Abstract
Arguing there are alternatives to the generally moribund trade unionism currently found in the United States, this article presents the Kilusang Mayo Uno Labor Center of the Philippines, an exemplar of social movement unionism, as providing one alternative developing among labor organizations in the Global South. It presents a theoretical discussion of social movement unionism. It seeks to ascertain if the KMU is still conducting social movement unionism, or it has reverted back to economic or political unionism. It reports a 2015 trip across the three major regions of the country by this researcher—after six trips between 1986 and 1994—where the situation is detailed and the KMU's efforts are examined. It finds that the KMU is still implementing social movement unionism. It illustrates one alternative to U.S. trade unionism, and suggests that the workers around the world might consider learning from a southern labor center such as the Kilusang Mayo Uno.
Published Version
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