The union relationships that developed during NAFTA's negotiation are so momentous because they stand in stark contrast to the interactions that preceded them. How did North American unions interact prior to 1990, and what influenced their interactions? This chapter describes the nature of labor transnationalism during the pre-NAFTA era between 1950 and 1989, when the structure of union relations was national and not very integrated across borders. Although some U.S. union “internationals” included Canadian affiliates with formal ties, the focus here is on the history of relations between U.S. and Canadian industrial unions and their Mexican counterparts. It explores the history of diplomatic “relations” among unions and examines these relations against the backdrop of the political and economic forces that shaped them. During this first time period, U.S. and Canadian unions engaged Mexican unions sporadically, their interactions usually consisting of vacuous letters of support, elaborate dinners, and staged photo-op handshakes. There were some crisis-driven collaborations, but in general labor relationships were not institutionalized, permanent, or programmatic. An analysis of this first time period is critical because it illuminates the dramatic nature of the shift toward transnationalism in the second period after NAFTA from 1990 to 2001.

The story of North American unionism between 1950 and 1989 is one of diplomacy and distance. Many union leaders saw their interests as aligned with national governments and industries engaged in a struggle to promote capitalism across the globe. They believed that their efforts would result in jobs and strong economies.