From words to action? How procedural norms contribute to building transnational labour relations via global framework agreements

Global framework agreements (GFAs) have the potential to alter the practice of labour relations in multinational companies (MNCs). Analysis of the launching of GFAs and their negotiations, as well as their role in setting labour standards has already received much attention in the literature. This article extends these analyses by examining how GFAs’ procedural norms shape implementation in practice. Based on qualitative case studies of 12 MNCs, we develop a typology of procedural norms and analyse how they differ in terms of implementation. Our findings show that procedural design – particularly the distinction between event-driven and systematic monitoring and the establishment of distinct transnational arenas – is closely related to how implementation practices are organised. We conclude by discussing what these configurations imply for the potential to institutionalise transnational levels of labour relations in MNCs and further questions related to international industrial relations research and practice.