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International Framework Agreements: global industrial relations between rights and bargaining

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  • Nikolaus Hammer

    (Lecturer in Employment Studies at the Centre for Labour Market Studies, University of Leicester)

Abstract

This paper examines the emergence and the main features of International Framework Agreements (IFAs). IFAs originated in the 1980s and proliferated after 2000. They aim to secure core labour rights across multinational corporations' global supply chains. Global Union Federations, as well as other global (World Company and Works Councils), regional (European Works Councils or European Industry Federations) and national trade union structures, are parties to IFAs. Based on various features of international trade union activity, such as World Company Councils, codes of conduct, the trade and labour rights campaign or international social dialogue, IFAs constitute an important and innovative tool of international industrial relations. An analysis of the substantive and procedural provisions of IFAs leads to an analytical distinction between ‘rights' agreements and ‘bargaining’ agreements. The article assesses the substantive and procedural aspects of the 38 IFAs concluded before June 2005. Finally, key issues such as the scope of agreements, trade union capacity, and global supply chains are discussed in the context of international labour's campaigning, organising and negotiation activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Nikolaus Hammer, 2005. "International Framework Agreements: global industrial relations between rights and bargaining," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 11(4), pages 511-530, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:11:y:2005:i:4:p:511-530
    DOI: 10.1177/102425890501100404
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    Cited by:

    1. Stephen Mustchin & Miguel Martínez Lucio, 2017. "Transnational Collective Agreements and the Development of New Spaces for Union Action: The Formal and Informal Uses of International and European Framework Agreements in the UK," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 55(3), pages 577-601, September.
    2. Christina Niforou, 2012. "International Framework Agreements and Industrial Relations Governance: Global Rhetoric versus Local Realities," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 50(2), pages 352-373, June.
    3. Gregor Murray, 2017. "Union renewal: what can we learn from three decades of research?," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 23(1), pages 9-29, February.
    4. Glynne Williams & Steve Davies & Crispen Chinguno, 2015. "Subcontracting and Labour Standards: Reassessing the Potential of International Framework Agreements," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 53(2), pages 181-203, June.
    5. Judith Christina Stroehle, 2017. "The enforcement of diverse labour standards through private governance," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 23(4), pages 475-493, November.
    6. Marc‐Antonin Hennebert & Isabelle Roberge‐Maltais & Urwana Coiquaud, 2023. "The effectiveness of international framework agreements as a tool for the protection of workers' rights: A metasynthesis," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(3), pages 242-260, May.
    7. Jörg Sydow & Michael Fichter & Markus Helfen & Kadire Zeynep Sayim & Dimitris Stevis, 2014. "Implementation of Global Framework Agreements," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 20(4), pages 489-503, November.

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