Development NGOs and Labor Unions: Terms of Engagement

* Contains essays from international labor lawyers, trade unionists, NGO campaigners, corporate-watchers, scholars, and activists
* Includes perspectives from diverse groups including the Development Policy Centre, Nigeria; the Nike Watch Campaign; Union Aid Abroad; Social Accountability International; Women Working Worldwide; PSI Research Unit; War on Want; Friedrich Ebert Stiftung; and the Workers’ Educational Association
* Case studies from Iran, the Ukraine, Nigeria, and the South Pacific

Dvelopment NGOs and labor unions have much to gain from collaborating in the pursuit of a social justice and rights agenda, yet the two sectors have traditionally tended to operate independently of one another. The "another world is possible" movement; a continuing series of anti-globalization protests; and conflicting views on core labor standards, corporate codes of conduct, and the WTO have placed civil society organizations at the center of public debates on global governance.

While NGOs and unions will naturally pursue diverse strategies and tactics, neither sector can afford to go it alone. The essays collected in this volume elucidate some of the underlying tensions between trade unions and NGOs and illustrate the scope for constructive and respectful dialogue — and potential partnership — between them.

While illustrating some of the underlying tensions between labor unions and NGOs, these essays also suggest possibilities for partnerships between the two sectors. The contributors are international labor lawyers, trade unionists, NGO campaigners, corporate-watchers, scholars and activists who offer perspectives from such groups as the Development Policy Centre in Nigeria, the Nike Watch campaign and the Workers' Educational Association. The volume includes case studies from Iran, the Ukraine, Nigeria and the South Pacific and lists global resources concerning labor unions and development. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Deborah Eade became editor of the international journal Development in Practice in 1991 and has published extensively on international development and humanitarian issues. She was an independent consultant based in Mexico before becoming Oxfam GB’s Deputy Regional Representative for Mexico and Central America (1984-1991).

Alan Leather is Deputy Secretary General of Public Services International (PSI) and previously taught at Ruskin College, which is closely linked to the UK labor union movement. He has worked for Oxfam GB both in the UK and in India and served for several years in an advisory capacity on Oxfam GB’s Asia Committee.