USWA's $40m

[Michael Eisenscher]

There are some limited efforts on the part of specific unions to link up and
coordinate with their counterparts in other countries.  CWA and UAW have
done this to a limited extent.  But this does not eminate from the
organizing departments of either, and tends to remain a top-level of contact
only.  The average member of both unions is mostly unaware of the
relationships unless they happen to read about some delegation in the
union's publication.

The UE has the most developed level of international cooperation of any
union of which I am aware.  It has a cross-border collaboration and
partnership with FAT in Mexico.  The Teamsters had become involved but I am
not sure that the crisis in DC has not derailed their participation.  I have
not heard.  

In solidarity,
Michael E.

At 05:23 PM 8/23/1998 -0400, Michael Cohen wrote:
>Michael Eisenscher wrote:
>
>> I rather doubt that any significant amount would be spent outside the U.S.
>> The objective of most unions' organizing funds is to increase dues paying
>> members, market penetration, and influence with employers in bargaining.
>> "Solidarity" measures are generally consigned to the organization's
>> international affairs dept., if they have one, or to the AFL-CIO.
>
>Too bad, if international capital were equally parochial when looking for
>investmentopportunities then labor would have a much fairer fight.  A priori
>there is no reason why
>could not be International Unions with dues paying members any more than IBM's
>operations
>have to be restricted to the US.
>     --mike
>
>--
>Michael Cohen mike at cns.bu.edu
>Associate Professor, Center for Adaptive Systems
>Work: 677 Beacon, Street, Rm313 Boston, Mass 02115
>Home: 25 Stearns Rd, #3 Brookline, Mass 02146
>Tel-Work: 617-353-9484
>Tel-Home:617-353-7755
>
>
>