International Labour Review
Volume 156, Issue 3-4, 2017, Pages 307-343

An emerging transnational industrial relations? Exploring the prospects for cross-border labour bargaining (Article)

Luterbacher U. , Prosser A. , Papadakis K.
  • a Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), Geneva, Switzerland
  • b United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), Geneva, Switzerland
  • c ILO, Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract

Global union federations (GUFs) and multinational enterprises (MNEs) have been concluding “international framework agreements” (IFAs) to protect their interests amidst the globalizing economic landscape. By modelling the underlying bargaining processes, the authors show that IFAs can be expected when both sides exhibit risk aversion, although the agreement will favour the less risk-averse side. Since globalization has created fewer vulnerabilities for MNEs than for GUFs, IFAs have so far typically delivered only minimal benefits for labour. But this should change in the future if strengthened transnational union capacities and abilities to threaten MNEs with reputational costs bring greater equalization of attitudes towards risk. Copyright © The authors 2017 Journal compilation © International Labour Organization 2017

Author Keywords

trade union federation multinational enterprise international agreement globalization Labour relations

Index Keywords

trade union multinational enterprise bargaining international agreement labor relations globalization
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042666246&doi=10.1111%2filr.12078&partnerID=40&md5=712107e88ab8b0caa594040b938c8962
DOI: 10.1111/ilr.12078
ISSN: 00207780
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English