ACFTU at an International Table: Evidence from Sino-Norwegian Collective Bargaining for Chinese Seafarers

• In Event: 30454 - Student Forum Special Topic Paper Session

Abstract

The dual identity of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) as both a workers’ organization and a quasi-state institution has been extensively explored in existing literature, primarily based on domestic bargaining scenarios within China. However, this research, through a comparative case study of Sino-Norwegian and Chinese seafarers collective bargaining—where the Chinese Seamen & Construction Workers’ Union (CSCWU), an ACFTU affiliate, represented the workers, while the employers were the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA) and the China Shipowners’ Association (CSA), respectively—unveils the multifaceted and dynamic role of the ACFTU. In particular, when bargaining with foreign employers or participating in national tripartite consultations to promote compliance with international labor conventions, the ACFTU’s official status can become an asset rather than a constraint. The ACFTU adeptly leverages its unique institutional position to mobilize diverse resources, including garnering support from maritime administrations, establishing extensive networks with foreign seafarers’ unions, and soliciting feedback from seafarers through grassroots unions. These efforts enhance its capacity to advocate for Chinese seafarers employed abroad in cross-border negotiations and to coordinate the interests of large state-owned shipowners in national tripartite consultations. This study not only deepens our understanding of the ACFTU’s involvement in cross-border bargaining, but also provides valuable empirical insights into the interplay between global labor governance and local practices. It argues that as China becomes more deeply integrated into globalization, traditional industrial relations actors are increasingly operating across national borders to participate in global labor governance, resulting in more intricate and diverse employment practices.

Authors

• Yi Sui, Renmin University of China

• Hao Zhang, Renmin University of China