History of Labor & Unions in Business & Society; What Executives Need to Know to Manage…

Catalog description

This course will explore the history of work and "what unions do" from colonial times to the present with the focus on the evolution of labor and industry in America. Perspectives on work, worker organizations, employers, and the response of large industrial entities in historical and contemporary contexts, will be considered as these perspectives were shaped by immigrant status, race, ethnicity, religious views, as well as local and global economic, political, and social factors. The course is designed to provide students the knowledge and tools needed to manage effectively and collaboratively with unions. Themes include "Who Built America," a history of laboring people in America, the organization of workers and accompanying management ideologies, the relationship of unions to productivity and Democratic processes. We will study how immigrant organizations, established Churches, and local political parties reacted to early union organizing movements as well as the reaction of political and industrial elites. Readings and discussions will also cover the sources and forms of conflict between workers and employers, changes in technology, production, and workplace organization in an emerging market and capitalistic society. Students will consider the impact of immigration, racism and sexism in the labor movement and diverse types of unions and worker associations formed during select periods in American history. Throughout the course we will revisit the on-going debate over the goals and purposes of unions and best ways to manage the organizational and political processes associated with unionization. Students will study how labor unions were and are affected by an international economy as well as how working people and their unions impacted and shaped society and political processes through sometimes mutual (and often antagonistic) interaction. We will look at how the labor movement's ability to improve their members' living standards and working conditions widely fluctuated throughout history. Students will have an opportunity to engage with local unions and union management organizations to study contemporary local and global questions and controversies surrounding police unions, those representing Amazon or Starbucks employees, and the actions of unions in entertainment or sports industry. We will revisit best practices; essential for those who will eventually manage in industry, international corporations, arts and education, and the non-profit world, to work empathetically, collaboratively, and efficiently with unionized employees. The course includes actual local engagement with unions and union members. Offered as HSTY 327 and ORBH 320 . Counts as a Local & Global Engagement course.