You will need:

• Introductions from the other study circles
• Reading: What is globalisation?
• Flipchart paper and pens

Points to bear in mind:

This session is intended to give participants a general introduction to globalisation by focusing on their own experiences of change in their workplace and community. In this way, participants from the different countries in the ISC can reach an understanding of their common problems. It will also create a picture of the broader context in which TNCs operate.

Many participants in our study circles would have heard of globalisation. It is important that you get participants to share what they already know, and to make the link between their daily experiences and global economic change.

Given the limited period of time available, it is not possible to explore all aspects of globalisation. If participants are interested in further information, they can read the additional material. It might be useful though to highlight the main economic trends which characterise globalisation, so that participants have an overall picture. They include:

• The movement of capital, technology and products across borders is increasing

• Production is becoming more and more globalised, with the manufacturing of components and their assembly taking place in many different countries.

• The dominance of TNCs is evidence of the increasing globalisation of the world economy.

• The increase in capital mobility is made possible by new information and communications technology.

• Through the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT), the power of governments to protect their industries is being stripped away.

• International trade has increased. Countries are now producing for a world market rather than their own domestic markets.

• Increasing power and control is concentrated in the hands of the IMF and World Bank. Through these international financial institutions, neo-liberal economic restructuring has been imposed on countries world-wide.
• Restructuring has also taken place in the production process which has led to an increase in part-time, temporary work, and the introduction of new technology to replace workers. Management has introduced changes on the factory floor aimed at increasing the productivity and flexibility of workers.

Activities before Session 2:

• Download materials for Session 2

You will need:

• Reading: Structural Adjustment
• A computer for searching the Internet
• Four handouts:
• case-studies of organising in TNC’s
  • Lithuania: Union Defeats TNC
  • To Picket It, Just Click It
  • European or World Councils
  • Conclusions adopted by the IMF Joint Council
• Flipchart paper and pens

Points to bear in mind:

This session continues with some of the themes raised in session one, and establishes how TNCs have benefited from privatisation. It would now be useful to highlight the ideology of neo-liberalism which underpins globalisation, so that participants get to know the political ideas behind global economic changes and the increasing power of TNCs.

This extract from "South Africa in the global economy" by the Trade Union Research Project is a useful summary of the neo-liberal agenda:

• The market rules. This means reduced state involvement in the economy. The state is only responsible for establishing conditions for production and for the supply of infrastructure.

• Privatisation.

• Deregulation. Fewer laws regulate the economy. Fewer price controls and subsidies.

• Cuts in government spending. Less money is available for welfare programmes in education, health and social security. It also means job losses in these sectors.

• Competition. Private firms compete for a share in the market, workers compete with each other for jobs, labour competes with machines.

• Outward orientation. The economy is organised to export goods to be sold on the world market.

• Trade liberalisation. Taxes on imports are cut and industries are no longer protected from outside competition.

• Specialisation. The country specialises in producing what it is best at on the world market.

• Flexibility. The workplace is organised flexibly to suit the needs of the market. Restructuring, rationalisation, down-sizing and right-sizing are words associated with flexibility.

• Individualism. The freedom of individuals to organise their own lives. If everyone worked for their own interests they would all work hard, produce more and the society would benefit from the creation of more wealth.

This session also gives you the opportunity to introduce the Internet. This is simply an exercise which will give participants a chance to see the potential of the Internet for gathering information. It is not intended as a training exercise.

Activities before Session 3:

• at the end of Session 2, hand out the four case-studies on organising in TNCs
• put on the Internet, your reports from Session One and Two by 2 April
• download materials for Session 3

You will need:

• The reports of Session One and Two from the other study circles
• Four handouts for Session Four:
  • ICFTU Proposals for Company and Industry Codes of Conduct
  • Company codes of conduct: What do they mean for workers in the garment and sportswear industries?
  • Spotlight on Nike
  • Clean Clothes Campaign
• Flipchart paper and pens

Points to bear in mind:

This session allocates a lot of time to considering the reports from other study circles. This is important so that participants are able to see and understand their common experiences of globalisation. The reports should be treated as education materials which participants can learn from. It is important to encourage debate and discussion about the different points of view which might emerge from the reports, and to identify issues which participants want to discuss further with other study circles. These issues can be reflected in your report on Session Three, but participants should also use the discussion page on the web site to articulate their views. This will allow for more ongoing and free-flowing discussion.

Sessions One and Two established the changes in the global economy, and the power of TNCs. It is now important to introduce case-studies of positive action in TNCs, so that participants do not feel helpless. It is important to emphasise that workers, consumers, and communities are able to respond and effect change. The case-studies are examples of different strategies which have been used.

Activities before Session 4:

Session 4: Notes for Facilitator

 You will need:

Points to bear in mind:

This session considers codes of conduct as a strategy to protect workers’ rights in TNCs. It is likely that many participants will not have heard of codes of conduct. You therefore need to ensure that sufficient information is made available.

The main purpose of the session is to develop a critical awareness of both the possibilities and limitations of codes. The questions which are posed in the reading Company Codes of Conduct: What do they mean for workers in the garment and sportswear industries by Women Working Worldwide are the key issues which participants should address.

This session also attempts to develop a collective activity between the different study circles by asking what they would include in a model code of conduct. This is potentially a very concrete product that could emerge from this session, and a proposal that participants could take back into their respective organisations for further discussion.

Activities before Session 5:

• At the end of Session 4, hand out the articles for Session 5
• put on the Internet, your report from Session 4 by 30 April
• download the education materials for Session 5