Episode Details

Labor unions have a long, celebrated history of supporting their members’ livelihoods. Despite their continuing strength in some sectors like civil service, education, and healthcare, overall membership has declined steadily in recent decades, especially in manufacturing.

What key factors contributed to the decline? What have workers lost? Has the decline worsened income inequality?

Minimum wages are not high enough to provide an acceptable standard of living, much less for low-wage workers to advance economically. Will unions play a role in helping them? Will unions be able to work cooperatively with management to improve wages, or at worst, overcome the high barriers that well-funded corporations can erect? What role will government play?

Larry Zicklin (BBA, ’57) discusses these questions with Stephanie Luce, Professor of Labor Studies, CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, and Professor of Sociology, CUNY Graduate Center and Aaron Brenner, Senior Capital Markets Analyst at the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. With an introduction by Interim Dean Paquita Davis-Friday and a Q&A session moderated by Associate Dean Gwen Webb.

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