Building Global Labour Networks: the Case of the Global Labour University

By Frank Hoffer

The article discusses the experience of the Global Labour University project.

Summarizing major challenges labour is facing in adapting to the structural changes of globalisation, the paper puts the idea of a Global Labour University in the broader context of labour's needs to respond to a dominantly pro-business, pro-market globalisation discourse. The second part of the article introduces and critically discusses the Global Labour University project as an initiative to contribute to the need for global research, teaching and networking for a fairer globalisation.

The speed of globalisation is not slowing down and the need for a global solution is growing by the day. The apparent 'Washington Disarray' offers a window of opportunity to broaden the debate about alternative forms of globalisation. To seize this opportunity requires sustainable global networks and international movements as prototypes of a global civil society. The Global Labour University is trying to make a contribution to this process by focusing on the social and labour dimension of globalisation, building international links between academia and the labour movement and qualifying trade unionists on global labour issues.

Overcoming language and cultural barriers and supporting an open, but value-based, research and learning environment is seen as a valuable contribution towards a modern labour movement trying to influence complex and differentiated globalisation processes.

Labour has a key role to play to make globalisation fair. At the end of the day, the broad involvement of working people will make the difference, whether ideas remain just ideas, or whether they will change reality.

(Just Labour: a Canadian journal of work and society. vol. 9, Autumn 2006)