In the shifting power relationship between employers and American workers, workers have recently gained the upper hand. During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of workers resigned from their jobs, leaving employers scrambling to fill positions, and those still employed went on strike more frequently. The trends show that many workers feel dissatisfied with working conditions and empowered to demand improvements. Listen to hear a labor historian explain what the upheaval in the labor market means for the future of the workplace and how it fits into the history of the labor movement.
Story Length: 7:38
Socrative users can import these questions using the following code: SOC-1234
September 3, 2021
2:39
The standard 40-hour workweek was established in the 1930s, and some are suggesting that today’s workers should spend fewer hours on the job. They say technology like wifi and laptops help people get more done in less time, and pursuing interests outside of work prevents burnout. Business leaders worry, however, that less time in the office would result in decreased productivity. Listen to learn what researchers found when workers in Iceland put in fewer hours for the same pay and then debate: Should the workweek be only four days?
Read MoreAugust 31, 2021
3:56
Labor Day, a time to honor American workers, first became a federal holiday in 1894. The history of labor rights and relations, however, goes back much farther than that and spans diverse cultures and civilizations. Listen to hear about labor milestones along the way and learn why pirates were considered champions of workers’ rights.
Read MoreFebruary 16, 2021
5:26
Recently a group of more than a thousand produce market workers in New York went on strike for higher wages. Banding together and organizing into labor unions can give workers more power to advocate for their rights. Especially during the pandemic, when providing essential services often means risking their own health, more workers are joining with others to demand the pay and working conditions they feel they deserve. Listen to learn more about why workers are organizing and what gives them more, or less, bargaining power.
Read MoreMarch 4, 2019
4:09
Teachers across the country have been striking this year, asking for support in the form of smaller class sizes, more school nurses and counselors, and pay raises. While their specific demands differ somewhat across school districts, there are common themes. In addition to asking for higher pay for the work that they do, teachers are asking for improvements that would better meet the needs of students. In some cases, they are protesting policies that they believe are not helping students. Listen to this story to learn more about the recent national trend of organized teacher protests.
Read More