There are a number of places where sociologists of work and labour, together with labour movement activists, might search for alternatives to neo-liberal ideologies and practices. One obvious place to explore the scope and possibility for labour research might be where labour on an international terrain is attempting to match international capital and in this issue of the journal contributors consider this in light of the strategic orientation (and outcomes) of labour networks, sectoral organising, European Works Councils and workplace agenda in the context of management regimes. In addition to the more typical focus on institutionalised levels of union engagement, these papers allow us to consider the social, political and institutional dimensions of grass roots organising across countries and continents.