crossunion

Crossunion is a term used in labor studies and political discourse to describe coordinated action among multiple trade unions across industries and jurisdictions. The concept emphasizes solidarity beyond a single union's membership, with the aim of advancing shared interests such as fair wages, safe working conditions, and social protections through joint campaigns, bargaining, and resource sharing.

In practice, crossunion arrangements can take various forms, including joint bargaining committees, cross-border solidarity campaigns, joint demonstrations, and pooled strike funds or organizing support. They are often informal networks rather than formal international bodies, though some regions host formal cross-union alliances within broader labor federations or global union federations.

Terminology varies; crossunion is sometimes written with a hyphen (cross-union) or spaced as cross union, and there is no single universally recognized definition. The idea aligns with broader strategies of international labor solidarity and coordination across sectors.

Challenges include legal differences across countries, varying labor standards and wage levels, organizational disparities, and the logistical complexity of coordinating across time zones and languages. Successful crossunion activity typically relies on clear governance, aligned goals, and trusted communication channels.

See also: global union federation, cross-border labor solidarity, union federation, collective bargaining.