3- Modernisation and Migration: The Transformation of Labour Relations in the Global Automobile Industry
Corresponding Author(s) : Mark Anstey
African Sociological Review,
Vol. 10 No. 2 (2006): African Sociological Review
Abstract
The need to develop and sustain competitive advantage drives businesses to constant modernisation strategies. These have a powerful influence on the shaping of labour relations systems not only in enterprises and industries, but their nations of origin. New technology and systems of work organisation oblige change in labour relations arrangements. Imperatives for growth and profitability evoke searches for new markets, and themigration of production pushing businesses into political, economic and
cultural realities quite different to those of their nations of origin. In this article a brief history of the automobile manufacturing industry is presented to illustrate how forces for modernisation, market factors and migratory production strategies shape, and are shaped, by labour relations in a particular industry across nations through time. The rise of China as an automobile producing nation is likely to have profound implications for labour relations systems everywhere.
Keywords
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)BibTeX
- Adler, P. S., 1993, ‘Time and Motion Regained’, Harvard Business Review. Jan-Feb:97-108.
- Anstey, M., 2006, ‘Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing: The Transformation of Labour Relations in South Africa’s Automobile Manufacturing Industry’, South African Journal of Labour Relations. 30, 1: (in press).
- Anstey, M., 2004, ‘African Renaissance: Implications for Labour Relations’, South African Journal of Labour Relations. 28, 1: 34-82.
- Anstey, M., 2001, ‘Labor Disputes: Making Use of Regimes’, in Zartman, W., ed., Preventive Negotiation: Avoiding Conflict Escalation. New York, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
- Anstey, M., 1997, Employee Participation and Workplace Forums. Cape Town, Juta. Appelbaum, E., and Batt, R., 1994, The New American Workplace. New York: ILR Press.
- Berggren, C., 1993, Alternatives to Lean Production. New York, ILR.
- Bluestone, B. and Bluestone, I., 1992, Negotiating the Future: A Labor Perspective on American Business. New York, Basic Books.
- Brecher, J., 1997, Strike!, Boston, South End Press.
- Brewster, C., Carey, L., Dowling, P., Grobler, P., Holland, P., Warnich, S., 2003, Contemporary Issues in Human Resource Management, (2ⁿᵈ ed). Cape Town, Oxford University Press.
- Carson, I., 2004, ‘Perpetual Motion: A Survey of the Car Industry’, The Economist Sept 4: 3-15.
- Chen, J., 2002, ‘China and the ILO: Formal Cooperation Masks Rejection of Key Labour Rights’, Asian Labour Update . 44. July-Sept. (www.amrc.org.hk/4401.htm).
- Chang, C. and Bain, T., 2006, ‘Employment Relations Across the Taiwan Strait: Globalisation and State Corporatism’, Journal of Industrial Relations. 48, 1: 99-115.
- China Labor Watch,2004a, ‘Guangdon Raises Minimum Wage Level’, China Labor Watch. www.chinalaborwatch.org/en/web/article.php?article.
- China Labor Watch. 2004b. ‘China Threatens Action Against Multinationals’, China Labor Watch. www.chinalaborwatch.org/en/web/article.php?article.
- Cooke, W., ‘The Influence of Industrial Relations on US Foreign Direct Investment Abroad’, Industrial and Labor Relations Review. 51, 1: 3-17.
- Cusumano, M. A., 1994, ‘The Limits of ‘Lean’. Sloan Management Review. Summer: 27-32.
- Dale, B. G., and Boaden R. J., 1990, ‘The Use of Teams in Quality Improvement’, in Dale, B. G., ed., Managing Quality (2ⁿᵈ ed). Hertfordshire: Prentice Hall.
- Dicken, P., 2003, Global Shift: Reshaping the Global Economic Map in the 21ˢᵗ Century. London: Sage Publications. Ch 11.
- Drucker, P., 1993, Post-Capitalist Society. New York: Harper Collins. Drucker, P., 1946, The Concept of The Organisation. New York, John Day.
- Dulles, F. R. and Dubofsky, M., 1984, Labor in America: A History (4ᵗʰ ed). Arlington Heights: Harlan Davidson.
- Economist, 2005, Pocket World in Figures 2006. London, Profile Books. Economist, 2005a, June 11. ‘General Motors: The Lost Years’, Economist 375,8430:60.
- Economist, 2005b, June 4. ‘Dream machines’, Economist, 375, 8429:23-25. Economist, 2005b, Apr 23.‘How Much Worse Can it Get?’
- Economist, 375, 8423: 60. Economist, 2005c, Apr 23. ‘Shanghaied’, Economist, 375, 8423: 61.
- Economist, 2004, ‘Perpetual Motion: A Survey of the Car Industry’, Economist Sept 4. Economist,
- , Pocket World in Figures 2004. London, Profile Books.
- Estey, M., 1981, The Unions: Structure, Development and Organisation (3ʳᵈ ed) New York: Harcourt Brace: Jovanovich.
- Forbes, D., 1987, ‘The Lessons of NUMMI’, Business Month. June: 34-37.
- Friedman, E., ed., 1994, The Politics of Democratisation: Generalising East Asian Experiences. Boulder, Westview Press.
- Graham, I. and Bibby, A., 2002, ‘Labour Agreements: A Framework for Rights’,World of Work. 45. December: 4-7.
- Greenwald, J., 1992, ‘General Motors: What Went Wrong?’, Time. November. Grieder, W., 1997, One World, Ready Or Not. New York, Touchstone.
- Heckscher, C., 1988, The New Unionism. New York: Basic Books.
- Hertz, N., 2001, The Silent Takeover: Global Capitalism and the Death of Democracy.London, William Heinemann.
- ILO., 2005, ‘Jobs and The Millenium Generation: Working Out of Poverty’, The World Of Work. 55, Dec: 4-7.
- Imai, M., 1991, Kaizen: The Way to Japan’s Competitive Success. Singapore: McGraw Hill.
- Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training, 2004, Labour Situation in Japan and Analysis 2004/5. Tokyo, Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training.
- Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training, 2004, Japanese Working Life Profile 2004/5. Tokyo, Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training.
- Johnson, T., 2005, ‘Global Competitors: China Evolves Into a Fierce Market. Detroit Free Press’, Apr 26. Http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/ china26e.20050426.html.
- Katz, H. C. and Kochan, T. A., 2000, An Introduction to Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations (2ⁿᵈ ed) Boston, Irwin McGraw Hill.
- Kjellberg, A., 1992, Sweden: Can the Model Survive?, in Ferner, A. and Hyman, R., eds., Industrial Relations in the New Europe. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
- Kochan, T., Katz, H. C., McKersie, R. B., 1986, The Transformation of American Industrial Relations. New York, Basic Books.
- Lawler, E., 1992, The Ultimate Advantage. New York: Jossey Bass. Lawler, E., 1991, High Involvement Management. New York: Jossey Bass.
- Marginson, P. and Sisson, K., 1993, ‘The Structure of Transnational Capital in Europe: the Emerging Euro-company and its implications for Industrial Relations’, in Hyman, R. and Ferner, A., eds., New Frontiers in European Industrial Relations. Oxford: Blackwell.
- Monden, Y., 1983, The Toyota Production System. Norcross Georgia, Industrial Engineering and Management Press.
- NAAMSA, National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa: Annual Report 2004. Pretoria, Naamsa.
- Nakamura, M., 1994, ‘Democratisation, Peace and Development in Occupied Japan 1945-1952’, in Friedman, E., ed., The Politics of Democratisation: Generalising East Asian Experiences. Boulder: Westview Press.
- Niland, P., 1989, ‘US-Japanese Joint Venture: New United Motor Manufacturing Inc (NUMMI)’, Planning Review. Jan-Feb: 41-45.
- Parker, M. and Slaughter, J., 1993, ‘Unions and Management by Stress’, Paper delivered to Lean Production Conference, Wayne State University, 20 May.
- Piore, M. J., and Sabel C. F., 1984, The Second Industrial Divide. New York: Basic Books.
- Price, R. M., 1991, The Apartheid State in Crisis: Political Transformation in South Africa 1975-1990. New York, Oxford University Press.
- Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), 2004, 2003 Global Automotive Financial Review.
- Price Waterhouse Coopers.
- Reich, R. B., 1992, The Work of Nations. New York, First Vintage Books. Robertson, D., Rinehart, J., Huxley C., 1992, ‘Team Concept and Kaizen: Japanese
- Production in a Unionised Auto Plant’, Studies in Political Economy. 39, Autumn:77-97.
- Sauls, J. R., 2005, The Collapse of Globalism. London: Atlantic Books. Sengenberger, W. and Campbell, D., 1994, Creating Economic Opportunities: The Role of Labour Standards in Industrial Restructuring. ILO, Geneva.
- Shadur, M., Labour Relations in a Developing Country: A Case Study on Zimbabwe. Aldershot: Avebury.
- Silver, B. J., 2003, Forces of Labour. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Stiglitz, J., Globalisation and Its Discontents. London, Penguin Books.
- Stonehouse, G., Hamill, J., Campbell, D., Purdie, T., 2000, Global and Transnational Business: Strategy and Management. Chichester, John Wiley & Sons.
- Trade Union Law of the People’s Republic of China. 62/2001.
- Vasilash, G. S., 1992, ‘NUMMI: Proving That Cars Can Be Built In California’,California Production. Feb: 36-41.
- VWAG, 2004, Collective Agreement for Sustainable Future development and Employment Trends. Hanover, VWAG / IG Metall, November.
- Weiss, M., 1989, Labour Law and Industrial Relations in the Federal Republic Of Germany. Deventer: Kluwer.
- Wolf, M., 2004, Why Globalisation Works. New Haven, Yale University Press. Womack, J. P., Jones, D. T., Roos, D., 1990, The Machine that Changed the World. New York, Rawson Associates.
References
Adler, P. S., 1993, ‘Time and Motion Regained’, Harvard Business Review. Jan-Feb:97-108.
Anstey, M., 2006, ‘Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing: The Transformation of Labour Relations in South Africa’s Automobile Manufacturing Industry’, South African Journal of Labour Relations. 30, 1: (in press).
Anstey, M., 2004, ‘African Renaissance: Implications for Labour Relations’, South African Journal of Labour Relations. 28, 1: 34-82.
Anstey, M., 2001, ‘Labor Disputes: Making Use of Regimes’, in Zartman, W., ed., Preventive Negotiation: Avoiding Conflict Escalation. New York, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Anstey, M., 1997, Employee Participation and Workplace Forums. Cape Town, Juta. Appelbaum, E., and Batt, R., 1994, The New American Workplace. New York: ILR Press.
Berggren, C., 1993, Alternatives to Lean Production. New York, ILR.
Bluestone, B. and Bluestone, I., 1992, Negotiating the Future: A Labor Perspective on American Business. New York, Basic Books.
Brecher, J., 1997, Strike!, Boston, South End Press.
Brewster, C., Carey, L., Dowling, P., Grobler, P., Holland, P., Warnich, S., 2003, Contemporary Issues in Human Resource Management, (2ⁿᵈ ed). Cape Town, Oxford University Press.
Carson, I., 2004, ‘Perpetual Motion: A Survey of the Car Industry’, The Economist Sept 4: 3-15.
Chen, J., 2002, ‘China and the ILO: Formal Cooperation Masks Rejection of Key Labour Rights’, Asian Labour Update . 44. July-Sept. (www.amrc.org.hk/4401.htm).
Chang, C. and Bain, T., 2006, ‘Employment Relations Across the Taiwan Strait: Globalisation and State Corporatism’, Journal of Industrial Relations. 48, 1: 99-115.
China Labor Watch,2004a, ‘Guangdon Raises Minimum Wage Level’, China Labor Watch. www.chinalaborwatch.org/en/web/article.php?article.
China Labor Watch. 2004b. ‘China Threatens Action Against Multinationals’, China Labor Watch. www.chinalaborwatch.org/en/web/article.php?article.
Cooke, W., ‘The Influence of Industrial Relations on US Foreign Direct Investment Abroad’, Industrial and Labor Relations Review. 51, 1: 3-17.
Cusumano, M. A., 1994, ‘The Limits of ‘Lean’. Sloan Management Review. Summer: 27-32.
Dale, B. G., and Boaden R. J., 1990, ‘The Use of Teams in Quality Improvement’, in Dale, B. G., ed., Managing Quality (2ⁿᵈ ed). Hertfordshire: Prentice Hall.
Dicken, P., 2003, Global Shift: Reshaping the Global Economic Map in the 21ˢᵗ Century. London: Sage Publications. Ch 11.
Drucker, P., 1993, Post-Capitalist Society. New York: Harper Collins. Drucker, P., 1946, The Concept of The Organisation. New York, John Day.
Dulles, F. R. and Dubofsky, M., 1984, Labor in America: A History (4ᵗʰ ed). Arlington Heights: Harlan Davidson.
Economist, 2005, Pocket World in Figures 2006. London, Profile Books. Economist, 2005a, June 11. ‘General Motors: The Lost Years’, Economist 375,8430:60.
Economist, 2005b, June 4. ‘Dream machines’, Economist, 375, 8429:23-25. Economist, 2005b, Apr 23.‘How Much Worse Can it Get?’
Economist, 375, 8423: 60. Economist, 2005c, Apr 23. ‘Shanghaied’, Economist, 375, 8423: 61.
Economist, 2004, ‘Perpetual Motion: A Survey of the Car Industry’, Economist Sept 4. Economist,
, Pocket World in Figures 2004. London, Profile Books.
Estey, M., 1981, The Unions: Structure, Development and Organisation (3ʳᵈ ed) New York: Harcourt Brace: Jovanovich.
Forbes, D., 1987, ‘The Lessons of NUMMI’, Business Month. June: 34-37.
Friedman, E., ed., 1994, The Politics of Democratisation: Generalising East Asian Experiences. Boulder, Westview Press.
Graham, I. and Bibby, A., 2002, ‘Labour Agreements: A Framework for Rights’,World of Work. 45. December: 4-7.
Greenwald, J., 1992, ‘General Motors: What Went Wrong?’, Time. November. Grieder, W., 1997, One World, Ready Or Not. New York, Touchstone.
Heckscher, C., 1988, The New Unionism. New York: Basic Books.
Hertz, N., 2001, The Silent Takeover: Global Capitalism and the Death of Democracy.London, William Heinemann.
ILO., 2005, ‘Jobs and The Millenium Generation: Working Out of Poverty’, The World Of Work. 55, Dec: 4-7.
Imai, M., 1991, Kaizen: The Way to Japan’s Competitive Success. Singapore: McGraw Hill.
Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training, 2004, Labour Situation in Japan and Analysis 2004/5. Tokyo, Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training.
Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training, 2004, Japanese Working Life Profile 2004/5. Tokyo, Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training.
Johnson, T., 2005, ‘Global Competitors: China Evolves Into a Fierce Market. Detroit Free Press’, Apr 26. Http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/ china26e.20050426.html.
Katz, H. C. and Kochan, T. A., 2000, An Introduction to Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations (2ⁿᵈ ed) Boston, Irwin McGraw Hill.
Kjellberg, A., 1992, Sweden: Can the Model Survive?, in Ferner, A. and Hyman, R., eds., Industrial Relations in the New Europe. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
Kochan, T., Katz, H. C., McKersie, R. B., 1986, The Transformation of American Industrial Relations. New York, Basic Books.
Lawler, E., 1992, The Ultimate Advantage. New York: Jossey Bass. Lawler, E., 1991, High Involvement Management. New York: Jossey Bass.
Marginson, P. and Sisson, K., 1993, ‘The Structure of Transnational Capital in Europe: the Emerging Euro-company and its implications for Industrial Relations’, in Hyman, R. and Ferner, A., eds., New Frontiers in European Industrial Relations. Oxford: Blackwell.
Monden, Y., 1983, The Toyota Production System. Norcross Georgia, Industrial Engineering and Management Press.
NAAMSA, National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa: Annual Report 2004. Pretoria, Naamsa.
Nakamura, M., 1994, ‘Democratisation, Peace and Development in Occupied Japan 1945-1952’, in Friedman, E., ed., The Politics of Democratisation: Generalising East Asian Experiences. Boulder: Westview Press.
Niland, P., 1989, ‘US-Japanese Joint Venture: New United Motor Manufacturing Inc (NUMMI)’, Planning Review. Jan-Feb: 41-45.
Parker, M. and Slaughter, J., 1993, ‘Unions and Management by Stress’, Paper delivered to Lean Production Conference, Wayne State University, 20 May.
Piore, M. J., and Sabel C. F., 1984, The Second Industrial Divide. New York: Basic Books.
Price, R. M., 1991, The Apartheid State in Crisis: Political Transformation in South Africa 1975-1990. New York, Oxford University Press.
Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), 2004, 2003 Global Automotive Financial Review.
Price Waterhouse Coopers.
Reich, R. B., 1992, The Work of Nations. New York, First Vintage Books. Robertson, D., Rinehart, J., Huxley C., 1992, ‘Team Concept and Kaizen: Japanese
Production in a Unionised Auto Plant’, Studies in Political Economy. 39, Autumn:77-97.
Sauls, J. R., 2005, The Collapse of Globalism. London: Atlantic Books. Sengenberger, W. and Campbell, D., 1994, Creating Economic Opportunities: The Role of Labour Standards in Industrial Restructuring. ILO, Geneva.
Shadur, M., Labour Relations in a Developing Country: A Case Study on Zimbabwe. Aldershot: Avebury.
Silver, B. J., 2003, Forces of Labour. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Stiglitz, J., Globalisation and Its Discontents. London, Penguin Books.
Stonehouse, G., Hamill, J., Campbell, D., Purdie, T., 2000, Global and Transnational Business: Strategy and Management. Chichester, John Wiley & Sons.
Trade Union Law of the People’s Republic of China. 62/2001.
Vasilash, G. S., 1992, ‘NUMMI: Proving That Cars Can Be Built In California’,California Production. Feb: 36-41.
VWAG, 2004, Collective Agreement for Sustainable Future development and Employment Trends. Hanover, VWAG / IG Metall, November.
Weiss, M., 1989, Labour Law and Industrial Relations in the Federal Republic Of Germany. Deventer: Kluwer.
Wolf, M., 2004, Why Globalisation Works. New Haven, Yale University Press. Womack, J. P., Jones, D. T., Roos, D., 1990, The Machine that Changed the World. New York, Rawson Associates.