Students Chat with Harley Shaiken

Internet Chats at the Institute of International Studies, University of California, Berkeley
Thurgood Marshall Academic High School Students Chat with Harley Shaiken, University of California Professor of Education, about Labor

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Shaiken: Students, what have you learned about how unions protect workers, such as farmworkers?

Garen: We learned that a union's power comes from its organization of the workers. This organization leads to better working conditions. For example, some of the unions that we learned about were AFL, Teamsters.

Shaiken: Garen, that is a good point. Unfortunately, it has become very hard for workers to join unions today. In the late 1950s about 40% of all workers in private companies belonged to unions. Today that figure is less than 10%.

Fernando: Why is there lower union membership today?

Shaiken: Fernando, many companies spend a lot of money and often violate the law to influence workers about joining unions. One professor at Harvard estimates that 2 out 10 people who try to organize unions are fired. When employees do get a union, in one-third of the cases, the company refuses to bargain with the union and never signs the first contract.

Lea: Hi! What laws/consequences are there with opening a sweatshop in the U.S.?

Shaiken: Lea, there are very few consequences for running a sweatshop. First, there aren't many people that enforce laws related to sweat shops. Those few companies who find themselves in violation of the law often shut down one day and reopen the next in a different name.

Daniel: What laws/consequences are there with opening a sweatshop in foreign countries? Can you give examples of countries?

Shaiken: Daniel, there are very few consequences about opening a sweatshop in another country. There are many sweatshops in Central America. Workers in countries such as Guatemala and El Salvador are desperate for work. Nonetheless, companies could afford to pay these workers far more than they do.

Tim: In the Far East, what is the percentage of children under the age of 16 that are doing child labor?

Shaiken: Tim, I would estimate that it is a very high percentage. For many countries, child labor is defined for children under the age of 14.

Shaiken: Students, have your attitudes about labor changed since you studied unions in the course you are taking with Brian Simmons?

Tim: My attitude has changed a lot. I really feel sorry for them.

Shaiken: What do you feel sorry for, Tim?

Tim: I feel sorry for them because they work so hard for very little pay.

Shaiken: Tim, unions when they are strong help workers earn more pay. They also help working people enter the middle class. If workers earn more, they buy more and the economy benefits.

Garen: As I read your biography, I noticed that you have been involved with the Center for Latin American Studies and with the Center of U.S - Mexico Studies. What were some of the reasons why you were involved in such studies?

Shaiken: Garen, I am very interested in Mexico and all of Latin America. I find it is very important to look at issues such as labor from the viewpoint of people in other countries as well as the United States. Besides, I love traveling to Latin America.

Daniel: What is NAFTA?

Shaiken: Daniel, you have come to the right place for information on NAFTA. NAFTA stands for the North American Free Trade Agreement, which unites the economies of Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. Critics of NAFTA said that it provides very good protection for companies in all three countries but no protection for either labor or the environment.

Shaiken: We have time for one more question.

Tim: What age is considered child labor in this country?

Shaiken: Tim, usually it is under 16, but it varies for some occupations, particularly farm work and anything that utilizes dangerous machinery.

Shaiken: I really enjoyed this session. I wish you a lot of luck with this course and other things you do.

Fernando: Thank you Mr. Shaiken for your time and for your valuable information.

Garen: Thank you for your time.

Daniel: Thank you.

Beth Atkin: Thanks for participating in the this chat, students of Mr. Simmons!

Lea: Thank you!

Tim: I really appreciate your time. Thanks a million times.

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