Three dynamics are coalescing to reshape labour relations in the twenty-first century in the United States: They are flexibilization, globalization, and privatization. Flexibilization refers to the changing work practices by which firms no longer use internal labour markets or implicitly promise employees lifetime job security, but rather seek flexible employment relations that permit them to increase or diminish their workforce, and reassign and redeploy employees with ease. Globalization refers to the increase in cross-border transactions in the production and marketing of goods and services that facilitates firm relocation to low labour cost countries. And privatization refers to the rise of neo-liberal ideology, the attack on big government and the dismantling of the social safety net that have dominated public policy in the United States in recent years. All three of these dynamics have been detrimental to U.S. employment standards and union strength. This article describes how each of these dynamics has undermined labour rights and then asks, what prospects are there, in light of this environment, for protecting employment rights, re-invigorating unions, and securing a social safety net? The author answers by pointing to the many areas of social life in which the spread of the global leads to the reemergence. of the local. She argues that the response to the global threat to labour standards lies in a revival of collective action at the local level. She further contends that the combined forces of flexibilization, globalization, and privatization make collective action at the local level not only necessary, but also possible
