Based on the assumption that unions look for enlarging their goals to encompass social progress beyond the immediate employment; trade unions have seen opportunities to create coalitions with other social movements, to foster alliances between the North and the South workers in pursuit of a wider social justice.

There are also examples of Global Unions negotiating directly with global employers which results in the establishment of an International Framework Agreement, for example. Therefore, the aim of this session is to explore the relation between trade unions and other non-labour institutions in civil society.