Week 12 - Worker Rights Part 2 continued Essay Paper

Your job is to read the following:



Immigrants, Unions, and the New U.S. Labor Market, Chapters 2Preview the document



Immigrants, Unions, and the New U.S. Labor Market, Chapters 3Preview the document



Then write a 150-200 word summary and answer the following discussion questions:



Discussion Questions



Generally speaking, (i.e., most of the time and in the majority of unions in the U.S.) the position on immigration has been to resist the influx of newly arriving immigrants based on the view that they drive down wages and conditions for all workers because they are willing to work for less. However, over the last few decades the situation has changed and now unions are, to one degree or another, trying to organize immigrant workers. Based on your readings, why has this change occurred? Why have unions changed their thinking about embracing and organizing immigrant workers?

Immanuel Ness, the author of the readings you completed for today, thinks that immigrant workers have great potential for asserting their interests and organizing. He says that the ingredients for success are rooted in the character of immigrant work and social life. What is he talking about?

Ness points out that immigrant workers might have a strategic organizing advantage because they typically work in labor markets that are shaped by employer and worker social networks. What is he talking about?

How does Ness’ analysis line up with what we learned about the Busboys?

Ness says successful organizing of immigrants will require traditional unions to promote autonomous organizing among workers in their labor markets and encourage them to form their own, parallel, rank-and-file organizations. What do you think he is talking about? What do you think these “parallel organizations” might look like?

You can cut and past your summary and questions on to a Word Doc or whatever word processing app you use. If you don't use Word, please be sure to save your assignment as a PDF before you upload it. You can also download the Questions here: Week 12 Discussion QuestionsPreview the document

Week 12

Monday, April 16, 2020

Discussion Questions

1. Generally speaking, (i.e., most of the time and in the majority of unions in the U.S.) the position on immigration has been to resist the influx of newly arriving immigrants based on the view that they drive down wages and conditions for all workers because they are willing to work for less.  However, over the last few decades the situation has changed and now unions are, to one degree or another, trying to organize immigrant workers.  Based on your readings, why has this change occurred?  Why have unions changed their thinking about embracing and organizing immigrant workers?

2. Immanuel Ness, the author of the readings you completed for today, thinks that immigrant workers have great potential for asserting their interests and organizing.  He says that the ingredients for success are rooted in the character of immigrant work and social life.  What is he talking about?

3. Ness points out that immigrant workers might have a strategic organizing advantage because they typically work in labor markets that are shaped by employer and worker social networks. What is he talking about?

4. How does Ness’ analysis line up with what we learned about the Busboys? 

5. Ness says successful organizing of immigrants will require traditional unions to promote autonomous organizing among workers in their labor markets and encourage them to form their own, parallel, rank-and-file organizations.  What do you think he is talking about? What do you think these “parallel organizations” might look like?