Can solidarity be organized "from below" in global supply chains? The case of ExChains
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Authors
Translated title of the contribution | Kann Solidarität "von unten" in globalen Zuliefererketten organisiert werden? : Der Fall ExChains |
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Original language | English |
Journal | Industrielle Beziehungen |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 4 |
Pages (from-to) | 400-424 |
Number of pages | 25 |
ISSN | 0943-2779 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 17.12.2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:
The ExChains network exists since 2002 and is part of a wider network called TIE (Transnational Information Exchange). ExChains’ financial situation is quite precarious. While the positions of two coordinators in Germany are financed via TIE, which itself is partially financed by the foundation “Menschenwürde und Arbeitswelt” through the Evange-lischer Entwicklungsdienst (EED) as well as a private donor from the US who is sympathetic to TIE’s goals, the political work—mostly campaigns or meetings—has to be co-financed by third party funders, such as the Bewegungsstiftung or the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. The networks in Asia are partially funded by the respective unions but have also received funds from foundations such as the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. There are further sub-networks connected to TIE, which likewise try to organize transnational solidarity, such as the network “Eisenbahn ohne Grenzen,” which seeks to organize railway workers from West-Africa and France. Whereas TIE operates in different sectors, ExChains focuses on the global garment industry. The aim of the network is to build transnational solidarity among workers and, ulti- mately, to permanently change the global structure of the industry. The issues addressed by ExChains are diverse. In its current campaign, ExChains raises four demands: better fire and work protection, higher wages, trade union access rights, and supplier transparency. We argue that ExChains differs from other transnational initiatives because it decidedly aims to establish two-way bonds of solidarity among workers in garment production and retail.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Verlag Barbara Budrich.
- Management studies - labor, coercive labor markets, labor discimination, labor standatds, EL: J47, J5, J7, J8