- Working-Class Perspectives offers weekly commentaries on current issues related to working-class people and communities. Contributors discuss a variety of issues, from what class means to how it intersects with race and gender to how class is shaping American politics. We welcome relevant comments of 500 words or less.
For questions or comments about this blog, e-mail Sherry Linkon. For assistance with news stories about working-class politics and culture, call or e-mail John Russo, 330-207-8085. Categories
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The State of the Working Class
Listen to Working-Class Perspective editor Sherry Linkon's recent interview about Working-Class Studies on KERA's Think with Krys Boyd.Links
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Tag Archives: community organizing
Bargaining for the Common Good Comes of Age
The week-long strike by the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) in January 2019 marked the most significant struggle yet in a movement by teachers and other public-sector workers called Bargaining for the Common Good. By striking over a long … Continue reading
Cleaning Up the Lease Option Mess in Working-Class Housing
Home ownership may be the most iconic emblem of economic stability for American families, but the pursuit of that goal has drawn too many working-class families into the deceptive agreements knows as “lease option purchase contracts.” To understand the impact … Continue reading
Getting Over in the Heart of Dixie
When people think about progressive battles in the U.S., they probably don’t think about Alabama. Instead, the state is known as the home of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the kind of conservative, populist politics that led Drew Pendergrass … Continue reading
On Race, Class, and Two Referendums in Richmond
On election night in November, the success of local ballot measures raising the minimum wage, endorsing election law reform, or calling for other much-needed policy changes produced some political cheer on an otherwise dismal evening. Such measures may be our … Continue reading
Posted in Contributors, Guest Bloggers, Issues, Labor and Community Activism
Tagged class and race, community organizing, Richmond
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The Future of Labor Unions and Community Coalitions
Over the last 30 years, the American labor movement has periodically gone through wrenching discussions of its failures to organize new workers and grow its membership. See, for example, “The Changing Situation of Workers and Their Unions” (February, 1985), “New … Continue reading
Posted in Contributors, Issues, John Russo, Labor and Community Activism
Tagged activism, coalition building, community organizing, labor movement, labor unions, SEIU, Trumka
4 Comments
Debating Economic Development: Downtown versus the Neighborhood
Last week, the Center for Working-Class Studies distributed a commentary on how proponents of economic development and local government leaders were ignoring the continuing struggles of Youngstown’s neighborhoods. “A Renaissance for Whom? Youngstown and Its Neighborhoods” attempted to capture community … Continue reading
Health care for all: caring for the uninsured
As Jack Metzgar wrote last week, health coverage is an important issue for the working class. As health insurance becomes less available and as urban hospitals around the country restructure, working-class people are bearing the brunt of the health care … Continue reading
Posted in John Russo, Working-class politics, Youngstown
Tagged community organizing, health care, Youngstown
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