Trade Unions Under Authoritarianism in the Global South

What forms of resistance do workers develop under autocratic governments to protect their economic and social rights? How do trade unions renew their strategies ? What are the contributions as well as limitations of workers' struggles towards the development of anti-authoritarian movements? While under the authoritarian government rules, workers had to face many difficulties in their unionization activities, unlawful actions of employers and complex and restrictive legal procedures, strike restrictions and bans and police violence in labour mobilizations are observed even in democracies. Despite all these difficulties in many workplaces, workers still manage to take action for unionization and trade unions create new organizing, cooperation and mobilization strategies. In some authoritarian contexts, we witness an augmentation of trade union density and an inclusion of trade unions in policy making tri-partite platforms. Some trade unions continue to use collective action repertoires such as strikes and street demonstrations. They focus on precarious workers working under temporary contracts, subcontracting or part-time employment. Others prefer focusing on institutional and legal practices such as collective bargaining and recruiting workers in more secure industrial branches (metal industry, construction, transport etc.). Another strategy of trade unions under authoritarian context could be what some call “loyalty”, “transmission belt” or “yellow trade unions” depending on national contexts.

This session aims to analyze trade unions strategies in authoritarian contexts. Papers focusing on trade union strategies at the workplace level, at national, regional and international levels as well as pro-government trade unions’ practices are welcome.