“We Want a Seat at the Table”. U.S Labor Unions against Globalization: from the “Battle of Seattle” to China’s Incorporation to WTO
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Published:
Mar 4, 2022
Keywords:
AFL-CIO, Battle of Seattle, World Trade Organization, Anti-Globalization Movement
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Abstract
The aim of this article is to assess the experience of American labor unionism, mainly that of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), and its intervention in the anti-globalization movement. We analyze its participation in the so-called “Battle of Seattle” against the World Trade Organization (WTO) conference in 1999 and its subsequent role in the campaign to reject China’s incorporation to that international organization. In particular, the paper focuses on the limits and scopes of this phenomenon by examining the relationship between the unions and the Democratic Party under Clinton’s Administration.
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Gluj, A. (2022). “We Want a Seat at the Table”. U.S Labor Unions against Globalization: from the “Battle of Seattle” to China’s Incorporation to WTO. Archivos De Historia Del Movimiento Obrero Y La Izquierda, (20), 139-159. https://doi.org/10.46688/ahmoi.n20.348
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References
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Davis, M. (2005). El estéril matrimonio entre los obreros estadounidenses y el Partido Demócrata. New Left Review, 33, pp. 55-108.
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Dudzic, M., y Reed, A. (2015). The Crisis of Labour and the Left in the United States. Socialist Register, 51.
Fairbrother, P., y Yates, C.A.B. (2003). Trade Unions in Renewal: A Comparative Study. Continuum.
Fantasia, R., y Voss, K. (2004). Hard Work: Remaking the American Labor Movement. University of California Press.
Fletcher, B., y Gapasin, F. (2008). Solidarity divided: The crisis in organized labor and a new path toward social justice. University of California Press.
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Gill, S. (2000). Toward a Postmodern Prince? The Battle in Seattle as a Moment in the New Politics of Globalisation. Millennium: Journal of International Studies, 29 (1), pp. 131-140.
Hadden, J., y Tarrow, S. (2007). Spillover or Spillout? The Global Justice Movement in the United States After 9/11. Mobilization: An International Quarterly, 12 (4), pp. 359-376.
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Levi, M., y Olson, D. (2000). The Battles in Seattle. Politics & Society, 28 (3), pp. 309-329.
Levinson, M., y Lee, T. (2000). Why Labor Made the Right Decision. New Labor Forum, 7, pp. 24-27.
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Moody, K. (2017). On new terrain: How capital is reshaping the battleground of class war. Haymarket Books.
Moody, K., y Post, C. (2015). The Politics of US Labour: Paralysis and Possibilities. Socialist Register, 51.
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Shoch, J. (2001). Trading blows: Party competition and U.S. trade policy in a globalizing era. University of North Carolina Press.
Smith, J. (2001). Globalizing Resistance: The Battle of Seattle and the Future of Social Movements. Mobilization: An International Quarterly, 6 (1), 1-19.
Starr, A. (2003). Is the North American Anti-Globalization Movement Racist? Critical reflections. Socialist Register, 39.
Tabb, W.K. (2001). ¿La Organización Mundial del Comercio? Detengan la apropiación del mundo. Observatorio Social de América Latina, 3.
Tarrow, S. (2005). The New Transnational Activism. Cambridge University Press.
Turner, L., Katz, H.C., y Hurd, R.W. (2001). Rekindling the Movement: Labor’s Quest for Relevance in the 21st Century. Cornell University Press.
Varela, P. (2016). ¿Revitalización sindical sin debate de estrategias? En P. Varela y M. Cambiasso (eds.), El gigante fragmentado: Sindicatos, trabajadores y política durante el kirchnerismo. Final Abierto.
Waterman, P. (2001). Trade Union Internationalism in the Age of Seattle. Antipode, 33 (3), pp. 312-336.
Wilkin, P. (2000). Solidarity in a Global Age-Seattle and Beyond. Journal of World-Systems Research, pp. 19-64.
Wong, K., y Bernard, E. (2000). Labor’s Mistaken Anti-China Campaign. New Labor Forum, 7, pp. 18-23.
Yates, M.D. (2000). “Workers of all Countries, Unite:” Will This Include the US Labor Movement? Monthly Review, pp. 46-59.
Broad, R., y Heckscher, Z. (2003). Before Seattle: The historical roots of the current movement against corporate-led globalisation. Third World Quarterly, 24 (4), pp. 713-728.
Burbach, R.J., Robinson, W.I., y Jeffries, F. (2001). Globalization and postmodern politics: From Zapatistas to high-tech robber barons. Pluto Press.
Cezar, R.F., y Carvalho, C.E. (2017). A coalition approach to trade policymaking in the United States: The fast-track authority fiasco of 1997 and the approval of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with China in 2000. Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional, 60 (1).
Cohen, S. (2006). Ramparts of resistance: Why workers lost their power and how to get it back. Pluto Press.
Coxson, C. (1999). The 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work: Promoting Labor Law Reforms Through the ILO as an Alternative to Imposing Coercive Trade Sanctions. Penn State International Law Review, 17 (3), pp. 469-504.
Davis, M. (2005). El estéril matrimonio entre los obreros estadounidenses y el Partido Demócrata. New Left Review, 33, pp. 55-108.
Della Porta, D., y Tarrow, S.G. (eds.). (2005). Transnational protest and global activism. Rowman & Littlefield.
Dudzic, M., y Reed, A. (2015). The Crisis of Labour and the Left in the United States. Socialist Register, 51.
Fairbrother, P., y Yates, C.A.B. (2003). Trade Unions in Renewal: A Comparative Study. Continuum.
Fantasia, R., y Voss, K. (2004). Hard Work: Remaking the American Labor Movement. University of California Press.
Fletcher, B., y Gapasin, F. (2008). Solidarity divided: The crisis in organized labor and a new path toward social justice. University of California Press.
Frege, C.M., y Kelly, J. (2016). Union Revitalization Strategies in Comparative Perspective. European Journal of Industrial Relations. https://doi.org/10.1177/095968010391002
Frege, C.M., y Kelly, J.E. (eds.). (2004). Varieties of unionism: Strategies for union revitalization in a globalizing economy. Oxford University Press.
Gambina, J.C. (2001). Resistencia internacional a la globalización neoliberal. Chiapas, 12.
Gill, S. (2000). Toward a Postmodern Prince? The Battle in Seattle as a Moment in the New Politics of Globalisation. Millennium: Journal of International Studies, 29 (1), pp. 131-140.
Hadden, J., y Tarrow, S. (2007). Spillover or Spillout? The Global Justice Movement in the United States After 9/11. Mobilization: An International Quarterly, 12 (4), pp. 359-376.
Halpern, M. (2003). Unions, radicals, and democratic presidents: Seeking social change in the twentieth century. Praeger.
Hart-Landsberg, M. (2013). Capitalist globalization: Consequences, resistance, and alternatives. Monthly Review Press.
Harvey, D. (2015). Breve historia del neoliberalismo. Akal.
Levi, M., y Murphy, G.H. (2006). Coalitions of Contention: The Case of the WTO Protests in Seattle. Political Studies, 54 (4), pp. 651-670.
Levi, M., y Olson, D. (2000). The Battles in Seattle. Politics & Society, 28 (3), pp. 309-329.
Levinson, M., y Lee, T. (2000). Why Labor Made the Right Decision. New Labor Forum, 7, pp. 24-27.
Martínez, E. (2000). Where Was the Color in Seattle? Looking for Reasons Why the Great Battle was So White. Monthly Review, pp. 141-148.
Moody, K. (1988). An injury to all: The decline of American unionism. Verso.
Moody, K. (1997). Workers in a Lean World: Unions in the International Economy. Verso.
Moody, K. (1999). Sweeney Signs On To A Bad Deal At WTO. Labor Notes. https://labornotes.org/1999/12/sweeney-signs-bad-deal-wto.
Moody, K. (2012). Contextualising Organised Labour in Expansion and Crisis: The Case of the US. Historical Materialism, 20 (1), pp. 3-30.
Moody, K. (2017). On new terrain: How capital is reshaping the battleground of class war. Haymarket Books.
Moody, K., y Post, C. (2015). The Politics of US Labour: Paralysis and Possibilities. Socialist Register, 51.
Pozzi, P.A., y Nigra, F.G. (2009). La decadencia de los Estados Unidos: De la crisis de 1979 a la megacrisis del 2009. Maipue.
Rao, K.A. (2000). The impact of strikes on current employment statistics. Monthly Labor Review, 123 (8), pp. 32-39.
Robinson, I. (2016). Neoliberal Restructuring and U.S. Unions: Toward Social Movement Unionism? Critical Sociology. https://doi.org/10.1177/08969205000260010701.
Seoane, J., y Taddei, E. (2001). De Seattle a Porto Alegre: Pasado, presente y futuro del movimiento anti-mundialización neoliberal. En J. Seoane, E. H. Taddei, S. Amin, A. Borón, y F. Houtart (eds.), Resistencias mundiales: De Seattle a Porto Alegre (1a. ed). CLACSO.
Shoch, J. (2001). Trading blows: Party competition and U.S. trade policy in a globalizing era. University of North Carolina Press.
Smith, J. (2001). Globalizing Resistance: The Battle of Seattle and the Future of Social Movements. Mobilization: An International Quarterly, 6 (1), 1-19.
Starr, A. (2003). Is the North American Anti-Globalization Movement Racist? Critical reflections. Socialist Register, 39.
Tabb, W.K. (2001). ¿La Organización Mundial del Comercio? Detengan la apropiación del mundo. Observatorio Social de América Latina, 3.
Tarrow, S. (2005). The New Transnational Activism. Cambridge University Press.
Turner, L., Katz, H.C., y Hurd, R.W. (2001). Rekindling the Movement: Labor’s Quest for Relevance in the 21st Century. Cornell University Press.
Varela, P. (2016). ¿Revitalización sindical sin debate de estrategias? En P. Varela y M. Cambiasso (eds.), El gigante fragmentado: Sindicatos, trabajadores y política durante el kirchnerismo. Final Abierto.
Waterman, P. (2001). Trade Union Internationalism in the Age of Seattle. Antipode, 33 (3), pp. 312-336.
Wilkin, P. (2000). Solidarity in a Global Age-Seattle and Beyond. Journal of World-Systems Research, pp. 19-64.
Wong, K., y Bernard, E. (2000). Labor’s Mistaken Anti-China Campaign. New Labor Forum, 7, pp. 18-23.
Yates, M.D. (2000). “Workers of all Countries, Unite:” Will This Include the US Labor Movement? Monthly Review, pp. 46-59.