Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Differences in Organizing Between Unions and NGOs: Conflict and Cooperation Among Swedish Unions and NGOs

  • Published:
Journal of Business Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The protection of workers’ rights is at the heart of the ongoing debate on business ethics. In balancing transnational corporations’ (TNCs) influence in private regulatory systems intended to protect workers’ rights in emerging economies, several authors have emphasized the importance of cooperative relationships between unions and NGOs. In practice, however, conflict has often entered into union–NGO relations, weakening the protection of workers’ rights. We argue that cooperative union–NGO relationships are difficult to form in part because of the differences existing between how unions and NGOs organize. More specifically, based on two qualitative studies, we demonstrate that the problems stem from differences in organizing related to (i) identity construction, (ii) governance systems, and (iii) resources. The article concludes with a discussion on the possibility of successful union–NGO cooperation and improved protection of workers’ rights in emerging economies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adji, S.: 2002, ‘Globalization and Union Strategies in Niger’, in A. V. Jose (ed.), Organized Labour in the 21st Century (International Institute for Labour Studies, Geneva), pp. 342–372.

  • Amengual, M.: 2010, ‘Complementary Labor Regulation: The Uncoordinated Combination of State and Private Regulators in the Dominican Republic’, World Development 38(3), 405-414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anner, M. and P. Evans: 2004, ‘Building Bridges across a Double Divide: Alliances between US and Latin American Labour and NGOs. Development in Practice, 14(1-2), 34-47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arenas, D., J. M. Lozano and L. Albareda: 2009, ‘The Role of NGOs in CSR: Mutual Perceptions among Stakeholders’, Journal of Business Ethics 88(1), 175-197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Argenti, P. A.: 2004, ‘Collaborating with Activists: How Starbucks Works with NGOs’, California Management Review 47(1), 91-116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartley, T.: 2007, ‘Institutional Emergence in an Era of Globalization: The Rise of Transnational Private Regulation of Labor and Environmental Conditions’, American Journal of Sociology 113(2), 297-351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blood, R.: 2004, ‘Should NGOs be Viewed as ‘Political Corporations’?’, Journal of Communication Management 9(2), 120-133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boli, J. and G. M. Thomas (eds.): 1999, Constructing World Culture: International Nongovernmental Organizations since 1875 (Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun, R. And J. Gearhart: 2004, ‘Who Should Code Your Conduct? Trade Union and NGO Differences in the Fight for Workers’ Rights’, Development in Practice 14(1-2), 183-196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Compa, L.: 2004, ‘Trade Unions, NGOs, and Corporate Codes of Conduct’, Development in Practice 14(1–2), 210–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connor, T.: 2004, ‘Time to Scale up Cooperation? Trade unions, NGOs, and the International Anti-Sweatshop Movement’, Development in Practice 14(1-2), 210-215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooney, S., R. Lindsey, R. Mitchell and Y. Zhu (eds.): 2002, Law and Labour Market Regulation in Eastern Asia (Routledge, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawkins, C.: 2010, ‘Beyond Wages and Working Conditions: A Conceptualization of Labor Union Social Responsibility’, Journal of Business Ethics 95(1), 129-143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunlop J. T.: 1958, Industrial Relations Systems (Holt-Dryden, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Eade, D.: 2004, ‘Editorial Overview’, Development in Practice 14(1-2), 5-12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egels-Zandén, N. and P. Hyllman: 2006, ‘Exploring the Effects of Union-NGO Relationships on Corporate Responsibility: The Case of the Swedish Clean Clothes Campaign’, Journal of Business Ethics 64(3), 303-316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egels-Zandén, N. and P. Hyllman: 2007, ‘Evaluating Strategies for Negotiating Workers’ Rights in Transnational Corporations: The Effects of Codes of Conduct and Global Agreements on Workplace Democracy’, Journal of Business Ethics 76(2), 207-223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egels-Zandén, N. and E. Wahlqvist: 2007, ‘Post-Partnership Strategies for Defining Corporate Responsibility: The Business Social Compliance Initiative’, Journal of Business Ethics 70(2), 175-189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fairbrother, P.: 2008, ‘Social Movement Unionism or Trade Unions as Social Movements’, Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal 20, 213-220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, M.: 2006a, ‘Migrant Labor NGOs and Trade Unions: A Partnership in Progress?’, Asian and Pacific Migration Journal 15(3), 299-318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, M.: 2006b, ‘Emerging Labour Movements and the Accountability Dilemma: The Case of Indonesia’, in M. Dowdle (ed.), Public Accountability: Design and Experience (Cambridge University Press, Melbourne), pp. 153–173.

  • Ford, M.: 2006c, ‘Labour NGOs: An Alternative Form of Labour Organizing in Indonesia, 1991-1998’, Asia Pacific Business Review 12(2), 175-192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, M.: 2009, Workers and Intellectuals: NGOs, Trade Unions and the Indonesian Labour Movement (Singapore University Press/Hawaii University Press/KITLV, Singapore).

    Google Scholar 

  • Frenkel, S. and S. Kim: 2004, ‘Corporate Codes of Labour Practice and Employment Relations in Sports Shoe Contractor Factories in South Korea’, Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources 42(1), 6–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frundt, H.: 1999, ‘Cross-Border Organizing in the Apparel Industry: Lessons from Central America and the Caribbean’, Labor Studies Journal 24(1), 89-106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallin, D.: 2000, Trade Unions and NGOs: A Necessary Partnership for Social Development (United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, Geneva).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hale, A.: 2004, ‘Beyond the Barriers: New Forms of Labour Internationalism’, Development in Practice 14(1–2), 158–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamann, R. and N. Acutt: 2004, ‘How Should Civil Society (and the Government) Respond to ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’? A Critique of Business Motivations and the Potential for Partnerships’, Development Southern Africa 20(2), 255-270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haworth, N. and H. Ramsay: 1984, ‘Grasping the Nettle: Problems with the Theory of Trade Union Internationalism’, in P. Waterman (ed.), For a New Labour Internationalism (ILERI, Haag).

    Google Scholar 

  • Henriques, A.: 2001, ‘Civil Society and Social Auditing’, Business Ethics: A European Review 10(1), 40-44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huyer, S.: 2004, ‘Challenging Relations: A labour-NGO Coalition to Oppose the Canada-US and North American Free Trade Agreement, 1985-1993’, Development in Practice 14(1-2), 48-60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyllman, P. and O. Gunnarsson: 2005, Explaining Union Organising During Corporate Mergers, SSE/EFI Working Paper Series, No. 12

  • Justice, D. W.: 2003, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility: Challenges and Opportunities for Trade Unionists’, Labour Education 130, 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, T. W.: 1999, Understanding Qualitative Methods in Organizational Research (Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Locke, R. M. and M. Romis: 2010, ‘The Promise and Perils of Private Voluntary Regulation: Labor Standards and Work Organization in Two Mexican Garment Factories’, Review of International Political Economy 17(1), 45-74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, S. and T. Chrisp: 2005, ‘Acknowledging the Purpose of Partnership’, Journal of Business Ethics 59(4), 307-317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, S., C. Hardy and T. B. Lawrence: 2004, ‘Institutional Entrepreneurship in Emerging Fields: HIV/AIDS Treatment Advocacy in Canada’, Academy of Management Journal 47(5), 657-679.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, C. and G. B. Rossman: 1995, Designing Qualitative Research (Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J. W. and B. Rowan: 1977, ‘Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth and Ceremony’, American Journal of Sociology 83(2), 340-363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Millar, C. C. J. M., J. C. Chong and S. Chen: 2004, ‘Global Strategic Partnerships between MNEs and NGOs: Drivers of Change and Ethical Issues’, Business & Society Review 109(4), 395-414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Northrup, H. and P. Rowan: 1979, Multinational Collective Bargaining Attempts (University of Philadelphia Press, Philadelphia, PA).

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Rourke, D.: 2003, ‘Outsourcing Regulation: Analyzing Nongovernmental Systems of Labor Standards and Monitoring’, The Policy Study Journal 31(1), 1-29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ortez, O.: 2004, ‘Spreading Manufacturing Growth Gains through Local Jobs: Lessons from the Guatemalan Highlands’, Developments in Practice 14(1-2), 163-170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfeffer, J. and G. R. Salancik: 1978, The External Control of Organizations: A Resource Dependency Perspective (Harper and Row, New York, NY).

    Google Scholar 

  • Piazza, J.: 2002, Going global – Unions and globalization in the US, Sweden and Germany (Lexington Books, Lanham, MD).

    Google Scholar 

  • Povey, E. R.: 2004, ‘Trade Unions and Women’s NGOs: Diverse Civil Society Organisations in Iran’, Development in Practice 14(1–2), 254-266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preuss, L.: 2008, ‘A Reluctant Stakeholder? On the Perception of Corporate Social Responsibility among European Trade Unions’, Business Ethics: A European Review 17(2), 149-160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prieto, M. and C. Quinteros: 2004, ‘Never the Twain Shall Meet? Women’s Organisations and Trade Unions in the Maquila Industry in Central America’, Development in Practice 14(1-2), 149-157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riisgaard, L.: 2005, ‘International Framework Agreements: A New Model for Securing Workers Rights?’, Industrial Relations 44(4), 707-737.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Garavito, C. A.: 2005, ‘Global Governance and Labor Rights: Codes of Conduct and Anti-Sweatshop Struggles in Global Apparel Factories in Mexico and Guatemala’, Politics & Society 33(2), 203-233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roman, J.: 2004, ‘The Trade Union Solution or the NGO Problem? The Fight for Global Labour Rights’, Development in Practice 14(1-2), 100-109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rondinelli, D. A. and T. London: 2003, ‘How Corporations and Environmental Groups Cooperate: Assessing Cross-Sector Alliances and Collaborations’, Academy of Management Executive 17(1), 61-76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, R. J.: 2006, ‘A Tale of Two Factories: Successful Resistance to Sweatshops and the Limits of Firefighting’, Labor Studies Journal 30(4), 65-85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpkins, J.: 2004, ‘The Global Workplace: Challenging the Race to the Bottom’, Development in Practice 14(1-2), 110-118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spooner, D.: 2004, ‘Trade Unions and NGOs: The Need for Cooperation’, Development in Practice 14(1-2), 19-33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivas, N.: 2009, ‘Against NGOs? A Critical Perspective on Nongovernmental Action’, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 38(4), 614-626.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suchman, M. C.: 1995, ‘Managing Legitimacy: Strategic and Institutional Approaches’, Academy of Management Review 20(3), 571-610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teegen, H., J. P. Doh and S. Vachani: 2004, ‘The Importance of Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) in Global Governance and Value Creation: An International Business Research Agenda’, Journal of International Business Studies 35(6), 463-483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Traub-Werner, M. and A. J. Cravey: 2002, ‘Spatiality, Sweatshops and Solidarity in Guatemala’, Social and Cultural Geography 3(4), 383-401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weston, S. and M. M. Lucio: 1997, ‘Trade Unions, Management and European Works Councils: Opening Pandora’s box?’, The International Journal of Human Resource Management 8(6), 764-779.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weston, S. and M. M. Lucio: 1998, ‘In and Beyond European Works Councils: Limits and Possibilities for Trade Union Influence’, Employee Relations 20(6), 551-564.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wills, J.: 1998, ‘Uprooting Tradition: Rethinking the Place and Space of Labour Organization’, European Planning Studies 6(1), 31-42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wills, J.: 2002, ‘Bargaining for the Space to Organize in the Global Economy: A Review of the Accor-IUF Trade Union Rights Agreement’, Review of International Political Economy 9(4), 675-700.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, X.: 2008, ‘Impacts of Corporate Code of Conduct on Labor Standards: A Case Study of Reebok’s Athletic Footwear Supplier Factory in China’, Journal of Business Ethics 81(3), 513-529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Box 600, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Niklas Egels-Zandén

  2. Kullagergatan 12, 853 52, Sundsvall, Sweden

    Peter Hyllman

Authors
  1. Niklas Egels-Zandén
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter Hyllman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Niklas Egels-Zandén.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Egels-Zandén, N., Hyllman, P. Differences in Organizing Between Unions and NGOs: Conflict and Cooperation Among Swedish Unions and NGOs. J Bus Ethics 101, 249–261 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0720-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0720-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation