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19 August, 2001
A few years ago the workers at Caterpillar in Peoria, Illinois, USA, who were all members of the UAW, went out on a strike which lasted for more than one year. Their colleagues at Caterpillar in France, Belgium and South Africa also took strike action in support of their U.S. colleagues.
Over 20 years ago the ISTC in Britain took industrial action over their demands for British steelworkers. This strike lasted for 13 weeks during which the ISTC asked other unions in Europe, the USA and Japan to stop exporting steel to Great Britain in order to put pressure on British Steel.
The USWA in North America has conducted a number of international campaigns against TNCs with support from unions in many countries on all continents, and actions were subsequently undertaken in a number of countries in support of the USWA's demands in the USA.
At present the South African autoworkers are on strike because the employers have refused to agree to a moderate wage increase to compensate for the rise in inflation. With negotiations still going on, the chief executive officer of DaimlerChrysler South Africa has stated that the company may shift its production back to Germany. This, of course, is nothing less than blackmail, but it did not work this time. The chairman of the Works Council at DaimlerChrysler in Germany immediately responded by saying that the workers in Germany would not accept any production transferred from South Africa because of the ongoing conflict.
This is a perfect example of international trade union solidarity in action.
Furthermore, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa has submitted a resolution to the upcoming IMF Congress in Sydney concerning the legitimacy of sympathy strikes which cross frontiers.
Solidarity across borders is the "raison d'être" of international trade unions.
How is it possible for a union in one country to go on strike in support of a legitimate struggle by people in another country?
Today there are a number of obstacles which will have to be removed.
First of all, the right to go on strike in support of unions in other countries will have to be internationally recognised. The Swedish LO has taken an international initiative aimed at achieving just this, and an appropriate Convention at the ILO must be discussed and passed. National legislation must also be adapted to make it possible for unions to declare sympathy strikes with legal actions which are taking place somewhere else. At the moment this is only possible in a few countries, notably in the Nordic countries.
Secondly, we have to be prepared so that we can quickly organise cross-border strike action wherever and whenever needed. This implies that we must be able to exchange information which is readable and understandable for the people involved.
Thirdly, we have to build up strong and efficient networks among all the unions represented in each of the transnational companies, that we will be able to coordinate internationally through the IMF and other international organisations.
This issue is extremely important and must become a central focus of our future trade union work.
Numsa's initiative is most welcome.
Over 20 years ago the ISTC in Britain took industrial action over their demands for British steelworkers. This strike lasted for 13 weeks during which the ISTC asked other unions in Europe, the USA and Japan to stop exporting steel to Great Britain in order to put pressure on British Steel.
The USWA in North America has conducted a number of international campaigns against TNCs with support from unions in many countries on all continents, and actions were subsequently undertaken in a number of countries in support of the USWA's demands in the USA.
At present the South African autoworkers are on strike because the employers have refused to agree to a moderate wage increase to compensate for the rise in inflation. With negotiations still going on, the chief executive officer of DaimlerChrysler South Africa has stated that the company may shift its production back to Germany. This, of course, is nothing less than blackmail, but it did not work this time. The chairman of the Works Council at DaimlerChrysler in Germany immediately responded by saying that the workers in Germany would not accept any production transferred from South Africa because of the ongoing conflict.
This is a perfect example of international trade union solidarity in action.
Furthermore, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa has submitted a resolution to the upcoming IMF Congress in Sydney concerning the legitimacy of sympathy strikes which cross frontiers.
Solidarity across borders is the "raison d'être" of international trade unions.
How is it possible for a union in one country to go on strike in support of a legitimate struggle by people in another country?
Today there are a number of obstacles which will have to be removed.
First of all, the right to go on strike in support of unions in other countries will have to be internationally recognised. The Swedish LO has taken an international initiative aimed at achieving just this, and an appropriate Convention at the ILO must be discussed and passed. National legislation must also be adapted to make it possible for unions to declare sympathy strikes with legal actions which are taking place somewhere else. At the moment this is only possible in a few countries, notably in the Nordic countries.
Secondly, we have to be prepared so that we can quickly organise cross-border strike action wherever and whenever needed. This implies that we must be able to exchange information which is readable and understandable for the people involved.
Thirdly, we have to build up strong and efficient networks among all the unions represented in each of the transnational companies, that we will be able to coordinate internationally through the IMF and other international organisations.
This issue is extremely important and must become a central focus of our future trade union work.
Numsa's initiative is most welcome.