UE International Solidarity

Our living and working conditions are directly linked to those of other workers around the world. Globalization and the so-called “free trade agreements” that have proliferated since the 1990s have made that clear. General Electric CEO Jack Welch famously said in 1998 that “ideally you’d have every plant you own on a barge,” so it could be moved to wherever wages are the lowest. As long as there are places where workers toil for starvation wages without health and safety protections, it’s hard to achieve or maintain good wages or conditions anywhere.

Poor wages and working conditions in other countries are not natural or inevitable — they are often the result of military intervention by the U.S. government. Our government has supported and instigated coups against pro-worker governments in Central and South America, the Middle East, and elsewhere, and waged wars in Korea, Vietnam, and twice in Iraq to defend the profits of U.S. corporations. UE has consistently opposed all forms of military adventurism that put the children of working people in harm’s way while benefiting only the wealthy and corporations.

Aggressive struggle to improve our conditions in a global economy demands that we unite with workers in other countries. To put this into practice, UE rank-and-file members have visited and built relationships with unions in Mexico, Canada, Japan, Italy, Brazil, India, the Philippines, and other countries. These exchanges are often with other workers who share the same employers or work in the same sector of the economy.

UE believes that the future of the labor movement depends on a real commitment to international labor solidarity, not only to prevent downward pressure on wages and working conditions from employers threatening to move, but also to address the global challenge of climate change in ways that benefit, rather than harm, workers.

Our Global Allies

These unions represent some of the international labor organizations with whom UE has a very close relationship, but this is not an exhaustive list of our allies. We’ve worked closely with additional unions in Mexico and Canada in particular, as well as in many other parts of the world, from Brazil and Colombia to India and the Philippines, from South Africa, Australia and Great Britain, to Palestine, Turkey, and South Korea.

Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT) — France

Communication between UE and the CGT of France dates back until at least 1951, when the UE NEWS shared notes from a CGT convention focused on fighting back against the austerity imposed by the Marshall Plan. In more recent decades, UE leaders have hosted a number of conversations with leaders of the CGT on everything from averting nuclear war to addressing increased casualization of labor. We are proud to count France’s most militant union among our allies.

Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) — Quebec

UE’s relationship with the CSN of Quebec developed through our alliance with the FAT in Mexico, who had fraternal relations with the CSN. The CSN shares UE’s critique of the neoliberal policies that make working and organizing conditions a challenge in the US and elsewhere. Our partnership has included many worker and leader educational exchanges, including tri-national events in Mexico.

Federazione Impiegati Operai Metallurgici (FIOM) — Italy

UE’s partnership with FIOM developed out of efforts to coordinate against a multinational employer we had in common, General Electric. Though this relationship is recent, UE has found in FIOM an organization that is committed to aggressive struggle against capitalists, just as we are.

Frente Auténtico del Trabajo (FAT) — Mexico

UE’s relationship with the FAT began during the negotiations over the original North American Free Trade Agreement in the early 1990s. We discovered in the FAT strong allies for democratic, independent worker action. Our partnership has included organizing projects at employers on both sides of our border, challenging labor laws in both countries, and educational exchanges among members.

Unifor — Canada

Though Unifor itself is a relatively new union, UE’s connection with these Canadian workers goes back many decades to when UE used to have locals in Canada. These locals joined the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), one of Unifor’s predecessor unions. Since 2017, UE and Unifor have been collaborating on the North American Solidarity Project, which aims to form a new kind of continental solidarity for trade union renewal and change. This has resulted in concrete support on everything from strike actions and organizing on both sides of the border to shared efforts to ensure good jobs while battling climate change and to advance racial and gender justice among our members.

Unifor website (in English and French)

Zenroren — Japan

UE’s relationship with Zenroren began through international conferences Zenroren hosted in the early 1990s to discuss the challenges of advancing workers’ rights amidst the expansion of corporate rights. Both unions have grown to appreciate each other’s positions on the need for militant worker struggle against increasingly greedy employers. We also share a passion for independent political action, particularly to advance peace and de-escalate military spending and adventurism. Our partnership has included many worker and leader educational exchanges.