General Catalog 2024-25

(Formerly numbered Labor and Workplace Studies 174.) Lecture, three hours. Using combination of cases, statutes, news articles, films, and oral history, introduction to history of organized labor; current debates and trends; and basic structure of laws, regulations, and cases that govern organizing to improve workplace conditions. Study covers primary federal acts and court cases that govern strikes, picketing, boycotts, and union elections. Examination of challenges to organized labor from inside and outside labor movement, including right-to-work legislation; dismantling of public sector unions; and racism, sexism, and anti-immigrant sentiment in labor movement. Emphasis on case studies. Topics include new trends in labor organizing. Offers mix of guest speakers, oral history, case excerpts, scholarly articles, news articles and blogs, videos, small-group work, and community engagement. P/NP or letter grading.