 International
Resources
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Thursday, February 26, 2004
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New Report Compares European Trade Agreements and NAFTA
IWS Documented News Service
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Institute for Workplace Studies Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 Director, IWS News Bureau
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From the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS)
Lessons of European Integration for the Americas [26 February 2004]
by Sarah Anderson and John Cavanagh
February 26, 2004
http://www.ips-dc.org/EULessons/
or
http://www.ips-dc.org/EULessons/EUlessons.pdf
[full-text, 37 pages]
A new study that compares the EU integration approach with the model of the North American Free Trade Agreement. These alternative ideas are particularly timely, given the deadlock in talks on the Free Trade Area of the Americas and in World Trade Organization negotiations.
[From press release]
The remaining Democratic Presidential contenders have committed to changing U.S. trade policy. But when it comes to specific
alternatives, the leading candidates tend to recite a similar refrain that is limited to incorporating labor and environmental issues in
future trade pacts. [Perhaps they could learn something from this study].
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This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
12:02:57 PM 
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Tuesday, February 17, 2004
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Global Labour Survey
Eric Lee, LabourStart
February 12, 2004
Every year, the World Economic Forum -- you know, the people who meet at Davos -- produces a "Global Competitiveness Report." They ask the World Bank and corporate executives around the world about economic conditions in different countries. But they don't ask us -- people who know the labour scene -- about how workers and unions fare around the world.Our friends at Harvard University's Labor and Worklife Program thought it would be a good idea to try to conduct a survey of our own. They're calling it the Global Labour Survey. It is aimed at people like yourselves and when the results are announced in May 2004, they expect to receive worldwide attention.We interviewed Richard Freeman, author of the survey, and you can hear what he has to say about it on Radio LabourStart, http://radio.labourstart.org
We're convinced that if we can get a large number of you to take the time to fill out this online survey, we can present an alternative view to the one the WEF is presenting. A view based on your own experience as trade unionists.It's hugely important and we'll need thousands of you to respond in order to get this right.
The survey is located here: http://gls.law.harvard.edu/
It's available in English, French and Spanish.
This survey is completely confidential. You will not be identified nor will you be added to any mailing lists. We know that it takes a few minutes of your time to fill this in, and we appreciate the effort that you'll be making. You have our gratitude.Once you've filled in the survey yourself, please pass on this message and make sure that your union's publication mentions the survey as well.
[IIR Library Weblog]
11:20:06 AM
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Tuesday, August 05, 2003
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Labour Force Surveys
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/support/lib/howto/lfs.htm
The ILO Library has recently developed a web-based information resource which groups together in a single site links to Labour Force Surveys [LFS] which are available online. This is a unique information resource which is not available elsewhere on the Internet.
[excerpt]
A Labour Force Survey is a standard survey of work-related statistics.
The following countries and territories make their Labour Force Surveys available online.
Statistics and meta-data for some countries are also available from the LABORSTA database.
"The ILO Library intends to add further enhancements to this site during the next few months (links to the reference of the printed version, links to another ILO site providing the sources and methods of the LFS, and improvements to the look of the site). In the meantime, it can be used effectively."
Source: IWS Documented News Service, School of Industrial & Labor Relations, Cornell University
2:26:49 PM
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Web photo exhibit on Chinese manufacturing, by Zhou Hai
The Unbearable Heaviness of Industry
http://www.zhouhai.com/
From the site:
" Industry provides the impetus for social development .The industrial stablishments upon which modern civilization is built-such as steel-making,imposes a heavy toll on those who take part in the process.These people form the very basis of an enormous infrastructure;yet,they are also seen as outcasts having to endure pain,physical or mental,in this great industrial age.
In this country,the road to full industrialization is gradually but surely unveiling itself.There was a time when people on this road felt great pride.Now a market economy pervades,and so does a sense of loss and frustration for the labourers.
We do not know how we become unaware of the unbearable heaviness of inbustry and industrialization.What wealth can they create,what a wonderful world-we tell ourselves.What we do not see is this:In many of the industrial seators,what people have been doing is not only physically demanding. Fumes and dust are but physical proof of the hardship.One may be surprised to notice the absence of machinery where it should play a role.When labour is a source of pride,material return is less of a concern for the labourers.When this pride wears out in the course of time and as money sneaks in to be a standard measure,the glory is lost and survival instincts take over.
The Chinese industrial labour force is poised on the banks of the mainstream.Victimized by the institutionalized work pace and norm,living in an ever-fixed social space,these people find it hard to fit in.
While our vision is blurred by the drastic social changes brought about largely as a result of industrial development,there is a need for us to wake up to the heaviness of labour and survival that has been haunting us for so long. "
2:24:36 PM
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