Globalising Labour Relations: On Track with Framework Agreements?

Abstract

Global framework agreements (GFAs) – signed and implemented by labour and management – create arenas for labour relations that are based on the Core Labour Standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO). As such, they are a step towards building a transnational arena for global labour relations. Global Union Federations (GUFs) and their affiliates are driving this process, in particular by building transnational union networks (TUNs) that link unions and employee representatives at strategic nodes in the global production networks of transnational corporations. A special challenge of TUNs is that they must link unions that have differing labour relations systems as well as diverse political, cultural, and institutional contexts. Today, there are 85 active GFAs worldwide. In many cases their implementation "on the ground" is, however, limited. A comparative analysis of existing agreements shows that the key to the success of GFAs lies in their joint implementation by unions and management. In this respect, the full involvement of local level unions and management at all stages of the GFA process – from its initiation through to negotiations, implementation, and feedback – is crucial.

Keywords: global production networks, global framework agreement, global union, labor standards, transnational corporation