Journal Facts

Journal
Journal of Collective Negotiations
ISSN
2167-7816 (print) 2167-7824 (electronic)
Volume
24
Issue
2
Date
6/1/1995

Article Facts

Title
SOLIDARITY FOREVER: RETIRED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AND THEIR UNION
DOI
10.2190/2RTJ-8YDW-C459-T0UK
Author
ABRAHAM MAKOFSKY
Online Date
05/09/2002

Article Links

SOLIDARITY FOREVER: RETIRED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AND THEIR UNION

ABRAHAM MAKOFSKY

DOI: 10.2190/2RTJ-8YDW-C459-T0UK

Abstract

This is a study of the influence of the policies and practices of a public employee union on both long-time and recent members of a retiree chapter. Race and class are involved because of the union's activism in interracial and social objectives and the membership composition of the union. Alternative theoretical perspectives are offered on why people join unions, on black workers' participation in unions, and the question of class consciousness among American workers. Long-time membership in this chapter enabled the writer to supplement interviews with participant observation of membership and leadership roles, their assessment of union and national policies and both black and national political leadership. Conclusions highlight the positive impact of the union's agenda while noting the legacy of institutional racism in responses of some white members.

Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.