The Effects of Class Background on Labor Union Identity in Full Time Staff

Date of Award

2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Hernandez, Sarah

Keywords

Labor Union, Class, Self-Identification

Area of Concentration

Sociology

Abstract

This thesis is a study of the goals and strategies of full-time, paid labor union staff. The thesis is based on seven open-ended, qualitative interviews with full-time staff of two local educational unions. I show that their socioeconomic class is an important factor in determining staff members� initial goals but that it becomes less important over time. Initially the participants from lower-middle-class background are more concerned with everyday issues such as wages and avoid aggressive strategies. The participants from upper-middle-class backgrounds are initially interested in broader social change and are more receptive to aggressive strategies. Over time each group is socialized to understand the other group�s point of view and change their goals and strategies accordingly.

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