[P2P-F] Fwd: [Networkedlabour] Social Movement Unionism or Social Justice Unionism? - peterwaterman1936 at gmail.com - Gmail

Sat Dec 27 09:14:41 CET 2014

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From: Peter Waterman <peterwaterman1936 at gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Dec 21, 2014 at 1:09 PM
Subject: [Networkedlabour] Social Movement Unionism or Social Justice
Unionism? - peterwaterman1936 at gmail.com - Gmail
To: networkedlabour at lists.contrast.org

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#search/shniad/14a6439ec17a7b40

Social Movement Unionism or Social Justice Unionism?
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Sid Shniad <shniad at gmail.com>
Dec 19 (2 days ago)
to bcc: me
http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1046&context=
classracecorporatepower

*Social Movement Unionism or Social Justice Unionism? Disentangling
Theoretical Confusion within the Global Labor Movement*

*Kim Scipes*, Purdue University North Central

*Abstract*

After the election of John Sweeney as President of the AFL-CIO in October
1995, activists and supportive intellectuals in the United States began
thinking about how to revitalize the almost moribund American labor
movement. A key part of this literature has revolved around the concept of
“social movement unionism.” This term touched a nerve, and has garnered
widespread usage in North America over the past two decades.

However, most researchers using this term have no idea that it was
initially developed to understand the new unionism developed by members of
specific labor movements in Brazil, the Philippines and South Africa, a
type of unionism *qualitatively different* from that found in North
America. This paper argues that the term “social movement unionism” should
be confined only to labor organizations developing the same type of
unionism, wherever in the world such should be found.

Accordingly, this concept should *not* be utilized in North America today
as there are no labor centers or unions present that are developing this
type of trade unionism.

It is important to clarify this confusion because it is leads to incorrect
understandings and miscommunication. Accordingly, the current
situation—whereby the same term is used to refer to two qualitatively
different social phenomena —theoretically works against efforts to build
global labor solidarity.

What about the progressive, broad-scope unionism emerging in North America
over the past two decades? Taking a page from labor history, this article
argues that the proper precedent is progressive unionism developed by the
United Packinghouse Workers of America, CIO, and others, and therefore
should be referred to as “social justice unionism.” An Appendix provides a
measurement tool. The argument is empirically grounded and theoretically
developed, allowing us to better understand trade unionism around the globe.

*Recommended Citation*

Scipes, Kim (2014) "Social Movement Unionism or Social Justice Unionism?
Disentangling Theoretical Confusion within the Global Labor Movement," *Class,
Race and Corporate Power*: Vol. 2: Iss. 3, Article 9.

Available on-line for free at: http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/
classracecorporatepower/vol2/iss3/9

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