Background ‘Crisis’ exposed many vulnerabilities – export dependency, low & declining real wages for majority & insufficient social protection for workers. Major challenges: Unemployment, underemployment, precarious work, inadequate social protection, lack of respect in practice for FoA & right to collective bargaining – a clear indication that the economies are not creating decent work Governments looking towards Exports, FDI & MNEs as a major driver of growth and jobs

Background Main challenges for TUs: Organizing, recognition of trade unions & trade unions’ rights to collective bargaining facing: low TU density & CB coverage growing precarious employment, low wages & low social protection, lack of implementation of ILO standards. Within TUs: Need for strengthening organizational & technical capacities for organizing and implement social dialogue & collective bargaining be influential on economic, social & environment policies.

The processes of globalization (and the neo-liberal model in it) Financialization of the economy Strong focus on an export-led growth Growing income inequality which has impacted aggregate demand and sustainability of growth Commodification of everything (labour and land first) More competition among (unequal) countries But also inside countries: 99% vs. 1 % (USA) Weaker or absent intervention of public policies Growing gap between global economy and national policy space (investments in productive capacities unattractive, real economy vulnerable to shocks and subordinated to financial market distress and increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) & in trade for short-term profits opposed to growth of domestic markets, which has led to vulnerabilities (including dependence on a few products or a few markets) 3 3

The effects on national systems Labour standards deregulation as an answer to the international competitive pressures Crisis of the ability of States to govern the social and economic impacts induced by globalization Crisis of trade union membership and collective bargaining coverage Weaker or absent resources for social protection and basic needs of people Privatization of profits and socialization of costs and losses

Effects on the world of work Flexibility of work & change in employment relations Entailments of flexibilization of workers’ rights (right of association, establishment of TUs, collective bargaining, social security, wages, labour law) Precarious jobs for young and women workers 900 millions of working poors (in Europe 50% of families in poverty include 1 working member) 60% of workers without a secure work contract (decent work); 75% of workers without social protection; 160 work accidents every 15 seconds Income redistribution in favour of the rich (privatization, fiscal policies) - the theory that if rich people invest growth is stimulated – lower participation of work to the GDP Growth but higher inequality

Lessons from the “crisis” 1 To produce economic and social internal stability – countries need to implement measures expanding national and regional market & domestic consumption How to do it? Labour standards and development: role of right of association, collective bargaining and social security Wages are growing slower than productivity and wage share of GDP is lowering:  need for wage policies and social protection floors aimed to reduce inequalities, align wages to productivity growth, increase wage share, avoid consumption financed through debts and promote sustainable development.

Lessons from the “crisis” 2 Long- & medium- term development vs. short-termism Austerity vs. social debt Real economy vs. finance A broader base for trade unions: unemployed, underemployed, workers in informal economy (see ILO Convention 189 on domestic work)

Alternatives exist Jobs as engine for a labour-led development Full employment is an objective Only public policies work for long-term ends Inclusive social and economic policies Infrastructures for human rights Partecipated design of transition measures Investing in people Financing for the just transition Social and political alliances for alternatives to neo-liberal policies....

What is Decent work? Employment creation Social protection Tripartism and social dialogue Standards and rights at work Work that is productive and generate a fair income Work that offers security in the workplace and social protection for the workers and their families Work that offers better opportunities of personal development and stimulate social integration; Work that strengthens social dialogue and participation through freedom of association, the right to organize and collective bargaining; Work that produces equal opportunities and equal treatment for all.

Sustainable development Satisfies our needs today without endangering the capacity of future generations to satisfy their needs tomorrow Social Soportable – Sostenible - Equitativo Ambiental – Viable – Económico

DEMOCRATIC INDEPENDENT FREE & REPRESENTATIVE TRADE UNIONS DEMOCRATIC INDEPENDENT FREE & REPRESENTATIVE

Checklist democratic independent free representative deficits opportunities diversity management ownership ……………………

Organizing into a union & Organizing ‘the Union’ To attract new members – unions have to expand their reach to unorganized, unrepresented workers but also have to make significant changes to their culture, to their structures and services that it offers to its members. “organizing” should also mean changing the way unions relate to its members as well as society so what needs to change in the unions?

Barriers to TU development Internal due to union limits/drawbacks on account of workers External due to employers Due to Governments & Political/legal

Key issues to be discussed Social Dialogue & Collective Bargaining for Decent Work: Key issues for unions in the age of globalization Country situation review - Current trends in the employment & industrial relations ILO’s Decent Work Agenda, its significance and role of unions Promoting labour standards in the corporate world: Public regulation vs. private standards Organizing: Pathway to Decent Work Follow up work plans: Promoting Organizing & Decent Work

An example: global Union Networks Exchange of Information & Experiences Collective Agreements Organizing Strategies Occupational Health, Safety & Environment Company Information Building Cross-Border Union Solidarity Joint Actions Campaign support Study Visits / Shop Stewards Exchange Programmes Implementing an Effective Communication

Networking Step One: Develop a Data Base for All Unions to Determine Common Employers Step Two: Engage in Exchanges and Build Networks Among Trade Unions with Common Employers Step Three: Develop Common Tactics and Exchanges To Wield Increased Power Step Four: Engage in Joint Dialogue/Action with or Against Common Employers Step Five: Encourage and Support Formation of Global Networks