Brief introduction of American trade unions

American trade unions have a long history. With the development from a vulnerable group to a social group with considerable political influence, American trade unions, as one of the three main bodies, have played a key role in the formation of modern labor relations in the United States. With the promulgation of the National Labor Relations Law, trade unions have been legally recognized in the United States, and there is no need to go on strike or even have bloody conflicts with employers in order to get recognition, which has laid a solid foundation for the large-scale development of trade unions in the United States in the future. In 1950s and 1960s, all industries in American industry established trade unions, and almost all steel companies used in the steel industry established their own trade unions. The National Labor Relations Law stipulates the functions of trade unions, that is, the wages and benefits of workers are determined by the labor agreement reached by employers and employees through collective consultation, which greatly improves the status and role of trade unions.

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American trade unions at the crossroads of change

She Xia Yun.

American Federation of Labor

In July 2005, there was a great division.

Two major trade union departments-Teamsters-International Brotherhood.

Truck drivers) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU- Service Employees International Union).

The other five trade unions of the AFL-CIO separated from the AFL-CIO and set up an organization called "Change for Victory".

Federation of trade unions. "Change for Victory" has seven trade unions * * *: 1 service workers' union, truck drivers' union and United trade union.

UFCW-United Food and Commercial Workers, "Unite.

"Trade unions, North American Labor International Union (Liu Na-Northern Workers International Union.

Carpenter-United American Brotherhood.

American Carpenters and Joiners Association). this

Together, these trade unions represent nearly 6 million workers in the United States, accounting for about 40% of the existing American trade union members.

2005 is the 50th anniversary of the merger of AFL-CIO.195565438+February 5th, AFL-CIO merged.

The American Federation of Trade Unions (AFL), the full name of AFL, is a joint organization of American skilled workers' unions.

The Federation of industrial unions was founded in 1886, and its full name is "American Federation of Industrial Unions", which is a trade union group established in the United States according to industrial principles.

Knitting. 1935 it is split from the AFL and consists of semi-skilled workers and unskilled workers. Second World ［composed of developed countries other than the superpowers］

After World War II, the monopoly bourgeoisie was afraid of the growth of trade union forces and began to strengthen trade union organizations when Truman was in power.

In July 1950, the AFL made organized workers in the United States realize the necessity of their own unity and unity. 59660.88868688666

On February 5th, the first AFL-CIO conference was held, announcing the merger of AFL-CIO.

The American Federation of Trade Unions (AFL-CIO) was established and the merger was formally realized. In July 2005,

When the AFL-CIO was preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the merger, great differences emerged. What is the reason?

The division of AFL-CIO, which is influential in FTU at home and abroad, is bound to attract the attention of the world.

First, the reasons for the split

First, the impact of economic globalization. Since the 1990s, the process of economic globalization has accelerated, and the economy

The fastest growing area of globalization is trade. Cornell University's newly established Global Labor Institute (2004

Sean sweeney, director of 165438+, which was established in October, believes that the American labor movement is in a very difficult period. First of all,

However, facing the challenge of economic globalization, the labor movement in the United States today is different from that of 50 years ago, when the United States

Can produce more than 50% of the world's goods, but now only 13%, most of the world's goods have been made in Asia.

The domestic production structure in the United States is dominated by high technology, and the service industry, which accounts for a large proportion, has also shifted to high technology.

In other words, the development of economic globalization has had a profound and complex impact on the trade union movement, which is reflected in employment, wages,

Trade union organization rate, labor rights, social security and employee skills. Economic globalization is a multinational company.

The search for cheaper labor provides a good opportunity to depress the wages of domestic workers. If the government doesn't allow multinational companies.

Ask for lower wages, taxes, etc. They will cut thousands of jobs or turn to production bases.

Move abroad and threaten them. The government usually agrees to them in order to retain capital and social stability.

Therefore, the result of free trade is to damage the real income of workers in labor-intensive industries in developed countries.

Injury and possible unemployment. In some labor-intensive traditional industries such as textiles, shoes, toys, etc. Due to cheap foreign businessmen.

1 "Change Winning Alliance", online address

/meiguo/200507260042.htm (last visit was on February 6, 2005/kloc-0).

Establish new alliances with community groups, customers and patients.

Partnership with workers in the same industry in other countries, usually working for the same global company.

Modify the diversity of our members at all levels accordingly.

Change for Victory will continue to cooperate with the AFL-CIO * * to seek the recognition of change from its subordinate institutions.

Trade unions with the principle of "reform for victory" form a partnership.

The members of "Change for Victory" are full of confidence in their future development. Written by the author in 165438+ 10/0/3-24.

During his visit to the United States, he attended 17 to 18 meetings on "Change for Victory" in Las Vegas.

National assembly. The central topic of the conference is "expanding our influence", which is printed in the brochure of the conference.

The slogan of "change for victory" is that American workers realize new hopes and dreams.

The service employees' union, which belongs to "change for victory", originally belonged to the stronger trade union in the AFL-CIO.

Organization. Because of the rise of American service industry after World War II, they represent the emerging power of trade unions, so they advocate putting trade unions.

In recent years, service employees' unions have taken various measures to develop their own strength, such as focusing on

According to the situation of developing new members among migrant workers, the goal of developing members every year has been set, and a special department has been set up in the leadership of the trade union

The door is responsible for developing new members, and there are organizers among full-time trade union personnel.

Show new members, etc. Through the efforts of all parties, its membership has been increasing, and the trade union is in a state of development.

-The membership of the Federation of Industry and Commerce has declined in the opposite direction for half a century, so the influence of the service workers' union will naturally increase.

However, due to AFL-CIO's outdated policies, service employees' unions began to propose a global formation strategy. In the past,

During a year and a half, the Service Employees Union visited trade unions in some countries, such as China, South Korea, Japan and Pakistan.

West, Australia, Argentina, etc. The purpose is to discuss the problems faced by global trade unions under the background of economic globalization.

In order to seek the partnership between trade unions around the world and meet the challenge of global capital, in addition, the service employs employees.

Through various efforts, the trade union will become the fastest growing trade union organization in the United States. Since 1996, it has been near

900,000 workers joined the service employees' union. At present, there are 6.5438+0.8 million workers in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

People and 65,438+200,000 retirees, * * * has more than 300 local branches and 25 state councils. Its members mainly come from

From the following fields: health care-hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and home caregivers; Employed by a public institution.

Staff of federal, state, county and municipal schools; Real estate services-night watchman, security guard, janitor,

Land planner. The members of the service employees' union are widely represented, and most of its members are women, accounting for about 20%.

90% of its members are African-American. In the United States, the service employees' union represents a higher proportion of migrant workers than other workers.

Will organize.

"Change for Victory" is in the initial stage of creating an alliance that can replace the AFL-CIO. American labor

The division of the Federation of Industry and Commerce shows that American trade unions are at the crossroads of change, which is the old strategy of continuing trade unions, and it is also

It is necessary to carry out reforms like service employees' unions to adapt to the challenges of economic globalization, which does exist in the United States.

A choice before the meeting.

(Author/China Institute of Labor Relations)

Shanghai Workers' Movement, No.2, 2006

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Enlightenment of American Trade Unions to China

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Wan Hu

Although American trade unions have always advertised their "non-partisan color", the special partnership between American trade unions and the American Democratic Party is well known. Indeed, as some people have analyzed, American trade unions are well aware that in a parliamentary democratic country like the United States, which adapts to the capitalist market economy, many laws involving the interests of workers have to be passed by the parliament. For the rights and interests of the workers they represent, trade unions need certain political parties as their spokespersons in parliament.

In the mid-term election of the US Congress in 2006, the Democratic Party won and took charge of the current Congress, and the US Labor Organization contributed greatly. In this election, the trade unions in the United States raised hundreds of millions of dollars to help the Democratic Party campaign, and the purpose of the trade unions is very obvious. They hope to reverse the increasingly marginalized political status of the labor organization through this election. As soon as the new Congress came to power, the Labor Party vigorously promoted EM P Loyee f free c h o ice a c t (EM P Loyee f free c h o ice a c t). If the bill is passed, the number of trade union members in the United States will definitely increase greatly, and the political map and labor market in the United States will also undergo tremendous changes.

Trade unions and workers' movements in the United States have a history of 170 years. Despite the ups and downs, they have accumulated rich experience. First of all, the practice of American trade unions actively participating in legislation tells us that in a country moving towards the rule of law, trade unions must attach importance to and strengthen their participation and influence in legislation in order to effectively safeguard the rights and interests of workers. Although Article 33 of China's Trade Union Law stipulates: "State organs should listen to the opinions of trade unions when organizing the drafting or revision of laws, regulations and rules directly related to the interests of employees." However, the influence of trade unions in Chinese mainland is still very limited in the national legislative planning. Under the strong pressure of local administrative intervention and management, trade unions are often "speechless" and "insincere", and even forced to fall into the situation of "picking up what is missing".

Judging from the cooperative and competitive relationship among American trade unions, American Democratic Party and American government, it is very obvious that American trade unions are a social group independent of any other organization, which is an important reason why American trade unions can stand up and speak. In China, although the Trade Union Law holds that trade unions should be independent social groups, it is not uncommon for trade unions to co-operate with other administrative departments in many institutions and enterprises. The part-time job of trade union cadres and their affiliation with enterprises and institutions show that it is difficult for trade unions to make a difference in many cases of labor contract disputes and workers' rights and interests being damaged. The excessive dependence of "government-run trade unions" on the government and enterprises also makes the "aphasia" of trade unions in safeguarding the rights and interests of workers seem "natural".

The value of trade unions lies in their independence. It is of little significance to talk about trade unions without "independence" and mend some laws and regulations. The relationship between trade unions, enterprises and government organizations in China shows that once the rights and interests of workers are damaged, trade unions can only "watch" no matter how perfect some "irrelevant" systems are. The rigidity of trade unions is "absent", and the rights and interests of workers are "where to go"?

There are hundreds of independent trade union organizations in the United States, large and small, and each trade union is independent and competitive with each other. Although this diversification has the disadvantage of "decentralized power", the competitive situation between trade unions is obviously conducive to the maintenance of workers' rights and interests. Under the unified trade union system, as we all know, the trade union leaders of enterprises in China often appear as the "second boss" of enterprises. A survey in a city of Hebei Province shows that among the 602 enterprises that have established trade unions in this city, 457 trade union chairmen are direct relatives or collateral relatives of private bosses, accounting for 76%. The unified trade union in China has many political and organizational advantages, but under the condition of diversified market economy, the unified trade union organization is obviously out of date. Drawing on the historical experience and lessons of the American trade union movement, the author thinks that the trade unions in China are facing a historic transformation from the administrative industrial movement under the planned economy to the popular industrial movement under the market economy.