Critical Labour Studies: 7th Symposium 2011
Venue: The University of Manchester, England
Saturday 19th Sunday 20th February 2011
Call for papers and sessions
It is clear to researchers and activists, both in the trade union
movement and universities, that global capitalism is increasingly
shaping the worlds of work and employment. The imposition of this
neo-liberal orthodoxy has many profound implications, not least that
states seek to both de-legitimise workers’ opposition and marginalise
their organisations. However, just as capitalism has embraced
neo-liberal strategies, there has emerged a new politics of resistance
that is varied and diverse, embracing: trade union and socialist
organisations, green and ecological protest movements, anti-war
activists, feminists, human rights campaigners and NGOs. It is against
this background that the Critical Labour Studies (CLS) symposium has
aimed to bring together researchers and activists to discuss key
features of work and employment from a radical and labour-focused
perspective.
We recognise that while left academic researchers participate in the
usual round of mainstream conferences, the scope for focused radical
debate around these themes is actually quite limited. Through CLS we
have developed an open working group and discussion forum that engages
with many of the challenges facing researchers and trade unionists
within the current environment of work and employment. By ‘labour’, we
anticipate, in the traditions of radical researchers over the ages, a
broad understanding of social, economic and political agendas. To date,
themes have included: race, identity and organising migrant workers,
global unionism and organising internationally, the new politics of
production, privatisation, outsourcing and offshoring, restructuring and
alternative/inclusive research methodologies. The list of themes and
questions that concern us continues to develop over time, and the
intention will be to reflect this evolving agenda at this year’s
symposium. An ancillary objective is to engage in genuinely critical
debate, rescuing this term from its co-option by mainstream agendas.
Building on the successes of the past six years, the forthcoming
symposium will be structured as a series of plenary sessions. Each will
be organised around a particular theme with speakers and discussants,
followed by a broad discussion. It has been an important principle of
CLS that the conference is not based on the convention of academic
conferences with specific papers being presented in separate streams.
Rather our intention has been to deepen discussion and debate, and to
bring together researchers and labour/ union movement activists (where
possible) in joint sessions.
All sessions are genuinely open and inclusive and involve a broad range
of participants, from established academics to early-career researchers,
and from established trade union officials to shop-floor representatives
and grass-roots activists. The distinctive organising principles of CLS
are, therefore, to assist unions and workers in dealing with the
challenges faced in the neo-liberal world of work and employment.
Ultimately, discussion of strategies and tactics are related to the
broader aim of creating a socialist society.
Send proposals for presentations/sessions/papers:
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[log in to unmask] - Closing Date September 30th
Join the Critical Labour Studies Email List: If you would like to be
added to the CLS email list, please contact Jane Holgate at
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Check out our website: http://criticallabourstudies.org.uk/site/
This event is supported by Historical Materialism, Capital and Class,
and the BUIRA Marxist Study Group
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Dr Jane Holgate
Working Lives Research Institute
London Metropolitan University
31 Jewry Street, London EC3N 2EY
Tel (w) + 44 (0) 20 7320 3029
Tel (h) 020 8802 0373.
Tel (m) 07960 798399
email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.workinglives.org/staff/current-staff/jane-holgate.cfm
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