Trade Union Responses to Labour Immigrants: Selective Solidarity

Abstract

The Finnish service sector trade union Palvelualojen ammattiliitto or Service Union United has the largest amount of migrant members of all Finnish trade unions. It walks the narrow line between defending the perceived interests of its members from the ‘threat’ of labour immigration, and simultaneously trying to act as an immigrant-friendly force. This qualitative case study analyses the outcomes of the union’s strategies in questions related to immigration. The outcomes affect different immigrant groups in a different manner. Furthermore, the established quasi-state character of the Finnish trade union movement affects both the strengths and weaknesses of its strategies. The politicized anti-immigration views in the Finnish society indirectly to some degree impact trade union strategies. Results suggest that the lay distinction between ‘us’ and ‘them’ based on nationality still shapes trade union strategy in a way that can be labeled selective solidarity.

African Immigrants in Finland in Onward Translocal and Transnational Mobility and Migration, and the Political Implications

“…This is despite the fact that many are active members of labor/trade unions and which should protect them from such racism but have often failed. In fact, it has been discovered that when it comes to labor market discrimination against immigrants, some Finnish trade unions drag their feet or become selective in protecting migrants, especially based on their countries of origin (Interviews, October to December, 2014; see also Alho, 2013; Ristakari, 2012). This has frustrated some Africans to the extent that they have left Finland.…”

‘Completely New Challenges’?: <i>Continuity and revision in Finnish political parties’ objectives on immigration, 1986–1991</i>

“…As a vocal advocate of trade unions, SDP proposed that their involvement should be guaranteed in the EEA and EC labour policy development to strengthen 'wage earners' promotion of interests' (SDP 1990a;SDP 1991a). Similar issues have remained concerns for the Finnish (and Swedish) left-wing parties and trade unions in the 2000s (Alho 2013(Alho , 2015. In the beginning of the 1990s, the Centre Party, SDP and SKDL/VAS wanted to ensure that there would not be two separate labour markets in Finland where foreign workers would concentrate on low-paid sectors where working conditions risked deterioration.…”

Blue Solidarity: Police Unions, Race and Authoritarian Populism in North America

“…As per solidarity in general, solidarity in the workplace may also take exclusionary forms. For example, with respect to trade union practice vis-a-vis immigrant workers, Alho (2013: 97) argues that ‘the lay distinction between “us” and “them” in terms of nationality still shapes trade union strategy in a way that can be labelled as selective solidarity’. With the rise of precarious work, some unions reinforce insider strategies that protect members (particularly full-time, permanent workers) but that exclude or offer secondary forms of protection for members with lower seniority or those on precarious contracts (Doellgast et al, 2018).…”