Abstract
The trade-union teams of a company, a branch or a territory, are confronted daily with the stakes in globalization. It is the case when, because of the saturation of the mobile telephony market in Europe, Mitsubishi closes its unity of Vitré to become established in China; when to increase its profitability, Marks and Spencer closes 18 shops in France; when, to decrease high production costs Dim decides to close its French sites to become established in Eastern Europe. When confronted with these accelerated reorganizations, union activists have difficulty in perceiving the benefactions that globalization has on economic growth. They get organized then directly by creating trade-union networks.
The changing environment of the world requires new approaches and strategies on the part of unions if they are to remain major social actors contributing to dynamic and equitable growth. According to a report by the International Labor Organization (ILO), globalization, which brings formidable challenges to unions, also provides them with opportunities to play a far more effective and politically important role in society.
