First published in 1986, this book challenges the notion that the miners’ strike of 1984-5 was ‘Scargill’s Strike’. It shows some of the ways in which the strike, though nominally directed from above, was determined from below by multitudinous and often contradictory pressures — the lodge, the village and the home. The focus is essentially logical and gives particular attention to family economy, kin networks and intergenerational solidarity. At the same time it is concerned with the menta...

The New York Times bestselling work of undercover reportage from our sharpest and most original social critic, with a new foreword by Matthew Desmond, author of EvictedMillions of Americans work full time, year round, for poverty-level wages. In 1998, Barbara Ehrenreich decided to join them. She was inspired in part by the rhetoric surrounding welfare reform, which promised that a job—any job—can be the ticket to a better life. But how does anyone...

In Kids These Days, early Wall Street occupier Malcolm Harris gets real about why the Millennial generation has been wrongly stereotyped, and dares us to confront and take charge of the consequences now that we are grown up.Millennials have been stereotyped as lazy, entitled, narcissistic, and immature. We've gotten so used to sloppy generational analysis filled with dumb clichés about young people that we've lost sight of what really unites Millennials. N...

See how one militant union organizer fought the bosses—and national labor leaders—in this “breathtaking trip through the union-organizing scene” (Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed).“ . . . renews my faith that organizing works . . . makes a compelling case for a new vision for the American labor movement.” —Van JonesIn 1995, in the first contested election in the history of the AFL-CIO, John Sweeney won the presidency ...

An essential book for students of economics as well as economists and policymakers. The twelfth edition of this enduring and popular book surveys all major changes in the Irish economy in the past fifteen years, with particular emphasis on the last five years. In this new edition, the authors examine: - The broad historical context to a study of the Irish economy. - Ireland's hard landing, recovery and prospects for economic growth and employment in the years ahead. - The changing role of ...

**"...deeply felt and cogently argued...Hughes makes a powerful case that deserves a respectful hearing." — The Financial TimesFacebook co-founder Chris Hughes argues that the best way to fight income inequality is with a radically simple idea: a guaranteed income for working people, paid for by the one percent.**The first half of Chris Hughes's life played like a movie reel right out of the "American Dream." He grew up in a small town in North Carolina. His parents...

How educated and culturally savvy young people are transforming traditionally low-status manual labor jobs into elite taste-making occupationsIn today's new economy—in which "good" jobs are typically knowledge or technology based—many well-educated and culturally savvy young men are instead choosing to pursue traditionally low-status manual labor occupations as careers. Masters of Craft looks at the renaissance of four such trades: bartending, distilling, b...

An unsparing analysis of class power and computerisation, Cyber-Proletariat shows us the dark-side of the information revolution. From Coltan mines in the Congo; electronics factories in China and devastated neighbourhoods in Detroit, this book reveals how technology facilitates growing polarisation between wealthy elites and precarious workers.Nick Dyer-Witheford reveals the class domination behind everything from expanding online surveillance to intensifying robotisation. At the ...

"Should be required reading for all workers' rights advocates." —Bernie SandersBetween 2008 and 2010, the progressive wing of the US labor movement tore itself apart in a series of internecine struggles. More than $140 million was expended, by all sides, on organizing conflicts that tarnished union reputations and undermined the campaign for real health care and labor law reform. Campus and community allies, along with many rank-and-file union members, were left ang...

First published in 1977. This book considers the nature of industrial society, contemporary capitalism and the impact of political ideas on social structure. These ideas are discussed by reference to the impact of social democracy on the structure of capitalist society in a comparative analysis of Britain and Sweden — including an interview survey of industrial workers socio-political attitudes. The study is concluded by a general discussion of the role of social democracy in capitalist so...

A classic account of low-wage workers’ organization that the US Department of Labor calls one of the “100 books that has shaped work in America.”As low-wage organizing campaigns have been reignited by the Fight for 15 movement and other workplace struggles, Poor Workers’ Unions is as prescient as ever.

Critically acclaimed journalist Ellen Ruppel Shell uncovers the true cost--political, economic, social, and personal--of America's mounting anxiety over jobs, and what we can do to regain control over our working lives.Since 1973, our productivity has grown almost six times faster than our wages. Most of us rank so far below the top earners in the country that the "winners" might as well inhabit another planet. But work is about much more than earning a living. Wor...