Abstract The paper discusses how workers are in a weak position today. The paper explains that they are facing job losses and pay and benefits cuts and their lobbying power is weakening. The paper maintains that by creating a worker-rights group that is open to all Americanworkers, regardless of union affiliation, workers can create an inclusive organization with the financial resources to advance a pro-worker agenda.
Outline:
Structuring the Organization
Legislative Program
Conclusion
From the Paper "Much of the 20th century was defined by the worker movement, with Americans joining labor unions and other organizations in droves to achieve safer working conditions, better benefits, more equitable pay for women and people of color, and several other victories. However, the first years of the 21st century have, in many ways, not been the era of the worker. Union membership is down to just 12 percent of the working population, and the AFL-CIO has suffered infighting and a schism as labor leaders struggle to fix the besieged union movement (Union members)."
Abstract The paper shows how Americanworkers take fewer vacation days than workers in most other industrialized nations across the globe. The paper reveals that the United States is second to last in the average number of vacation days provided for by companies for their employers. The paper discusses how advanced technology makes disconnecting from work more difficult and looks at the phenomenon of those who would actually miss their daily routine and responsibilities at work. The paper discusses how stress, health issues, poor nutrition and family strife are all consequences of overwork and too few vacations.
Outline:
Introduction
The Facts
Looking at other Nations
Why
Technology
Why it Needs to Change
Conclusion
From the Paper "For many generations American families planned and carried out annual vacation traditions. During the cold winter seasons families would sit around and reminisce about the treks in August to Uncle Bob's log cabin by the lake. They would fondly remember the annual three-legged race each year at the Jersey shore, or they would remember to mark their calendar for the annual family reunion in July that lasted at least a week and usually two. Yes, those were the good old days, but where did they go? Today, American workers seem to take less vacation time than ever before as they devote their daily existence to their jobs or at the office. In contrast many European nations have held steady to their valued vacations and it is still not uncommon to see them take a month long holiday each summer to frolic with family members."
Abstract This paper examines how information technology has affected domestic lives and also the professional lives of innumerable workers that constitute a major part of the American society and play a cardinal role in the American economy. It evaluates how it has caused a reduction in repetitive work and tedious procedures, an increase in skill level, possibly higher job satisfaction and an increase in the variety of tasks and greater flexibility. It analyzes related health, safety and perceptional issues and provides an industry wise analysis of its impact.
From the Paper "For all of us, society is where we live in and according to the norms and regulations of this society, the world transmutes into a place where we learn to get along with others and accept the people around us for what they are and in turn become what we potentially are. However, society does not accept individuals who are not worthy of earning a decent livelihood without any disabilities. Therefore, work, be it manual or automatic, plays a vital role in determining our success as an individual as well as our social status. Thus, entering or joining a workplace is like forming a part of a group thereby receiving all that comes with accepting the norms of it."
Abstract This paper addresses the question of whether free trade with countries with low wages harms Americanworkers. It offers different perspectives, as well as an economic perspective relating to comparative and absolute advantage.
From the Paper "The globalization of manufacturing has led to a massive re distribution of work around the world. One question being asked repeatedly is this: Does international trade with low-wage countries such as China and India steal American jobs and cost American workers higher wages and a higher standard of living? Most economists think international trade is not guilty of forcing wages down, citing concepts such as comparative and absolute advantage and differences in productivity to explain why trade..."
Tags: International trade, free trade, low wages, comparative advantage, absolute advantage, job loss, displacement, government intervention, protectionism, outline.
This paper is a complete quantitative research project, with an extensive literature review, that explores the impact of outsourcing on the Americanworker and the American economy.
Abstract This paper explains that the study investigates the impact of outsourcing specifically on white collar workers in the high-tech industry, who are increasingly becoming more affected by the phenomenon of offshore outsourcing. The author reports that the methodology for the study was a questionnaire, using a 7 point Likert scale, which was sent to 65 randomly selected computer programmers employed in the U.S. at Microsoft, Cisco and Apple. The paper indicated that the quantitative research and the literature review conclude that outsourcing is a serious issue, which impacts Americanworkers and the American economy; however, it is clear that the practice of outsourcing is here to stay. The paper includes the questionnaire and many quotations, tables, figures and graphs.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Context of the Problem
Statement of the Problem
Research Questions
Significance of the Study
Limitations of the Study
Review of the Literature
Globalization
Politics of Offshore Outsourcing
Trends in Offshore Outsourcing
Most Popular Countries for Offshore Outsourcing
Impact of Offshore Outsourcing on the AmericanWorker Impact of Offshore Outsourcing on White-Collar AmericanWorkers The Impact of Outsourcing on the American Economy
Security and Cultural Barriers Associated with Offshore Outsourcing
The Future of offshore Outsourcing
Methodology
Methodology Overview
Methodology Survey
Subject Population
Data Collection
Organization of the Study
Results
Discussion, Conclusion, Implications
Appendix
Survey
Letter Sent to the Appropriate Managerial Personnel
Low Labor Cost Chart
Number of U.S. Service Sector Jobs Projected to Shift Offshore
Share of Projected American Jobs Moving Offshore
Workers Displaced From and Reemployed in Full-Time Wage and Salary Jobs
Hourly Compensation Costs
Hourly Compensation Costs for Production Workers Employment Cost Index
Employer Cost for Employee Compensation
From the Paper "The literature review asserts that a great deal of the focus on outsourcing began as a purely political issue. The literature review indicates that politicians used the slowdown in the labor market, to assert that the cause of the slowdown was offshore outsourcing. The literature review also found that many major media outlets had many reports on the topic of outsourcing, which may have distorted the true facts concerning the nature of outsourcing on workers and the economy. On the other hand, many years after that election, offshore outsourcing seems to be an issue for many American workers."
Abstract The paper contends that although offshoring may reduce prices, it is a poor business practice for many reasons. The paper explains why it hurts the American economy and harms Americanworkers. The paper discusses how offshoring creates poor working conditions for many workers and argues that this practice should be more regulated to ensure that American companies do not exploit foreign workers in the name of saving money.
From the Paper "Offshoring, also known as outsourcing, has influenced the American economy since the 1990s, when it first became widespread. It has removed jobs from American workers, created economic woes in many industries, and has created sweatshop like working conditions in many manufacturing environments. It has gained more attention recently because many American consumers are unhappy dealing with outsourced service employees, and they have been complaining about the service quality to many companies. Many experts in the field believe not enough is being done to regulate the use of offshoring, and to help guarantee the rights of American workers."
Abstract This paper studies some of the real unknown heroes of the American labor movement who contributed to the boom in manufacturing in the beginning of the last century. It details Pauline Newman's work in the New York Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and its known violations to women workers.
In the factory's terrible fire, 146 women were killed, mostly Jewish. It reports how William Shepherd, a journalist, covered the incident and how Upton Sinclair, the famous writer helped end this slave labor by writing about it. This paper gives an historical overview of this time in American history and concludes that these three people did a great deal in order to end the suffering of the workers.
From the Paper "In the beginning years of the last century, working conditions were grave, and life was a struggle for American workers coming from all walks of life. Many of these workers were immigrants, trapped in miserable and dangerous working conditions, struggling for a small livelihood in their new country. The jobs the immigrants performed were vital to America's booming manufacturing, yet most Americans barely knew these people existed and treated them like outsiders. Who was really fighting for them, then? As we look back upon a time when humans were used freely as slaves and kept in unsafe conditions, we are thankful to a few people who gave voice to all those hurt. As we look back to some of these heroes, such as Pauline Newman, William Shepherd, Upton Sinclair we are better able to understand a story that we can only read about. "
Tags:American, heroes, labor, working, conditions, workers, immigrants, slaves, unsafe, New, York, women
Abstract This paper evaluates whether factionalism in the American political system has helped or harmed workers' rights. The paper opens with a discussion of faction and contention in Madison's contributions to The Federalist. The paper argues that factionalism is inherent to the American political system, and has both helped and hurt workers' rights. The paper maintains that the decisive factor is not the basic political structure but the strength of political forces at different times.
From the Paper "In recent years American workers' rights have suffered in several respects. Wages have been stagnant, workplace security has markedly declined, and legal workplace protections have been rolled back..."
Abstract This book discusses major themes and the author's methodology in labor and ethnic studies historian Michael Honey's 1999 book "Black Workers Remember". The author points out the African-American struggle for unionization and civil rights and the connection between these two movements. The paper relates the Memphis sanitation workers strike and the impact of globalization on the employment of blacks.
From the Paper "In "Black Workers Remember: An Oral History of Segregation Unionism and the Freedom Struggle", labor and ethnic studies historian Michael Keith Honey records the history of southern African American workers and their struggle for both a living wage and the equal rights promised by the U. S. Constitution. Relying heavily on oral histories or testimonies, Honey's book covers the period from the ...s through the ...s and centers on Memphis Tennessee. Many themes are presented in this excellent, often poignant, book that contends the labor of black ..."
Abstract The paper argues that despite claims made by many American manufacturers today, the outsourcing of American jobs does not create higher paying positions in the American labor market, nor does it serve to stimulate the economy. The paper refutes the claim that outsourcing is making it possible for third world workers to finally see relief from their impoverished lives. The paper contends that, in fact, outsourcing allows the wealthy of the nation to increase their profit margins and further separates the social classes from realizing an existence of equality in the United States. The paper discusses Karl Marx's beliefs about capitalism creating an immense gap between the social classes and relates this to the problem of outsourcing.
From the Paper "Free trade in the modern globalized society was believed to be the answer for declining businesses in the United States. Opening markets for imports and exports that had previously been unavailable to manufacturers supposedly meant that industries could continue to grow, jobs would be more plentiful to Americans and the national economy would increase. Yet, not long after the barriers to trade had been lifted between the United States and other nations, American businesses began to rethink their expenditures. American workers belonged to unions that demanded specific salaries, working conditions that had to meet certain specifications and benefits for employees. American taxes for industrial land were high and the costs of supplies for manufacturing were continuously increasing in the American market. Therefore, companies in the United States began to consider the increased profits that they would be capable of obtaining if they relocated to other nations, or outsourced their work to foreign employees altogether."
Abstract This paper examines the production challenges faced by American industry today. It explains that, because the majority of Americanworkers do only what is necessary to retain their jobs and would only be willing to do slightly more work for substantially higher compensation, it is apparent that Americanworkers need a different, innovative style or blend of styles in management to bring about profitable employee productivity. For the purpose of this project, the researcher reviews existing literature and conducts empirical research to determine the causes of mediocrity in American industry and recommends a solution to the problem.
From the Paper "In the time period from 1970 to 1987, the U.S. share of the domestic market of the telephone manufacturing market went from 99 percent to 25 percent, the American share of the semi-conductor market went from 89 percent to 64 percent, and the American share of the color television market went from 90 percent to 1 percent (Long Ding, 1999). These are all products that were invented by American companies, but markets that the Japanese and other countries have improved upon. Of the 10 most profitable companies in 1970, only three were still in business as of 1999."
This paper discusses communist Russia of the 1930's as described by John Scott in "Behind the Urals: An AmericanWorker in Russia's City of Steel" published in 1942.
Abstract The paper explains that author John Scott was 20-years old when he went to Russia to work in 1932 and returned to America five years later. His book "Behind the Urals: An AmericanWorker in Russia's City of Steel" is still considered a classic because it is such an intimate look inside Russia as it was building up its strength for World War II and the Cold War. The author points out that the Communist Party really ruled over everything that happened in the Soviet Union. Their rules determined who could attend school, who was an enemy of the state and they controlled the food, the work and everything. The paper relates that construction and production processes were called battles because the workers literally "fought" with the mill to produce steel; keeping the mill running was a battle because of problems with scheduling, materials, delivery and just about everything they had to do.
From the Paper "There were numerous challenges for the workers and in building these blast furnaces and the complex around them. The location was isolated, freezing, and difficult to work in because there was never enough heat. The materials were often substandard, such as the slippery scaffolding and burned out machinery. There were also difficulties with workers not showing up and understanding their jobs, and the organization was bad, too. It took only 20 minutes for the workers to eat, but an hour and half to get the food and get back to work....so they lost valuable working time because of poor organization. The Russians did have some American and foreign consultants to help but the biggest problem was lack of materials to complete the work and a total lack of understanding of the conditions by the Communist regime, who simply wanted work completed early no matter the difficulties."
Abstract The paper looks at Barabara Ehrenreich's book "Nickel and Dimed" that portrays the experience of Americanworkers who receive the minimum hourly wage and minimal benefits. The paper describes how Ehrenreich undergoes an experiment being a low-wage worker at three different chain stores including Wal-Mart. The paper relates how Wal-Mart attempts to influence the employees' opinions against unions and shows how these big corporations are in the position of power. The paper asserts that if the national chains will be forced to fully compensate employees for their hard work and improve their job conditions, then income, health and living conditions will enhance as well.
From the Paper "We live in a market oriented system which is determined by the demand of the consumers and the supply of the providers of goods and services. Barabara Ehrenreich's book Nickel and Dimed is about the working poor who have to make a living under the minimum wage or slightly above it. In addition, many of them suffer under horrible working conditions, because the more national chain stores-- the suppliers-- open their doors in the United States, the higher is the competition among those suppliers and the higher the pressure to make profit. The vendors do not only have to lower their prices in order to attract customers to their stores, but also need to lower wages to minimize their costs, maximize their revenue and stay alive on the market. It is the ordinary worker who suffers, who gets his wages cut to the legal minimum and benefits minimized. But it is not only money that is taken away from the workers; also their rights diminish as with rising unemployment the rising demand of low-wage jobs gives the national chains the opportunity to be able to choose from many workers who have to accept their working conditions and rules defined in the contracts."
Abstract This paper examines how, in 1994, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada signed a treaty that would foster the abuse and neglect of people, the environment, and culture of the North Americans and how it called for all barriers on goods and services between the countries of North America to be phased out by 2009. It shows how, on one hand, this meant a business could move to Mexico, where people who had been out of work for years would work in squalid conditions for next to nothing, and how it also meant laying off hundreds of thousands of hard-working Americanworkers. The paper attempts to demonstrate that NAFTA is detrimental to both U.S. and Mexican economies because it enables the exportation of U.S. jobs and mistreatment of Mexican workers.
Outline
Background
Chronology
NAFTA's Downside
The Positive Side to NAFTA
Personal View
Solutions
Conclusion
From the Paper "NAFTA has shown no increase to the Mexican economy though much pollution has been linked to it. There are currently 1,900 malquidoras in Mexico. Studies conducted along the border have shown that large amounts of the pollution can be attributed to raw sewage and wood smoke produced by these factories. Of these 1,900 malquidoras 1,000 produce hazardous waste. Only 30% of these comply with Mexican environmental codes and merely 19% dispose of their toxic waste properly (Donahue). Much of this is inhibited by the Mexican government's lack of enforcement on the low regulations they have (Lowenstein)."
Abstract This paper reviews and critiques the essay "Restoring Workers' Voice" by Thomas A. Kochan. The paper analyzes several of the essays strengths and weaknesses. The paper concludes that the economic welfare of Americanworkers and democracy have declined due to the decline in union power.
Tags: labor unions, employers, employees, median income, economy, industry
