Reblaw2013

Organized Labor in Our Age: Is There Still a Seat at the Table for Unions in the Future of the American Workforce

Saturday 2/20 at 3 - 4:30 pm in Room 128

As American jobs have transitioned away from manufacturing, union membership has declined. Yet, unions can still play a vital role in safeguarding the wellbeing of working people as the country climbs out of recession and high unemployment rates. Growing and emerging sectors like the service industry and green jobs are increasing in numbers even as manufacturing sectors decline. As technology and the landscape of American jobs evolve, the ability of employers to exploit and mistreat their workers lives on, and the need persists for working people to pool their strength to defend their rights and interests. Panelists will discuss the role that labor – union organizers and the workers who comprise union membership – will play in determining the future of the American workforce, and whether existing labor and employment laws are equipped to handle future challenges.

Panelists:

• Dean Hubbard (Transport Workers Union)
• Kathy Krieger (James Hoffman and AFL-CIO)
• Liz Vladek (Workers United).
• Moderator:  Yale Labor history professor, Jennifer Klein