In this thesis, I argue that the globalization of production has weakened the power and efficacy of labor unions in the United States. I describe the globalization of production as a set of transformations in both the institutional structure of the economy and in the organization of production, and discuss how these transformations have impacted workers and unions in the American economy. The theoretical framework I employ is the social structure of accumulation approach, which emphasizes the importance of the institutional structures of capitalist economies and how their interaction with forms of production organization and systems of labor control helps to determine levels of aggregate economic growth, the profit rates of individual firms, and the distribution of power, resources, and wealth among economic agents. I argue that the globalization of production involves the transition from the social structure of accumulation of segmentation to the globalized production social structure of accumulation, and the displacement of Fordist mass production by lean production as the dominant paradigm of production organization.Lean production and the globalized production social structure of accumulation involve a transformation in the relationship between firms, workers, and the state. The changing circumstances and economic conditions which these transformations have produced, and the failure of labor unions to understand, appreciate, and effectively respond to them, have been responsible for the rapid and sustained decline in the membership, power, and efficacy of organized labor in the United States. Through case studies on the automobile and clothing industries, I show how the way in which these transformations have materialized in the specific contexts of two industries with different competitive conditions, organizational structures, and levels of capital-intensity have produced very disparate and dissimilar outcomes for the workers in these indust ries.

L’étude porte sur la vie de l’Union Départementale de la Loire de la CFTC CFDT. Cette Union Départementale fait partie depuis 1947 de la minorité de la CFTC et sort progressivement du « milieu chrétien » pour intégrer le monde ouvrier. Elle lutte contre la guerre d’Algérie, soutient la déconfessionnalisation de la CFTC, pratique l’unité d’action avec l’UD CGT, beaucoup plus puissante qu’elle. Elle vit avec enthousiasme le mouvement de Mai-Juin 1968 et se réclame des « trois piliers » de la CFDT de 1970. Dans les années 1970, elle tente de susciter et d’appuyer le développement des luttes ouvrières et des différents mouvements de contestation. En 1974, beaucoup de ses militants adhèrent au parti socialisteque certains quittent rapidement.En 1976, l’UD s’oppose à la confédération dans une « contribution » sur la transition au socialisme rejetée au congrès d’Annecy. De même, elle s’oppose au « recentrage » de 1978, avant d’accepter la « resyndicalisation » en 1979.Mais depuis 1974, l’UD fait face à la crise économique qui entraîne chômage et désyndicalisation à partir de 1977. Cette crise empire dans les années 1980 avec la rupture avec l’UD CGT et des conflits internes et avec la confédération l’amenant à l’inaction. En 1987, l’élection d’un nouveau secrétaire général permet un retour à l’action, mais l’UD reste incapable incapable de conduire des actions de masse. La thèse se propose de rechercher dans l’évolution de la confédération et la vie de l’UD, les éléments qui permettent de comprendre son développement de 1944 à 1973 et la criseprofonde qu’elle connaît dans les années 1980. / The study focuses on the life of the “Union Departementale” (“UD”) of the Loire CFDT CFTC. This “UD” since 1947 has been part of the minority of the CFTC and gradually left the Christian community to integrate the working classes. It has fought against the war in Algeria, supported the secularization of the CFTC, worked together with the DU CGT, which wasmuch more powerful than itself. It has supported with enthusiasm the May-June 1968 movement and called for "three pillars" of the CFDT in 1970. In the 1970s, it has tried to encourage and support the development of workers' struggles and the various protest movements. In 1974, many of its militants have joined the socialist party that some left quickly afterwards.In 1976, the “UD” has opposed to the confederation in a "contribution" for the transition to socialism rejected at the Annecy conference. Similarly, it has opposed to the "refocusing" of 1978, before accepting the "re-unionization" in 1979.But since 1974, the “UD” has faced the economic crisis causing unemployment and deunionization starting in 1977. This crisis has worsened in the 1980s with the break with the “UD” CGT and internal conflicts with the confederation bringing it to inaction. In 1987, the election of a new Secretary General has marked a return to action, but the “UD” has remainedunable to conduct mass actions.The thesis proposes to look into the evolution of the confederation and the life of the “UD”, the elements for understanding its development from 1944 to 1973 and its deep crisis in the 1980s.