Transnational trade union strategies: the use of the global works council by the ABC metalworkers union against Volkswagen

Abstract

In this article, we investigate the Metalworkers' Union of ABC's decision to prioritize the Global Works Council as its primary international labor strategy Against Volkswagen. To this end, we conduct a case study spanning from 1999 to 2022. Our research methodology comprises four interviews and secondary documents, including corporate records and union newspapers. The research is based on the Theory of Political Confrontation and utilizes the concept of opportunity structure. The findings elucidate that the deployment of the Council, in stark comparison to alternative repertoires, is an outcome of favorable opportunity structures which mitigate the costs of collective action and facilitate the augmentation of workers' institutional power. In contrast, other forms of organization such as the Global Union and international labor networks entail higher costs and a diminished level of influence, thereby attenuating the incentive for their adoption.