New Perspectives on Labor, Immigrant Power in Los AngelesRandy Shawbyline‚ Nov. 30‚ 2006As unions prove increasingly successful in organizing Latino immigrants in Los Angeles and elsewhere, many wonder how this development came about. Fortunately, Ruth Milkman, Director of the Institute of Industrial Relations at UCLA and a frequent writer on labor issues, has come out with a new book that not only provides rare insights into the rise of labor power in Los Angeles, but in some cases completely alters one’s prevailing understanding of labor history. Milkman describes how unions formerly associated with the conservative American Federation of Labor (AFL) have become the visionary unions of today, and debunks the myth that labor organizing campaigns should always be initiated by the rank and file. She also examines four Los Angeles union immigrant organizing drives in order to identify why two succeeded and two failed. L.A. Story is more than a book about Los Angeles; rather, it provides a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities labor unions face in post-globalization America. |