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The American Worker
The American Worker
The American Worker
Child Labor
Labor Day
G.I. Bill
College StudentsWomen in the Workforce
Work Conditions
Worker BenefitsUnionization
Undocumented WorkersHealth Insurance
Minimum Wage
ProductivityNational Labor Relations Act
Slavery
Fair Trade
The American WorkerUS Department of Labor
*Source – US Department of Labor
• Administers & enforces more than 180 federal laws• Major focus areas: • Employee benefit
security• Unions &
membership• Employee
protection
• Wages & hours• Safety & health• Workers
compensation• Established acts
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
The American Worker
The American WorkerInternational Labor Standards
*Source – International Labor Standards
• International Labor Standards, est. 1919• Developed & maintained a system of
standards• Promote opportunities for both males &
females:• To obtain decent, productive work• In conditions of freedom, equity, security
& dignityGo to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
The American WorkerFair Trade
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
The American WorkerFair Trade• Organizations:• Fair Trade USA• Fair Trade
Federation• World Fair Trade
Organization
• The ‘Conscious Consumer’
• Values:• Empowerment• Integrity• Sustainability• Innovation• Excellence• Personal Development• Community• Fairness• Impact
*Source - Fair Trade USAGo to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
The American WorkerNational Labor Relations Board
*Source National Labor Relations Board
• Independent federal agency, est. 1935• Safeguards employee rights• Remedy unfair labor practices by:• Employer• Union
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
The American WorkerLabor Day
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The American WorkerLabor Day
*Source US Department of Labor
• Dedicated to the social & economic achievements of American workers
• 1st Labor Day was Tuesday September 5, 1882 in NYC• Central Labor Union
• 1st State to pass it as law – Oregon, Feb 21, 1887• Became a legal holiday June 28, 1894
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
The American WorkerLabor Day
*Source US Department of Labor
• Original form of observance & celebration:• Street parade (show of
strength & spirit)• Followed by a festival
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
The American WorkerUnionization
The American WorkerUnionization
• End of WW II, one in three workers had union card• In 2012, one in nine workers had union card• First to unionize were skilled workman in craft
unions
• Collective bargaining, strikes, lockouts, work conditions, job security, seniority, supervisor relationships, benefits, dues, less autonomy, equality……
*Source - Duffy, F. (2015). Labor Unions. Research Starters: Sociology (Online Edition)
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
The American WorkerMinimum Wage
May, 14, 2012, ABC News
$7.25
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
The American WorkerMore Information & Resources
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
The American WorkerSlavery
The American WorkerSlavery
• 1619, first African slaves arrive in Virginia• Estimated over 300,000 African slaves brought
to US
• 12 Presidents owned slaves, eight of them while in office
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
*Sources – Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database& The Hauenstein Center, Grand Valley State University
The American WorkerSlavery
• 1865, passed by Congress on January 31, & ratified on December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States and provides that… • "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude,
except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
*Source – National ArchivesGo to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
13th Amendment
The American WorkerG.I. Bill
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
The American WorkerG.I. Bill (Serviceman’s Readjustment Act)
• June 22, 1944, signed by President FD Roosevelt• Subsequent editions - Montgomery Bill & Post 9/11 GI Bill
• Considered one of the most significant federal legislations (required a tie-breaking vote!)
• Since being passed, more than 124 million tax dollars have been paid to more than 22 million veterans & dependents
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
*Source – US Department of Veteran Affairs
The American WorkerG.I. Bill (Serviceman’s Readjustment Act)
There were 10 key ingredients:• Educational opportunity• Vocational on-the-job
training• Readjustment allowances• Home, farm and business
loans• Review of discharges• Adequate health care• Prompt settlement of
disability claimsGo to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources *Source – American Legion
• Mustering-out pay (removed from the bill after it was enacted separately)
• Effective veteran employment services
• Concentration of all veterans functions in the Veterans Administration
The American Worker
The American WorkerUndocumented Workers
The American WorkerUndocumented Workers
• 11.3 million in 2014 (3.5% of nations population)
• 60% are in CA, TX, FL, NY, NJ & IL
• 5.1% of the labor force• >60% have resided in the US at least 10
years• Most hold jobs in the least desirable
conditionsGo to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources *Source – Pew Research
The American WorkerWorker Conditions/Benefits
*Sources – Mother Jones
The American WorkerWorker Conditions/Benefits• Work longer hours:
• 137 more than Japan; 260 more than Britain; 499 more than France
• 70% of children live in households where all adults are employed
• Only country in the Americas without paid parental leave
• Only industrialized country with no mandated annual leave
• No federally mandated sick leave• 3rd most productive per hour behind Germany & France
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources *Sources – Multiple
The American WorkerCollege Students
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The American WorkerCollege Students
• The more students engage in educationally purposeful activities, the more they learn (Kuh, et al. 2007)
• Average approximately:• 14.7 hours study• 9.9 hours paid work• 25.1 leisure
• App State expects 2-3 hours per assigned class time engaged in coursework
Go to http://library.appstate.edu/diversityfor all resources
*Source – National Survey of Student Engagement
The American WorkerGender Equality
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The American WorkerGender Equality
• 57% of women participate in the workforce• 70% of women with
children under 18• Primary breadwinners:• 34% black women• 18% all families
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*Source – US Department of Labor
• 2012 - women were 58% of the labor force
• Wage gap of 21.7% in favor of men
• Most common occupations:• Administrative
assistants• Teachers• Nurses
The American WorkerGender Equality
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Key Initiatives
The American WorkerMore Information & Resources
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