Preview
Creation Date
4-4-2006
Description
The Future of Labor Unions
sponsored by The Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy
With the split in the AFL/CIO, and dwindling numbers of labor union members, many wonder if the heyday of the labor union has passed. What will it take to reinvigorate labor unions in the United States? Why is this important for blue collar and professional workers? How will changes in immigration policy impact labor unions? How will unions meet the challenges of globalization?
Dr. Bustamante received his Ph.D. in Sociology from Notre Dame in 1975, and has held an endowed chair on the faculty of Notre Dame since 1986. A well-known expert in the field of international migrations— particularly Mexican immigration to the United States—Dr. Bustamante has published over 200 articles in the scholarly journals of the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Venezuela, and Mexico. In January of 2006, Dr. Bustamante was nominated to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Dr. Jackie Smith earned her Ph.D. in International Relations at the University of Notre Dame (1995). Dr. Smith is known for her research on the transnational dimensions of social movements, exploring ways in which global economic and political integration have influenced how people engage in politics. She has co-edited three books on the subject. Currently, Dr. Smith is a faculty member of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.
Dr. Paul Mishler received his Ph.D. in U.S. History from Boston University in 1988. Before joining the Labor Studies Division of IUSB, Dr. Mishler was a labor educator in New York City, where he taught members of various labor unions in university-based programs. Dr. Mishler has a particular interest in the relationship of the labor movement to broader social reform activities, such as the struggles against racism and sexism.
Moderated by Barbara Fick, Associate Professor of Law, Notre Dame Law School