Collier 1992

Collier 1992

Collier, Ruth Berins. 1992. The contradictory alliance: state-labor relations and regime change in Mexico. [Berkeley]: International and Area Studies, University of California at Berkeley.
Overview:

• Nice play-by-play of electoral maneuverings that created the party/union alliance
  
• President has reins over party/union “alliance”
  
  • Party union links were a vehicle of political control, president could impose labor leaders and, thus, manipulate unions
    
  • Unions In party could only influence policy, not make it.
    
  • Government also transmitted to unions what CB demands if would support (at firm level)
    
  • Party/union links allow for dispensing resources and favors
    
• Party/union alliance afforded the party legitimacy (elections, ‘cares about working class’)
  

Quotes:
“From the point of view of the state, control over labor, social peace, and class harmony were desirable. Yet an overtly anti-labor policy was antithetical to the nature of the regime.” (50)
“The union leadership was also torn in two directions…cooperation with the state was attractive not only as a channel of personal advancement, but also as a way for union leaders to seek institutional access and gain influence an concessions. At the same time, precisely the opposite relationship—autonomy from the stat—could be a source of union power and bargaining strength vis-à-vis the state.” (50)