What Unions Do

Note: This 8-credit program will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Up to five students may enroll for 16 credits which will involve internships with local labor organizations in addition to the 8-hour Saturday class. First class meets in Sem 2 D3105.

Are labor unions obsolete organizations? Or are they vital to a democratic society?

American unions’ numerical strength is beginning to rebound following many decades of decline. Although they are still considered an important force in politics, they remain a mystery to many people who associate them with their parents’ and grandparents’ work lives but not their own. This program will look into the basics of why unions are organized and how they work. We will consider the future of unions in a quickly-changing system of global production. Is international unionism possible? What are unions like in China, and how are they responding to the rapid political and economic change there? We will also delve into some of the more controversial questions about labor organization. Do unions speak for all working people or only for their own members? Are they democratic organizations? Do they have power through inclusiveness or exclusivity? How have they played a role in defining our concepts of justice? What kind of economy do they promote?