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Summer Graduate Class: Occupational Health & Safety

May 23, 2016 Murphy Institute

Taught by Robin Gillespie
Register for LABR669 Special Topics: Occupational Health & Safety
M & W, 6:15-8:45 pm, from June 6 to July 21, 2016.

Workplace health, safety and wellness determine workers’ ability to stay on the job, thrive off it, be productive and reach a healthy retirement. This course will introduce students to the core knowledge areas of occupational health and safety (OSH): exposures, effects, risks and controls; industrial hygiene models and methods; regulatory protections that apply in public and private sector workplaces including OSHA and NLRA; and workplace health protection and promotion. The course practical work and guest lecturers will cover OSH concerns in jobs held by New York City workers in major industry sectors, including transit, restaurants, retail stores, offices, public sector, construction and several tiers of health care. Participatory research methods will be discussed and the concepts applied to existing and proposed research. Students will analyze and present their own work experiences in terms of the course skills and content. They will be encouraged to contribute to shaping the class content and readings to suit their professional needs.

NOTE: This graduate course is open to all who hold a Bachelor’s Degree. (Current CUNY graduate students should register for the course via E-Permit @ CUNY Portal and pay tuition to their home college. Once a permit is approved and processed the course will appear on the tuition bill and your course schedule will be generated by the home college). For more information about registration and tuition and fees, please contact Irene.Garcia-Mathes@cuny.edu / 212-642-2050

Photo by BASF – We create chemistry via flickr (CC-BY-NC-ND)

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Spring 2016 Courses

February 1, 2016 Murphy Institute

Spring 2016 Course Information

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Civic Engagement & Leadership Development at the Murphy Institute

January 21, 2016 Murphy Institute

As part of its ongoing civic engagement programming, the Murphy Institute is pleased to present a new Civic Engagement & Leadership Development series for union members, organizers, activists, and aspiring politicians to deepen their thinking about ways to engage the democratic process and learn new skills related to effective participation in electoral, legislative, and other civic activity. This free series is a great opportunity to engage with CUNY faculty and other experts in civic engagement, politics, history mass movements, and public policymaking; broaden your network; and earn a certificate of completion.

Saturdays, Feb 20th – May 14th, 2016
10am-12pm
Murphy Institute
24 W. 43rd St., 18th Floor, NYC

Register here by Feb. 17th, 2016

Civic Engagement & Leadership Development – Spring Semester 2016

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016
Session 1: How We Govern Ourselves: A Historical Perspective
This session discusses America’s political system and how the Constitution distributes governing power while also guaranteeing citizens the right to seek a redress of grievances by engaging the democratic process.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016
Session 2: Civic Engagement and the Democratic Process
This session explores ways in which game-changing social and political movements have expanded American democracy and influenced public policy.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016
Session 3: Engaging Demographic Diversity
This session examines the “creative tension” between demographic diversity and the capacity of the political system to include “all the people.” Students will discuss the notion that “demographics are destiny in politics” in light of contemporary mechanisms and practices that restrict voting rights and manipulate redistricting.

SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2016
Session 4: Advocating Issues During Elections
Students will survey the skills, techniques, strategies, and tactics needed to effectively engage the 2016 election cycle. Students also will be asked to propose approaches that unions and civic movements could employ to: get candidates to embrace their issues; to get candidates to base their campaigns on these issues; or to mobilize around their issues independent of a candidate.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2016
Session 5: Post-Election Challenges
What if your candidate wins? What if your candidate’s party gains control of the legislature or the executive branch? What if the opposite occurs: The candidate you opposed wins and/or that candidate’s party gains or retains control of the legislative branch or the executive branch? This session focuses on the post-election challenges leaders and activists face in guiding their members or constituencies through the transition from campaigning to governing, including analyzing election results, adjusting to new political dynamics, influencing the policy priorities and staff appointments of elected officials your union, organization or coalition supported.

SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2016
Session 6: Engaging the Policymaking Process
Civic organizations and mass movements invariably focus on public policy and compelling government to respond to their concerns. This session provides a basic understanding of the rules, procedures, mechanics, pressure points, and institutional participants in the policymaking process. Special attention will be given to lobbying tactics and techniques civic movements, community-based organizations, and unions use to influence policymakers, build policy consensus, and mobilize legislative alliances. Students will use what they have learned to construct their own model for influencing policymaking.

SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016
Session 7: Budgets and Progressive Priorities
Public policies and programs cost money. New demands met require new appropriations. The budget process is the central institutional vehicle government uses to decide “who gets what.” This session examines how organized labor, progressive movements, and issue-based coalitions navigate their priorities through the municipal, state, and federal budget processes. Students will learn basic budget concepts as well as how to monitor the budget process.

SATURDAY, APRIL 16. 2016
Session 8: Mastering the “Mystery” and “Magic” of Leadership
It is often said that great leaders possess charisma, unique intelligence, special insight, great speaking ability, and almost magical organizing ability. In reality, leaders become effective as a result of learning how to lead. They constantly work to improve their organizing and analytical skills. This session will utilize case studies to help students explore leadership best practices, to better understand how to respond to a range of organizing challenges, and how innovative leaders and activists adapt basic organizing principles as well as utilize information technology.

SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2016
Session 9: Persuading and Involving Others
One of the most difficult challenges associated with launching and leading a civic movement is persuading people to join its ranks or support its aims. This requires projecting focused demands and an ability to make clear arguments in the languages, idioms, customs, and cultures of people from diverse backgrounds who also have a range of ideological views and political affiliations, come from different faiths, and are not only diverse in their racial and ethnic makeup but also in their levels of experience. This session gives students an opportunity to examine creative ways of attracting and involving neighbors, co-workers, and members of unions, faith-based organizations and community groups, as well as techniques for identifying and incorporating the strengths that arise from diversity.

SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2016
Session 10: Knowledge Empowers Leaders and Activists
The notion that “knowledge is power” applies to movements and leaders. Effective leaders are also knowledgeable leaders. Our communities, unions, organizations, and government bodies need thoughtful, well-informed leaders and activists. This session focuses on utilizing research and factual information in making strategic projections and in learning from the experience of others.

For questions or more information, email murphyinstitute@cuny.edu or call 212-642-2081.

International Program for Labor, Climate and Environment, Labor Studies, Opportunities

Graduate Class: Climate Crisis and the Labor Movement

November 24, 2015 Murphy Institute

The Labor Studies Program invites all union members, activists, and CUNY & non‐CUNY graduate-level students to enroll in our special topics graduate class:

CLIMATE CRISIS AND THE LABOR MOVEMENT:
Trade Unions and Social Movement Approaches to Climate Change and Ecological Degradation

Taught by Sean Sweeney
Thursdays, January 28th to May 12th, 2016 @ 6:15-8:45pm

The emergence of alarming scientific data on climate change, pollution and ecological degradation has triggered a rising wave of activism and organizing around environmental issues. The scientific reality has forced labor and other social movements to debate and propose solutions to what amounts to a civilizational crisis.

How can the labor movement and others best respond to this crisis? What does the Paris Agreement mean for both workers and the environment? This class is designed to give students a foundation in the scientific, social, and political aspects of the looming crisis so that they can more effectively engage their unions, movement activism, and scholarship in efforts to protect the environment and our future. Continue reading Graduate Class: Climate Crisis and the Labor Movement →

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Graduate Class: Trade Unions and Social Movement Approaches to Climate Change and Ecological Degradation

June 15, 2015 Murphy Institute

The Labor Studies Program invites all CUNY and non‐CUNY graduate-level students to enroll in our special topics graduate class:

LABOR & ENVIRONMENT: Trade Unions and Social Movement Approaches to Climate Change and Ecological Degradation

Facilitated by Sean Sweeney

Thursdays, Aug. 27th to Dec. 17th, 2015 @ 6:15-8:45pm

The emergence of alarming scientific data on climate change, pollution and ecological degradation has triggered a rising wave of activism and organizing around environmental issues. A growing number of unions in the US and internationally are participating in the struggle to protect the environment – but many unions still view environmental protection as a threat to existing jobs in key sectors. The scientific reality has also forced labor and other social movements to debate and propose solutions to what amounts to a civilizational crisis.

This course will look at how the ecological crisis is expressing itself in the form of climate change and warming temperatures; growing water scarcity, toxic forms of agriculture, and other major challenges. It will look at how unions and movements are responding to the challenges at the level of organizing and policy. A key component of the course will involve looking at ‘big picture’ theoretical questions, including notions of ‘planetary limits’ and the capacity of the capitalist political economy to deliver a truly sustainable society in the coming decades. The course will also examine how social movements are asserting a new narrative based on democracy, transparency and sufficiency.

NOTE: This graduate course is open to all non-degree/non-matriculated students who already hold a Bachelor’s Degree. Current CUNY graduate students should register for the course via E-Permit @ CUNY Portal and pay tuition to their home college. Once a permit is approved and processed the course will appear on the tuition bill and your course schedule will be generated by the home college. For more information about registration and tuition and fees, please contact Irene.Garcia-Mathes@cuny.edu / 212-642-2050

Photo: “People’s Climate March 2014 NYC” via South Bend Voice

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Special Topics Graduate Class: Worker Cooperatives

June 15, 2015 Murphy Institute

The Labor Studies Program invites all CUNY and non‐CUNY
graduate-level students to enroll in our special topics
graduate class:

WORKER COOPERATIVES

Facilitated by Immanuel Ness & Christopher Michael

Tuesdays, Sep. 1st to Dec. 22nd, 2015 from 6:15 to 8:45pm

Worker cooperatives have become a compelling alternative to traditional labor‐management forms of labor relations in the 21st century and with the rise of the Global Financial Crisis. The class examines worker control and cooperatives in comparative historical and geographic perspective. We will examine the historical experiences of worker cooperatives throughout the world, their successes, and challenges, and we will also focus on the growing world of worker owned cooperatives in New York City, examining the practical, economic and political aspects of their work. The class will make use of readings, film, and guest speakers with practical expertise in worker control and cooperatives.

NOTE: This graduate course is open to all non‐degree/non‐matriculated students who already hold a Bachelor’s Degree. Current CUNY graduate students should register for the course via E‐Permit @ CUNY Portal and pay tuition to their home college. Once a permit is approved and processed the course will appear on the tuition bill and your course schedule will be generated by the home college. For more information about registration and tuition and fees, please contact Irene.Garcia‐Mathes@cuny.edu / 212‐642‐2050

Photo: Sergey Galyonkin CC-BY-SA

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