Seminar TRADE UNION STRATEGIES IN THE CONTEXT OF NEO LIBERAL GLOBALISATION

Course outcomes Students should end the course with an understanding of: • -neo-liberalism,- and its relationship to -globalisation-; • the economic models that preceded the neo-liberal era; • the causes of the rise of neo-liberalism, and the implications of these views for union strategy in the neo-liberal era; • the evolution of trade unions, and the working class, before and during the neo-liberal era; • different views of trade unions' potential, and the implications of these views for union strategy in the neo-liberal era; • current challenges facing trade unions today; • some strategies to meet these challenges. Course structure • Part 1: Understanding 'Globalisation' and 'Neo-liberalism' (1 day) • Part 2: The Rise and Fall of the 'Three (or Four) Worlds' (1 day) • Part 3: Unions under the 'Three (or Four) Worlds' (1 day) • Part 4: Theories of Trade Unionism (2 days) • Part 5: Union Strategies under Neo-liberalism (2 days) Expectations To achieve these outcomes, students must: • Attend all sessions of class on time, and do all the required reading before the relevant session, in order for meaningful discussion to take place. • Actively participate in learning will occur through participation in seminars, group discussions, and individual assignments. • Submit, for grading, a 2,000 word written assignment (see below). Major assignment Answer the following: -Should trade unions play a role in the return of the Keynesian welfare state? Why or why not? If yes, what strategy should they adopt, and why? If no, what strategy should they adopt, and why?- The paper must a) explain the decline of the Keynesian welfare state; b) examine the effects of the Keynesian welfare state on trade unions; c) consider the challenges facing trade unions today, including organisational challenges; d) outline, and argue in defence of, a particular union strategy; e) make all arguments by specific reference to the relevant readings; f) provide an analysis/ argument (not simply a description); and g) provide full bibliographical details, and reference your text correctly. Classes will be structured towards answering the above question, and students will be divided into groups as required to develop the analysis. Each group will develop and present a PowerPoint presentation on the final day, on the question -What union strategy is best in the neo-liberal era, and why?- Thereafter each individual will adapt the group presentation to her/his essay, which is due on Monday 12 December 2011, by email. Class times: 6 days, divided as follows Sunday FB 05 Gesellschaftswissenschaften Uni Kassel WiSe 2011/12 Labour Policies and Globalisation Labour Policies and Globalisation