LABR 155 A-Z - Special Topics in Labor StudiesSemester Hours: 3
Periodically
Exploration of important labor issues and their impacts on working people. Areas of investigation may include historical origins of and contemporary developments in labor-management relations, pay and benefit structures, occupational health and safety, employee participation, employment diversity and inequality, immigration, the youth work force, union organizing and leadership strategy, public sector collective bargaining, workplace rights and ethical issues, worker education and training, labor theory and research methods, unions’ role in politics, government labor regulations, labor-community relations, working class literature and film, media coverage of labor, human rights in the global labor market, comparative labor movements, and global unionism.
Current Special Topics
LABR 155D Migrant Labor in New York
Potatoes were once one of the most abundant and lucrative crops on Long Island. This course explores the hidden history of the migratory labor system for potato farming during the first half of the 20th century on Long Island’s East End. We will explore the wide variety of structures used as labor camps, the adverse physical and psychological impacts on the lives of workers at these camps, corrupt recruiting practices and chronic workplace and economic exploitation, efforts by outspoken critics to improve the lives of migrant workers, and factors that led to the ultimate decline of this labor system. We will also assess contemporary farm labor practices, both locally and nationally, in comparison to this era. This course is designed to introduce students to a wide variety of topics including labor law, agriculture, environmental issues, labor history, and non-profit advocacy.
An honors option will be made available for eligible students.
LABR 155F - AI, Work & Working Class Movements
Recent discussions about Artificial Intelligence teeters between describing it as a threat to human development and an empty marketing term. While there is no question that tools like ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion, Dall-E, Grok, and Copilot are already impacting industries, it is necessary to slow down and see around the hype to assess the true impact of AI on working people. This course does the necessary work of separating fact from fiction while connecting the reality of AI to its impact on workers and the broader labor movement.
Prerequisite(s)/Course Notes:
Topics may change each semester. Students may repeat the course for credit when topics vary. Specific titles and course descriptions for special topics courses are available in the online class schedule.
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