International labou's Y2K problem: a debate, a discussion and a dialogue : (a contribution to the ILO/ICFTU Conference on Organised Labour in the 21st Century)

This paper argues for the reinvention of the international labour movement in order to confront our globalised networked capitalist order. It reviews a wide range of recent
literature. It also considers the following two overlapping dialogues. The first is The Conference on Organised Labour in the 21st Century co-sponsored by the International Labour
Organisation and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (here jointly considered as part of the crisis of labour internationally). Whilst the defensive value of such
existing international organisations/institutions is allowed for, it is argued that the network
provides the principle of movement for labour in the 21st century; 2) The second type of
dialogue is taking place in precisely such networks (or network-based events) as are currently addressing themselves to labour and globalisation. It is here suggested that whilst
these may be more politically appropriate as a site of international labour movement debate, they have their own limitations.