IRLE Research and Policy Briefs
No. 13 "California Crisis: The Ups and Downs of Recovery -- Where Have the Unemployed Workers Gone?"
Despite nearly 4 years of recovery, both the country as a whole and California are still struggling with the aftermath of the recession – its impact on job growth and unemployment, particularly long-term unemployment. At the current rate of job growth, it will take until 2020 to reach prerecession employment levels. Yet, unemployment continues to fall. This report explores how this can be, finding the labor force to be short millions of workers from what would have been expected without a recession. This report concludes by arguing for the implementation of job creation policies rather than the current focus on austerity.
While the Great Recession officially ended in July 2009, both the country as a whole and the State are still struggling with the aftermath of the recession, particularly its impact on job growth. The unemployment rate in the U.S. is still above 8% and expected remain this high throughout 2012 and 2013. California’s unemployment rate is still above 11%. This report provides an examination of where we are now, more than two and a half years after the end of the recession, both in the United States as a whole and in California.
The Brief, "Project Labor Agreements in Los Angeles: The Example of the Los Angeles Unified School District," provides a discussion of project labor agreements and their role in creating high road construction jobs. The LAUSD is put forth as an example of a major employer in Los Angeles adhering to such an agreement. The Brief, which is co-published by the California Construction Academy, highlights the success of the LAUSD in meeting the goals of its agreement.
This report discusses the federal Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act, which would provide educational opportunities and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented young people living in the U.S. Although the federal DREAM Act, which failed passage in late 2010, was re-introduced in Congress in May 2011, it faces a long struggle. Thus, this report emphasizes the importance of state measures, highlighting the California DREAM Act, which has recently passed the California State Assembly and the Senate Education Committee. The report also points to the innovative work of undocumented students who are leading a national fight for access to higher education and citizenship
No. 9 "Tripartite Consultation in China"
This brief, co-authored by Chinese researcher Prof. Jian Qiao, Director and Associate Professor of the Department of Industrial Relations at the China Institute of Industrial Relations and IRLE’s Research Director, Lauren Appelbaum, explores the development of a tripartite consultation mechanism in Chinese labor relations. While the Chinese system does not fulfill all of the requirements of a tripartite consultation mechanism as laid out by the ILO, it does form the basis for a new type of social dialogue in China.
No. 8 "OSHA at 40: Looking Back, Looking Ahead"
This brief, co-published with the UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program, reviews the accomplishments of OSHA over its 40-year history, highlighting the agency’s important role in reducing workplace fatalities and protecting workers in a variety of industries from harm. In the current anti-government political climate, we make the case for robust government regulations backed by scientific evidence and effective enforcement
Our seventh brief in our series of Research and Policy Briefs celebrates the opening of the Labor Center’s Los Angeles Black Worker Center. The Brief documents the employment struggles of black workers, particularly given the current economic conditions in the country and the region, and demonstrates the important resource the Los Angeles Black Worker Center will be able to provide for these workers.
No. 6 "Why a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights?"
The sixth brief in our series of Research and Policy Briefs examines recent legislation in New York and California to enact a Domestic Works Bill of Rights. The brief details why these laws are needed now and what worker protections they will provide.
No. 5 "Competitive Strategies and Worker Outcomes in the US Retail Industry"
Our fifth brief in our series of Research and Policy Briefs documents the tension in the retail sector between competitive strategies based on cost cutting and those that rely on service and quality. Comparison with Europe suggests other possible institutional approaches with significant implications for the nature of retail jobs.
No. 4 "California Crisis: A Portrait of Unemployed Workers"
Our fourth brief looks at how different groups of workers – African Americans, Latinos, Young People, and Men – are feeling the brunt of the recession.
The third brief in our series of Research and Policy Briefs highlights the work of the Service Employees International Union Local 1877, the ULCA Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access, and the UCLA Labor Center in understanding and addressing the educational issues facing union members’ children. SEIU Local 1877 has sponsored “Parent University” workshops which teach members about topics that will help them to support their own children’s academic success and advocate for school improvements. SEIU Local 1877 is also working with a collaborative of unions and community groups to expand upon the Parent University work and stay involved in children’s education.
No. 2 "Good, Green, Safe Jobs: The Los Angeles Green Retrofit and Workforce Program"
Our second brief discusses the new Los Angeles Ordinance creating the Green Retrofit and Workforce Program. This Ordinance is unique in that it works to improve both the environment and the economy by promoting good, green, safe jobs.
No. 1 “California Crisis: Unemployment outpaces the US”
Our first brief looks at California’s disturbingly high unemployment rate in the context of the broad U.S. economic recession.
