"A Living Wage", the rallying cry of activists, has a revealing
history, here documented by Lawrence B. Glickman. The labor
movement's response to wages shows how American workers negotiated
the transition from artisan to consumer, opening up new political
possibilities for organized workers and creating contradictions
that continue to haunt the labor movement today.
Nineteenth-century workers hoped to become self-employed
artisans, rather than permanent "wage slaves". After the Civil War,
however, unions redefined working-class identity in consumerist
terms, and demanded a wage that would reward workers commensurate
with their needs as consumers. This consumerist turn in labor
ideology also led workers to struggle for shorter hours and union
labels.
First articulated in the 1870s, the demand for a living wage was
voiced increasingly by labor leaders and reformers at the turn of
the century. Glickman explores the racial, ethnic, and gender
implications, as white male workers defined themselves in contrast
to African Americans, women, Asians, and recent European
immigrants. He shows how a historical perspective on the concept of
a living wage can inform our understanding of current
controversies.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
