Research
My research has covered a number of areas, including union organizing and development in Chicago during the 1930s-50s, and the militant wing of the Filipino labor movement. For other areas of concern, such as AFL-CIO foreign operations, see my publications page.
Research: Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Sociology, University of Illinois at Chicago 1998-2003
“TRADE UNION DEVELOPMENT AND RACIAL OPPRESSION IN CHICAGO'S STEEL AND MEATPACKING INDUSTRIES, 1933-1955.”
This study theoretically determines the effect of collective identity, trade union conceptualizations and democratic processes on two unions, affecting their respective approaches to racial oppression in the workplace, the union and the community.
Historical-comparative study of the emergence and development of the Steelworkers Organizing Committee/United Steel Workers of America and the Packinghouse Workers Organizing Committee//United Packinghouse Workers of America in the Chicago area between 1933 and 1955.
Based on a post-structural model of society.
Demonstrates through comparative methodology that forces external to the workforce are contextual, not determinative.
Extensive archival research with original, secondary, and interview data—challenges considerable “established wisdom” of labor history, especially of CIO period.
Close comparison of how each labor organization addressed racial oppression in workplace, union, and community.
Presents theoretical ramifications from study upon Labor Studies specifically, but Sociology as a whole.
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center of the Philippines 1986 - 1996
This research project, spanning a ten-year period, sought to understand the development of a labor movement established under a dictatorship and with the specific challenges faced by workers in a developing country. This project was self-funded though my wages and vacation time, and included six separate trips to the Philippines between January 1986 and April 1994.
Initiated, designed and implemented first in-depth, nation-wide study of one of the four most dynamic labor movements in the world.
Integrated economic development and worker mobilization across four disparate economic production systems—plantation sugar, extractive mining (copper), capitalist agriculture (bananas and timber), and an export processing zone (garments and electronic components)--spanning both colonial and post-colonial production processes.
Combined on-site investigations in locations across the country with historical and contemporary literature on political economics, development, social movements and organizational development. Focused specifically on gender-based, women workers’ organization, as well as on women trade union leaders at the local and national levels.
Designed, conducted, transcribed and edited over 120 hours of formal interviews with labor leaders, workers, progressive clergy and labor activists across the country.
To date, have published three academic and 13 non-academic articles from this research, and this monograph was published as KMU: Building Genuine Trade Unionism in the Philippines, 1980-1994 in 1996. (Available from http://www.kabayancentral.com/book/newday/mb1009609.html.)