Labor Studies 331 - Food and Labor

Around the United States, there is a growing movement aimed at creating a sustainable food system. More than 20 million people are employed in the food system? from farm workers to servers. These jobs represent a large proportion of low wage work. In this context, this course examines the relationship between labor conditions and ?sustainable? food. The course tackles three broad topics. First, using a historical lens, we will examine the social structures that have shaped how food is produced in the United States. Second, we will consider who works in the contemporary food system and what working conditions are like, attending to issues such as gender, race, and immigration status. Third, we will explore how workers have sought to improve conditions. We?ll discuss and evaluate various strategies to create change, such as strikes, unions, worker centers, student activism, alliances among food system workers, and fair trade certification.