Work

The Global Union Federations and their affiliates: Constrained agency in action

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Global Union Federations (GUFs) pursue their agendas in ways that are both enabled and constrained by their relational interactions with affiliates. These interactions have been primarily understood in terms of the principle of subsidiarity – a perspective that positions the GUFs as playing a residual, passive role in global labour governance rather than as organisations with the potential for autonomous action and strategic agency. Drawing on data gathered at the headquarters level, in the GUFs’ Asia-Pacific regional offices, and from GUF affiliates in the Asian region, this article argues for the utility of the concept of ‘constrained agency’ as a more useful way of analysing the tensions between GUFs’ desire to act strategically at the global scale, their duty to respond to the needs and agendas of their affiliates, and their reliance on the varying effectiveness and capacities of those affiliates to achieve their strategic aims.

Source: Economic and Industrial Democracy

DOI: 10.1177/0143831x241294141

Authors: Michele Ford, Michael Gillan

Institutions: The University of Sydney, The University of Western Australia

Language: English

Topic: Labor Movements and Unions

Subfield: Public Administration

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,450