Labor Center Directorship Transitions

9 September, 2022

Dear Members of the Labor Center community:

New Working Paper! Worker Misclassification and Wage Theft in Rhode Island

New Working Paper! Diversity-Washing: The Problem with Corporate Diversity Rating

Jasmine Kerrissey in The Washington Post - U.S. workers have been striking in startling numbers. Will that continue?

Research featured in The Washington Post by Labor Center faculty Jasmine Kerrissey and Judy Stepan-Norris looks more than 100 years of data to understand the factors assocaited with striking workers. Read the full article here.

We're Hiring! Applications for Associate Director for Academic Program due by September 15th.

The Associate Director for Academic Programs will work with faculty, staff, students, and constituencies outside the University to coordinate and manage activities related to Labor Center academic programs, particularly the Masters in Union Leadership and Activism (ULA) and the internship program. The Associate Director also manages communications, financial operations and strategic planning for the Center.

Apply here.

New Working Paper! The Social and Economic Costs of Illegal Misclassification, Wage Theft and Tax Fraud in Residential Construction in Massachusetts

This study examines labor and employment practices in the residential construction industry in Massachusetts. Our research is based on more than 60 in-depth interviews with documented and undocumented workers, union and non-union contractors, union and public officials, and community activists involved in residential construction.

Announcing StrategicCorporateResearch.org 2.0

As firms have grown more complex and globalized, strategic corporate research is more vital for a successful campaign than ever before. Labor, environmental and community activists need resources to fight back. StrategicCorporateResearch.org has provided those resources for over a decade.

What’s New

Over the last year, the StrategicCorporateResearch.org team made some big changes to the site, including:

UMass Amherst Alumna Michele Evermore Named to Newly Created U.S. Labor Department Role

Alumna Michele Evermore, who earned her master’s degree in labor studies from UMass Amherst in 2016, has been appointed by the Biden administration to a newly created role at the U.S. Labor Department as senior advisor on unemployment insurance, a position within the department’s Employment and Training Administration.

New Working Paper! At the Frontlines of the Debate on Masks: Worker Experiences Enforcing COVID-19 Safety Protocols

This research examines the experiences of workers in six states as they are asked to confront a public with mixed feelings about wearing masks and complying with other COVID-19 safety recommendations like social distancing. The research draws from a survey of 2,300 employees working in person the week of July 5th, which was near the height of the summer surge.

Read the report here

ULA for Educators Applications Due November 15

The UMass Amherst Labor Center is excited to launch the ULA for Educators track of our master's program in Labor Studies, beginning January 2021. ULA for Educators is designed especially for education support professionals and teachers in the field of K-12 education.

Labor Center

News & Events