International union networks: a study of the Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz world works council

• Grant number: 15/08762-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: February 01, 2016
• End date: January 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Sociology
• Principal Investigator: Jose Dari Krein
• Grantee: Ariella Silva Araujo
• Supervisor: Martin Krzywdzinski
• Host Institution: Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas (IFCH). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Berlin Social Science Center (WZB), Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 14/24615-7 - Union Network International: the World Committee of Workers of Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, BP.DR

Abstract

This research project, linked to Thematic Project of FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation) Labor conditions in current Brazil: formalization, job insecurity, outsourcing and regulation, n. 2012/20408-1, has the objective of discussing the formation of Trade Union Networks in Brazil and how these networks have been articulated on an international scope. More specifically we will focus on networks formed within the automotive sector, taking as its empiric object of study the examples of union networks constituted by The World Committee of Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz Workers. We understand that networks are evolving as a possibility for action at the international level, which may indicate a change in behavior in the labor movement, once the draft constitution of networks focuses on tackling the transnational action. Increasingly, unionism has inserted in its agendas the discussion of the growing challenge of creating appropriate and effective mechanisms for coordination, organization and articulation of union action on an international scale, mainly because this is the sphere of capitalism action and the transnational companies and their internationalized production and subcontracting networks. In view of this, we choose the following question to guide this proposal: the union networks would constitute a new kind of unionism, based on a new action strategy organized in network, which presupposes overcome traditional trade unionism and thereby strengthen local organizations? (AU)