Working in America : A Blueprint for the New Labor Market

by Paul Osterman, Thomas A. Kochan, Richard M. Locke and Michael J. Piore

• ISBN13: 9780262151054
• ISBN10: 0262151057
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-11-01
• Publisher: Mit Pr

Summary

The American labor market faces many deep-rooted problems, including persistence of a large low-wage sector, worsening inequality in earnings, employeesrs" lack of voice in the workplace, and the need of employers to maximize flexibility if they are to survive in an increasingly competitive market. The impetus for this book is the absence of a serious national debate about these issues. The book represents nearly three years of deliberation by more than 250 people drawn from business, labor, community groups, academia, and government. It traces todayrs"s labor-market policy and laws back to the New Deal and to a second wave of social regulation that began in the 1960s. Underlying the current system are assumptions about who is working, what workers do, and how much job security workers enjoy. Economic and social changes have rendered those assumptions invalid and have resulted in mismatches between labor institutions and efficient and equitable deployment of the workforce, as well as between commitments to the labor market and family responsibilities. This book should launch a national dialogue on how to update our policies and institutions to catch up with the changes in the nature of work, in the workforce, and in the economy.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Acknowledgements	ix
Reframing the Debate	1	(26)
Tracing the Shifting Labor Market	27	(30)
The Corporation in the Labor Market	57	(38)
Extended Networks: A Vision for Next-Generation Unions	95	(36)
The Emergence of New Institutions	131	(18)
Recasting the Role of Government	149	(32)
New Institutions in Action	181	(24)
Appendix A Members of Task Force	205	(2)
Appendix B Other Participants	207	(6)
Notes	213	(14)
Index	227