Editorial: BRICS is challenging the global economic model, and unions see some potential in this

2 | International Union Rights | 24/4 EDITORIAL Editorial: BRICS is challenging the global economic model, and unions see some potential in this This edition of IUR looks at how the global BRICS group of countries was formed, looks at their priorities and activities, and asks how trade unions are engaging with the BRICS to promote reform. Bethuel Maserumule questions how trade unions in emerging economies should orientate themselves with respect to the dominance of States that in some cases have failed to ratify freedom of association. Chinese investment, he observes, ‘has been flooding South Africa with cheap manufacturing and agricultural products, resulting in massive job losses as factories close or scale down operations’, while Chinese MNCs ‘do not respect the workers right to freedom of association’. China labour specialist Katie Quan shares with IUR a recent article discussing efforts by sections of the US labour movement to reach out to and engage with the ACFTU. These efforts, Quan tells us, have ‘a troubled history’, have been ‘decidedly slow’, and left the Americans with a sense that ‘concepts of solidarity might be very different from those of the ACFTU, and that their goals for developing relationships and activities might not be exactly the same’. Quan’s analysis reveals the distance between the ACFTU and many Western unions and throw into relief the cooperation that exists within the BRICS Trade Union Forum, where Indian and Brazilian unions that were formerly part of the ICFTU, and the ITUC President, have sat alongside the ACFTU and trade unions from quite different traditions. Almost uniquely, within the BRICS Trade Union Forum, these unions all work together effectively in support of a progressive challenge to neo-liberalism. Challenging the dominance of the neo-liberal economic model, and of the dominance of American and European interests in international forums, has been one clearly successful outcome of the work of the BRICS group. But as BRICS becomes more established as a global political grouping, can the bloc sustain this challenge as the political character of its member States undergoes change? India joined BRICS under a Congress leadership, but now participates under the BJP. In Brazil the liberal right has gained power under a dubious process based around the impeachment of the left-wing President, rapidly implementing aggressive social spending and labour law reform. Ana Gomes writes that they constitute ‘one of the most regressive steps in Brazil’s contemporary history of labour regulation’. In this edition we are not exclusively concerned with the BRICS countries, and look also at developments in northern Europe. Eric Sjödin explains the latest Swedish labour law changes, which to an extent restore trade union power that was curtailed by the European Court of Justice in the infamous Laval case. Wolfgang Däubler describes how, following a political and legal battle, rights for independent unions received a new level of protection, having previously been largely subsumed under the rights of majority unions. Also in this edition, David Doorey reports on litigation attempted in Canada by victims of the catastrophic 2012 Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh. Sadly the outcome was discouraging, Doorey concluding that ‘the vacuousness of CSR seems not only to be confirmed by this decision, but to be promoted as a virtue worthy of legal protections’… Daniel Blackburn, Editor Next issue of IUR Articles between 850 and 1800 words should be sent by email (mail@ictur.org) and accompanied by a photograph and short biographical note of the author. Please send by 5 March 2018 if they are to be considered for publication in the next issue of IUR. Subscribe to IUR / Affiliate to ICTUR Subscriptions: Print only £25 (individual rate), Print and electronic £75 (individual or institutional), Electronic only £55 (individual or institutional). Affiliations: (includes print and electronic access, and more, see www.ictur.org) Individual £50, Branch / local union £75 (includes 3 subscriptions), National (contact ICTUR for details). Name/Organisation Address Email Payment on invoice / Payment enclosed For discounted rates please contact IUR’s Editor Daniel Blackburn on ictur@ictur.org. All subscription services are available via our website: www.ictur.org/affiliation.htm ...

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