Tag Archives: feature

Capstones: Labor Studies Students Share Work, Reflections

Congratulations to our Fall 2015 Capstone students in the Labor Studies MA program! With the guidance of Professor Michael Murphy (connecting from Washington DC), our MA candidates engaged the audience in great conversations about their research topics.

Richard Gorgoglione:

“The WPA and the Transformation of Staten Island”

IMG_1136This research project explores how the WPA contributed to Staten Island and its residents. Structures that still stand today are monuments to the men and women of that era who labored during one of the darkest periods in economic history. The WPA, even though short-lived (1935 to 1943) has transformed Staten Island into the borough of parks, considered today a cultural and recreational gem.

Francisco Gomez:

“Engaging in a Contemporary Debate about Technology and the Workplace in New York City”

Blithe Riley:

“Workers and the Sharing Economy: New York City Unions Fight Uber and AirBnB”

Edward Kennedy:

“Time to Get Crafty: Organizing Attorneys at the Edge of a Profession in the Intercises of Federal Regulation”

Ed%20Kennedy

I examine the plight of temporary contract attorneys in a restructured legal market. I then propose a plan of action for the reinvigoration of craft or occupational unionism in spite of adverse federal law through a synergy of three organizational forms and the application of the strategies of New Labor.

Paz Petersson:

“Global Grey Area: The Growing Nonstandard Workforce”

Karen Master:

“Building Voices From the Floor: Labor-Management Partnerships and Resident Physician Unionization”

karenThis paper examines the work of CIR/SEIU around experiments engaging unionized resident physicians in quality improvement. I found that this area of work is best analyzed academically in the context of labor-management partnerships, which have strong implications for best practices that fit with observations about the benefits and potential pitfalls of the work. Partnering on quality improvement is a way to capitalize on current healthcare trends to enhance the worker voices of resident physicians and broaden a union leadership base, potentially strengthening the power of the union. However, it is vital that the union also find the right management partners and preserve its autonomy and ability to address other workplace issues. 

Chris Maisano:

“Rivalry and Revitalization in the U.S. Labor Movement: The Case of SSEU and AFSCME District Council Local 371” 

IMG_3749Rival unionism has long been anathema to the U.S. labor movement. Opposition to inter-union competition has united labor activists across ideological and strategic divides, establishing rivalry, competition, and “raiding” as the worst crimes against trade union morality one could possibly commit. However, despite the official taboo on rival unionism it has been a consistent feature of U.S. labor movement activity since the nineteenth century. Not only has it been a constant presence in U.S. labor history, inter-union competition has made a positive contribution to both union growth and internal reform at critical junctures in the development of American unionism. A case study of the rivalry between the independent Social Service Employees Union and Local 371 (AFSCME District Council 37) in New York during the 1960s should be counted among the foremost examples of positive-sum inter-union competition in U.S. labor history. The rivalry was extremely beneficial for both unions and their members, and in the long run the incumbent union (Local 371) benefited the most from competition. The emergence of SSEU as a serious competitor forced Local 371 to undergo a process of internal reform that it might not have undertaken otherwise. Instead of ignoring or dismissing rival unionism, scholars should reconsider the potential contributions it might make to the cause of labor movement revitalization today.

Jim Dandeneau:

“Crisis of Infinite Exploitation: The Fight for Fair Pay and Creative Control in the Comic Book Industry”

COP21: Dispatch #3 – A Bad Deal & A Call to Action

From Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, 12/11/15:

The Paris climate summit (Cop 21) is nearly over, and the deal that’s presently on the table falls short in terms of commitments on emissions, financing, human rights, and just transition.  The core concerns of unions and social movements remain in the preamble to the Paris Agreement and not the operative articles of the text.

On December 7th, these shortcomings were acknowledged by a capacity crowd of 700 people from the trade unions and their allies at a meeting organized by Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung–New York Office, Global Climate Jobs and the Global Labour Institute Network.

The audience heard inspiring messages from writer and activist Naomi Klein and UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, as well as trade unions involved in TUED in different regions.

The power of these messages is captured in this 17-minute video, produced by ReelNews for TUED.  The speakers addressed energy democracy, climate jobs, and the need for a transition that is both just and transformative. 

A segment of Naomi Klein’s full presentation can also be viewed here.  She urged unions and their allies not to accept a “highly dangerous” deal, and to take to the streets in Paris on December 12.

A video of Jeremy Corbyn’s presentation is here.  His remarks on how the failure to address climate has contributed to recent flooding throughout Northern England, Scotland and Wales have been broadly distributed by the media. He urged unions and the climate movement to “unleash the hope” for a truly sustainable future.

Photo Credit: Chris Bentley/flickr/cc

 

Michael J. Fortner on Criminal Justice – Roots & Reform

By Cher Mullings
Recording by Zenzile Greene

Why would members of the Harlem community consciously support policies that endorse incarceration of their brothers and sisters?

Dr. Michael J. Fortner’s latest book Black Silent Majority: The Rockefeller Drug Laws and The Politics of Punishment examines how black-on-black crime influenced a chasmic class division within Harlem from the 1940s – 1960s.

Continue reading Michael J. Fortner on Criminal Justice – Roots & Reform

Trade Unions and Climate Change: A Conversation with Naomi Klein and Jeremy Corbyn

On December 7th, Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, Global Climate Jobs Campaign, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York and the Global Labour Institute Network presented an important discussion between Naomi Klein and Jeremy Corbyn about trade unions and climate change.

Naomi Klein, supported by UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, called for mass civil disobedience to break the ban on demonstrations on December 12.

Trade unionists and others discussed real solutions to climate change: an end to fossil fuels, energy democracy, and a just transition to millions of climate jobs. Catch some of this important discussion below.

Career Services Event Helps Students Find Their Paths

On October 22nd, Murphy Institute students and alumni convened for Making Your Degree Work for You: Careers in Labor and Community Sectors.

There, participants discussed career-building strategies with practitioners in the Labor and Community fields and career advisors from the School of Professional Studies.

Check out some of the great insights from our speakers below. In addition, take a look at our regularly-updated listings of labor and community jobs.

Kelsey Richardson, Career Advisor at the CUNY School of Professional Studies, gives general advice for job-hunters:

Michael G. Johnson,the Director of Customer Operations at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), talks about career highs and lows and finding the right professional fit:

Patricia Campos-Mendina, former National Political Director for Workers United, SEIU, describes the importance of internships, and how one thing leads to the next:

Check out the full forum here:

Featured image created by Gerald Wildmoser for the Noun Project.

Labor Studies Program Presents: Student Capstone Presentations (12/3)

Join the Labor Studies program for its Student Capstone Presentations, to be held December 3rd, 2015, 6:15-8:45pm.

Location:
Murphy Institute
25 W. 43rd St., New York, NY
19th Fl. Conference Room

RSVP: Irene.Garcia-Mathes@cuny.edu

Richard Gorgoglione:

“The WPA and the Transformation of Staten Island”

Francisco Gomez:

“Engaging in a Contemporary Debate about Technology and the Workplace in New York City”

Blithe Riley:

“Workers and the Sharing Economy: New York City Unions Fight Uber and AirBnB”

Edward Kennedy:

“Time to Get Crafty: Organizing Attorneys at the Edge of a Profession in the Intercises of Federal Regulation”

Paz Petersson:

“Global Grey Area: The Growing Nonstandard Workforce”

Karen Master:

“Building Voices From the Floor: Labor-Management Partnerships and Resident Physician Unionization”

Chris Maisano:

“Rivalry and Revitalization in the U.S. Labor Movement: The Case of SSEU and AFSCME District Council Local 371″