Labour Struggles and De-Globalisation

RESEARCH STILL ONGOING This research examines why trade unions in Antwerp's petrochemical industry remain committed to ecological modernization despite efforts by grassroots movements Climaxi and IneosWillFall to build alliances around a transformative socio-ecological framework. While environmental movements typically advocate for transformative just transition approaches, trade unions generally adhere to ecological modernization strategies. However, significant variation exists between and within unions, influenced by internal factors such as ideology, organization, and membership composition, as well as external factors including governance context, socio-economic environment, and industry characteristics. Environmental Labour Studies has extensively documented successful cases where transformative transitions emerged through labor-environment alliances, such as the GKN case in Italy and the Lucas Plan in the UK. However, far less is known about cases where such alliances failed to materialize. This study addresses this gap by analyzing Antwerp's petrochemical sector—a hard-to-abate industry with high unionization rates where transformative collaboration has stalled despite movement outreach and internal factory-level support. We employ an interpretive case study combining three data sources: semi-structured interviews with unionists and activists, document analysis of policy positions and campaign materials, and participant observation at strikes and movement meetings. This multi-method approach captures both stated positions and lived experiences within labor-environment dynamics. Using Environmental Labour Studies as our theoretical framework, we map the barriers hindering transformative ecological transitions. Our analysis identifies which conditions were or were not fulfilled and examines how trade unions position themselves vis-à-vis environmental movements. By analyzing this failed alliance-building case, we illuminate structural and strategic barriers preventing transformative transitions from below, offering insights relevant to other fossil-dependent industrial regions facing decarbonization challenges and contributing to broader debates about just transitions in hard-to-abate sectors.