Negotiating International Framework Agreements in the Global Textile, Garment and Footwear Sector

This article outlines the policy and practice of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF) with respect to multinationals in the sector. It concludes that while the multinational policy of the ITGLWF is in line with other global union federations, the negotiation of International Framework Agreements is proving to be a much harder objective to realize. This can, in part, be explained by an anti-union stance on the part of some multinationals, a plethora of existing voluntary initiatives, and possible collective employer resistance to such a development.