Despite the impediments to international solidarity, some multinational unionism has followed the multinational expansion of firms
International trade secretariats provide information to member unions and coordinate across national borders
These are autonomous agencies that cover particular industries
For example, the International Metalworkers Federation includes members from less developed as well as highly industrialized nations
The International Federation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) included affiliated unions that represent 48 million workers, while the World Federation of Trade Unions (WRTU) once represented 134 million workers in Communist unions; coordination between the two was impeded by politics
The global expansion of trade is leading unions to communicate more extensively with unions in other countries