RT Article
T1 Differences in Organizing Between Unions and NGOs: Conflict and Cooperation Among Swedish Unions and NGOs
JF Journal of business ethics
VO 101
IS 2
SP 249
OP 261
A1 Egels-Zandén, Niklas
A1 Hyllman, Peter
A2 Hyllman, Peter
LA English
YR 2011
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1785642219
AB The protection of workers’ rights is at the heart of the ongoing debate on business ethics. In balancing transnational corporations’ (TNCs) influence in private regulatory systems intended to protect workers’ rights in emerging economies, several authors have emphasized the importance of cooperative relationships between unions and NGOs. In practice, however, conflict has often entered into union–NGO relations, weakening the protection of workers’ rights. We argue that cooperative union–NGO relationships are difficult to form in part because of the differences existing between how unions and NGOs organize. More specifically, based on two qualitative studies, we demonstrate that the problems stem from differences in organizing related to (i) identity construction, (ii) governance systems, and (iii) resources. The article concludes with a discussion on the possibility of successful union–NGO cooperation and improved protection of workers’ rights in emerging economies.
K1 Union
K1 transnational corporations
K1 supplier relations
K1 NGO
K1 labour practice
K1 international framework agreement
K1 Corporate Responsibility
K1 Code of conduct
DO 10.1007/s10551-010-0720-x