How “Partnership” Weakens Solidarity: Colombian GM Workers and the Limits of UAW Internationalism

Abstract

This article examines the ongoing U.S. solidarity campaign with the Association of Injured Workers and Ex‐Workers of General Motors Colmotores (ASOTRECOL), workers fired from the GM plant in Bogotá, Colombia, after suffering injuries on the assembly line. After reviewing some of the factors that facilitated the mobilization of community and rank‐and‐file activists, we discuss the refusal of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union leadership to support the campaign. While the UAW has sometimes engaged in solidarity campaigns with foreign workers, it has not supported ASOTRECOL. We argue that the primary reason is that doing so might jeopardize what UAW leaders consider to be their positive relationship with General Motors. U.S. activists' expectation that the UAW would support the cause strongly influenced their strategic orientation early on, further hindering the chances of success. We suggest that solidarity activists should take unions' bargaining relationships into account when devising strategy.

Unionization at Volkswagen in Chattanooga: A Postmortem

“…For example, the UAW refused assistance to the Brazilian union CUT when CUT faced layoffs at a Brazil-based Ford plant, leaving it to negotiate independently with the automaker in Detroit (Anner et al 2006). In a different context, the UAW declined to participate in a solidarity campaign to support workers facing human rights abuses in Venezuela, despite pressure from the global community to intervene (Young and Becerra 2014). These examples stand in stark contrast to the CUT's positive experience with IG Metall, which was able to help Brazilians avoid job losses under similar circumstances at a VW plant with assistance from the global works council.…”

Trade union pedagogy and cross‐border action

“…The discourse on the global/local dichotomy (whether false or not) echoes debates on the differences in interests, needs and hence strategic priorities of trade unions in the Global North and the Global South. Such path dependencies are evident in strong, institutionalized -and therefore hard to ignore -relationships between local unions and employers (Young and Sierra Becerra 2014) and in the historical and ideological processes that characterized past attempts to achieve solidarity. For instance, unions from the Philippines and India have in the past opposed efforts by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) to implement a global minimum wage in the maritime sector because they thought it would harm their countries' competitiveness (Lillie 2004).…”

“…Often, path dependencies determine the type and quality of cooperation (or lack of) between the North and South. Such path dependencies are evident in strong, institutionalized -and therefore hard to ignore -relationships between local unions and employers (Young and Sierra Becerra 2014) and in the historical and ideological processes that characterized past attempts to achieve solidarity. Sukthankar and Kolben (2007: 77) emphasize how the legacy of protectionism and racism, evident in previous Anglo-Saxon attempts to collaborate with India, can inform current practice and they call for 'an ongoing self-reflexive process' to ensure that the North does not treat the South in a purely instrumental manner.…”

Disposable Bodies and Labor Rights: Workers in China's Automotive Industry

“…Timid ones suffer in silence, while those more conscious of their rights might seek help from NGOs to try to negotiate individually for the best possible severance package with management. Chinese workers are still a long way behind the injured GM workers in Bogota, where after 200 injured workers were fired some of them formed an injured workers association and have carried out six years of collective protests that have not yet won them compensation but which have resulted in improved work conditions inside the Bogota plant (Young and Sierra Becerra ).…”

“…The other possible actors who might effect changes are foreign auto unions. Using the Bogota case again as an example, the American Auto Workers Union (UAW) unfortunately prefers to placate GM rather than support the Bogota GM workers (Young and Sierra Becerra ). But some European unions are more responsive.…”