Pennoni Panels: All Work & No Play: Labor Unions, Workers, and the Future of Labor
The pandemic put the nature of work under a spotlight — who is essential, the risks workers face, and even the nature of what a workspace could be. Even before the Progressive Era, which ushered into American culture, a wave of labor laws and protections for the American worker, the unionization of the American worker has been an issue. We are currently seeing a burst of unionization efforts by workers across the country, like Starbucks, Apple, REI, Medieval Times, Amazon, museums, and universities. Unionizing at large institutions and corporations seemed insurmountable, but in a relatively short amount of time, a lot of headway has been gained in those efforts. This conversation will address why the time feels ripe for unions, both the allure and concerns about unions, why now, and the future of the American working class.