Title: National labour unions' quandary: the need for internationalisation

Authors: Kamal Fatehi, Foad Derakhshan, James R. Giermanski

Addresses: Management and Entrepreneurship Department, Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Road, Kennesaw, GA 30144-5591, USA. Management Department, College of Business, California State University, San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407-2397, USA. International Business Studies, Blemont Abby College, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Abstract: This paper highlights the predicaments of national labour unions when they deal with multinational companies (MNCs). National laws prevent labour unions from establishing formal alliances with foreign counterparts, while MNCs do not face the same restriction. Moreover, national labour unions cannot match the flexibility and power of MNCs. MNCs can shift production across national borders and play one national union against the other. What are the solutions to these problems? While there are no formal remedies, there are some informal methods to counter the power and flexibility of MNCs. These methods and the prospect for the future of national labour unions are discussed in this paper.

Keywords: labour unions; internationalisation; MNCs; multinational companies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2000.000994

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2000 Vol.1 No.1, pp.68-80

Published online: 18 Aug 2003 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article