modern Mexico. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. Richardson, J. (2000). The annals of London: a year-by-year record of a thousand years of history. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Roy, A. (1997). Imperialist Globalization and Labour. [Online] Available at: http://www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/rdv3n2/global.htm [Accessed 26 October 2009]. Schmidt, V. (n.d.).Trade union responses to globalization: A review by the Global Union Research Network. [Online] Available at: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/documents/publication/wcms_088078.pdf [Accessed 26 October 2009]. Silver, B. J. (2003). Forces of labour: workers' movements and globalization since 1870. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. United Nations. (2009). International Geneva Yearbook 2009. New York: United Nations Publications. Read More