Revaluing Work(ers): Toward a Democratic and Sustainable Future
How can we build a world of work that delivers for workers and addresses systemic crises? Contemporary societies are beset by interrelated ecological, political and economic crises, from climate change to democratic erosion and economic instability. Uncertainty abounds about the sustainability of democratic capitalism. Yet mainstream debates on the future of work tend to remain narrowly circumscribed, exhibiting both technological and market determinism.
This LERA research volume presents a labor studies perspective on the future of work, arguing that revaluing work—the efforts and contributions of workers—is crucial to realizing the promises of democracy and improving sustainability. It emphasizes that collective political action, and the collective agency of workers in particular, is central to driving this agenda forward. Moreover, it maintains that reproductive work—labor efforts from care to education that sustain the reproduction of society—can function as a crucible of innovation for the valuation and governance of work more broadly.
Join the editors, authors, and friends for a discussion of the book, its implications, next steps and more!
Featured Panelists:
- Marissa Brookes, Associate Professor of Political Science - University of California, Riverside
- Jason Jackson, Ford Career Development Assistant Professor in Political Economy and Urban Planning - Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Inez von Weitershausen, Senior Scholar, George Washington Institute of Public Policy - The George Washington University
- Todd Wolfson, Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Studies - School of Communication and Information, Rutgers University
Moderated by:
- Todd E. Vachon, Director, Labor Education Action Research Network (LEARN) - School of Management and Labor Relations, Rutgers University
Introductory remarks by:
- Adrienne Eaton, Dean - School of Management and Labor Relations, Rutgers University
- Tobias Schulze-Cleven, Associate Professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations - School of Management and Labor Relations, Rutgers University
