Global Unionism-Beyond the Rhetoric: The CWA North Atlantic Alliance

Abstract

This article examines the organizational challenges faced by labor as it moves beyond the rhetoric of globalization and starts the urgent task of building global capacity and power. The Communication Workers of America's "North Atlantic Alliance" with the British Telecomrnunica tions Workers Union and the Society of Telecom Executives is presented as an example of global capacity building. While the Alliance represents a positive development, analysis of its organizational structure reveals some of the challenges facing labor as it attempts to build global union ism. The challenges addressed include: building a rank-and-file curricu lum around the question of globalization that provides hope and a sense of power, and that builds support for international programs among the membership; gaining meaningful organizational support and resources for international programs; the design of appropriate transnational commit ments ; the implications of international market turmoil for labor's ability to build global capacity; and the role of international trade secretariats in transnational alliances.