Trade unions and social movements find common cause

30 October 2008

Collaborative working between trade unionists and social movements can help in the common struggle against neo-liberal attacks, was the conclusion drawn at a meeting in Norway earlier this month.

The meeting, co-hosted by the ITF and the Norwegian ITF-affiliated union Fagforbundet, in Oslo on 17-18 October, focused on an increase in the casualisation of the workforce and the globalisation of production, two key challenges facing trade unionists today. In the meantime, union membership was in decline in many countries, it was revealed. The participants discussed examples of how these issues had been tackled, from strategic organising campaigns in the United States to the development of a social movement in Norway - involving collaboration with trade unions and other organisations - to promote the welfare state.

Participants concluded that unions and social movements could work together to build on these examples and present a real challenge to neo-liberal policies if they were able to share information, accept their differences and ensure that all their expertise was used.

Mac Urata, ITF Inland Transport Section Secretary, who co-chaired the meeting along with Asbjørn Wahl of Fagforbundet, said: “We have resolved to encourage the ITF to discuss the question of collaboration with social movement organisations regularly in their meetings and to hold themed events, such as on the issue of climate change in transport to build links with these organisations.”

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