Labor and Labor Movements
Sociology 359 (46610)
Fall 2009
Professor C. Williams
Burdine 526
Office hours Thurs 3:30-5:30 and by appointment
232-6321
In the United States, our economic system of capitalism is often at odds with our political system of democracy. Workers frequently must fight their employers for basic rights in the workplace. But is conflict between capitalists and labor inevitable? Is democratic capitalism possible? What are the roles of the state, social movements, and labor unions in promoting democracy in the workplace?
This course explores the evolving relationship between capitalism and democracy, starting with an overview of the major sociological theories of work. Next we turn to an analysis of globalization, and its consequences for democracy and social inequality for workers around the world. The third section of the course focuses on how the social inequalities of race, class, and gender are reproduced in various types of workplaces (low wage and professional). The course ends with an analysis of workplace democracy and the role of the labor movement in promoting (and sometimes undermining) equality, job security, and rights for workers.
Required Texts:
Amy S. Wharton, Working in America, third edition. McGraw Hill, 2006.
Carolina Bank-Muñoz, Transnational Tortillas: Race, Gender, and Shop-Floor Politics in Mexico and the United States. ILR Press, 2008.
Robert Reich, Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life. Knopf, 2007.
Christine Williams, Inside Toyland: Working, Shopping, and Social Inequality, University of California Press, 2006.
Course Requirements:
You must have completed at least 60 hours (junior standing) to take this class. Students who do not meet this prerequisite will be dropped from the course.
Students are required to attend all class meetings and complete all reading assignments on time. You are assigned to read approximately 100-150 pages per week. Many of the readings for the class are difficult so you should not underestimate the amount of time necessary to finish your assignments.
Grades in the class will be based on three in-class examinations. All exams consist of essay questions. (Please bring a blue book to exams.) Evaluations are based on the mastery of the material and the quality of the writing. The first two exams are worth 30 percent, and the third is worth 20 percent. Make-up examinations will be given only with prior notice to those absent for university-approved reasons.
The remaining 20 percent of the grade will be based on periodic written assignments. These assignments will not be announced in advance: You must be present in class the day of the assignment to receive it. They will be due the following class period.
Academic misconduct of any sort will not be tolerated. Any student found guilty of plagiarism or any other kind of cheating will receive an F in the course.
I am available to discuss appropriate academic accommodations that you may require as a student with a disability. Before course accommodations will be made, you may be required to provide documentation to the Office of the Dean of Students, Services for Students with Disabilities.
Weekly Topics and Readings:
August 27: Introduction to the course
I. Theories of Work
September 1: Marxist theory
Read: Marx, “Alienated Labor” (Wharton #4)
Hochschild, “The Managed Heart” (Wharton #8)
Bonacich & Appelbaum, “Behind the Label” (Wharton #22)
September 3: Theories of Rationalization
Read: Weber, “Bureaucracy” (Wharton #5)
Taylor, “Fundamentals of Scientific Management” (Wharton #6)
Braverman, “The Division of Labor” (Wharton #7)
September 8: Theories of Carework
Read: Crittendon, “How Mothers’ Work…” (Wharton #2)
Hondagneu-Sotelo, “Maid in L.A.” (Wharton #23)
England & Folbre, “Capitalism & the Erosion…” (Wharton #38)
Hays, “Flat Broke with Children” (Wharton #36)
II. Transformation of Work
September 10: Restructuring and Downsizing
Read: Powell, “The Capitalist Firm…” (Wharton #9)
Smith, “Structural Unemployment…” (Wharton #10)
September 15: Computers and New Technology
Read: Zuboff, “In the age…” (Wharton #11)
Head, “On the digital assembly line” (Wharton #12)
Buchanan, “Lives on the line” (Wharton #28)
Presser, “Toward a 24 hour economy” (Wharton #35)
September 17: Worker Participation and Autonomy
Read: Smith, “Employee Involvement” (Wharton #14)
Leidner, “Over the Counter” (Wharton #27)
III. Globalization
September 22-24: Globalization, the State, and Immigration Policy
Read: Bank-Muñoz, Transnational Tortillas, pp. 1-95.
September 29-October 1: Global Manufacturing and the Labor Process
Read: Bank-Muñoz, Transnational Tortillas, pp. 96-175.
October 6: First examination
IV. Workplace Inequality
October 8-13: Income Inequality
Read: Firebaugh, “The New Geography” (Wharton #15)
Wilson, “Jobless Poverty” (Wharton #16)
Cotter et al., “Gender Inequality” (Wharton #17)
October 15: Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the Workplace
Read: Henson & Rogers “My Marcia…” (Wharton #18)
Dellinger & Williams, “The Locker Room…” (Wharton #19)
Moss & Tilly, “Stories Employers Tell” (Wharton #20)
October 20-22: Inequality in low wage work—social organization
Read: Williams, Inside Toyland, pp. 1-91
October 27-29: Inequality in low wage work—interactions
Read: Williams, Inside Toyland, pp. 92-212
November 3-5: Inequality in Professional and Managerial work
Read: Pierce, “Rambo Litigators” (Wharton #30)
Jackall, “Social Structure of Managerial Work (Wharton #31)
Collins, “Blacks on the Bubble” (Wharton #32)
Garey, “Motherhood on the Night Shift” (Wharton #41)
November 10: Second examination
V. Democratic Capitalism
November 12-17: Supercapitalism and the Decline of Democracy
Read: Reich, Supercapitalism, pp. 1-130.
November 19-24: The Politics of Supercapitalism
Read: Reich, Supercapitalism, pp. 131-225.
November 26: Thanksgiving holiday (no class)
December 1: Review
December 3: Third examination