Workshop: Trade unions, free trade and the problem of transnational solidarity
Tensions between Northern trade unions and labour movements in the Global South over free trade agreements are a key obstacle to the formation of transnational solidarity. On the one hand, trade unions in the North especially in manufacturing have supported free trade agreements. They hope that new export markets for products in their sectors will preserve jobs. On the other, trade unions in the Global South as well as social movements more generally oppose these free trade agreements, since they often imply deindustrialisation and the related loss of jobs for them.
CSSGJ will host a two-day workshop on Trade unions, free trade and the problem of transnational solidarity to explore ways of how these obstacles to joint action can be overcome.
Speakers include trade union researchers, social movement activists as well as labour academics. Samir Amin, the internationally renown political economist, will be the keynote speaker.
The workshop is supported with a research grant of £6960 by the British Academy (SG102043) as well as a grant of £1750 by the University of Nottingham priority group Integrating Global Society.
The workshop will take place at the University Staff Club, University Park Campus, Nottingham on 2nd and 3rd December, 2011.