Fall 2023

IRLE's Quarterly Newsletter

Delegation of CA labor leaders in front of Casa de la Universidad de California en México also known as “Casa de California.”

Welcome to UCLA IRLE’s Quarterly Newsletter where spotlight quarterly accomplishments of the IRLE, our units and our academic program. In case you missed it, last week, our Director released his year-end message, read here.

• On November 6, IRLE Director Tobias Higbie moderated a panel discussion titled: “America on Strike: Workers Take Center Stage,” which compared the current upsurge worker organizing to previous waves of activism in the United States. Hosted by UCLA’s History Department’s “Why History Matters” series, the event featured UCLA Labor Center Project Director for Labor and Community Partnerships Kent Wong, UNITE HERE Local 11 Co-President Susan Minato and Screenwriter, Director Billy Ray. Learn more here.

• Saba Waheed was appointed as the first woman of color Director of the UCLA Labor Center. Waheed assumes this role after serving as the Center’s Research Director for the past 11 years. Learn more about Waheed’s work and this historic chapter for the iconic worker justice center.

• On November 10-11, the UCLA Labor Center led a delegation of over 30 prominent California labor leaders for a binational convening in Mexico City titled: "Building Cross-Border Labor Solidarity: A Binational Plan of Action," in partnership with the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center and three new university-based Labor Centers in Mexico. The delegation aimed to promote global worker and union solidarity among the California delegation and Mexican independent trade unionists. Learn more here.

• The UCLA Labor Center recently released: “California’s Future is Clocked In: The Experiences of Young Workers,” a report that analyzed the employment, educational, financial and household circumstances of young workers in California in the years surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the report here. Watch the webinar here.

• A recently released report, “Overcooked & Underserved: The Challenges of Koreatown’s Restaurant Workers,” examined the labor and housing conditions of immigrant workers in Koreatown’s restaurants. Read the report here. 

• In October 2023, the CARE at Work team along with team members from the Southern California Black Worker Hub gathered in Oakland, CA to attend the Greenlining Institute's “Just Future Summit.” The summit featured notable guest speakers that discussed racial equity. Attendees also participated in interactive breakout sessions that explored the intersections of race, climate and economic equity.

• Also in October 2023, CARE at Work and the SoCal regional Black Worker Centers gathered in San Diego for a collective cross learning and sharing about the unique work uplifting Black Worker Power throughout Southern California.

• Community Health Promoter Month/Mes Del Promotor: LOSH highlighted the exemplary community health promoters Patricia Rizo and Marcelina Lorenzo during this celebratory month. LOSH’s work would not be possible without the support of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and their consistent efforts to improve the health and well-being of our communities. LOSH extends its warmest gratitude to all of the CHPs who have played a critical role in LOSH’s mission by doing outreach, sharing information, facilitating workshops, and supporting our efforts to improve workplace health and safety conditions in Southern California. A special thanks to our community partner, Esperanza Community Housing, who has supported LOSH’s work with CHPs for many years.

• Español: Mes del Promotor de Salud Comunitaria/Mes Del Promotor: LOSH destacó a las maravillosas promotoras comunitarias de salud Patricia Rizo y Marcelina Lorenzo durante este mes de celebración. El trabajo de LOSH no sería posible sin el apoyo de lxs Promotores de Salud Comunitaria (CHP por sus siglas en inglés) y sus esfuerzos constantes para mejorar la salud y el bienestar de nuestras comunidades. Como siempre, extendemos nuestro más cálido agradecimiento a todxs lxs CHPs que han desempeñado un papel fundamental en la misión de LOSH al realizar actividades de alcance, compartir información, facilitar talleres y apoyar nuestros esfuerzos para mejorar las condiciones de salud y seguridad en el lugar de trabajo en el sur de California. Un agradecimiento especial a nuestros socios comunitarios, Esperanza Community Housing, quien ha apoyado el trabajo de LOSH con lxs CHPs durante muchos años.

HARRT (Human Resources Round Table)

• On October 1-3, the UCLA Human Resources Round Table (HARRT) explored the theme "Rediscover the Human in Human Resources." Our Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) members gathered for a three-day conference to gain insight into the trends that will impact the future of work. Some of the topics included were AI: Ethics and Regulation, Using Transparency to Build Trust, DEI Developments: Impact on the Employee Experience, and Workplace Well-being.

• On November 2, HARRT kicked off its fall installment of the Women in HR Leadership (WHRL) lunchtime series. The four 90-minute interactive sessions were led by thought leaders who discussed the following topics: Creating & Living Your Personal Brand, Meet the CHROs: Leadership Conversations (panel), Understanding Self and Others to Drive Your Development, and What’s Next for Me? Leadership Action Planning. The series continued through December 13.

• Anderson MBA GAP Capstone - On November 16, HARRT hosted a member Focus Group to support an MBA capstone research project. The objective was to identify the key decision points HR professionals (industry agnostic) use when choosing e-learning providers for HR and compliance needs.

EMRI (The Entertainment and Media Research Initiative)

• EMRI recently published the latest edition of their Hollywood Diversity Report titled, “Hollywood Diversity Report 2023, Part 2: Television,” which examined 521 live-action, scripted television shows across broadcast, cable and digital platforms from the 2021-22 season. This year, the report also included the first comprehensive analysis of the disability status of actors. Read the report here.

• At the beginning of this quarter, UCLA Labor Studies hosted its annual Open House. Attendees got to meet and interact with fellow students, staff and faculty. Impactful campus organizations like Compas de UCLA, UCLA CARE at Work, Student Labor Advocacy Project (SLAP), and Anakbayan UCLA also tabled at the convening to share more about their efforts on campus. Learn more here.

• UCLA Labor Studies launched the Labor Movement Fellows Program which will allow students and faculty to engage with some of the nation’s best labor leaders. The 2024 inaugural fellows are Jollene Levid, an organizer for UTLA, and Susan Minato, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11. Read more here.

• On October 24, Professors Kent Wong and Caroline Luce hosted a #HotLaborSummer panel featuring influential Los Angeles labor organizers. Speakers from SEIU 721, WGA, SAG-AFTRA and UNITE HERE Local 11 discussed their experiences on picket lines and the potential transformation of the American labor movement. Read more here.

• On November 7, UCLA Labor Studies hosted its first Coffee Chat of the quarter with the Labor Studies Student Union (LSSU). Attendees learned about the goals of this newly-founded organization, how students can get involved and how it will engage with the Labor Studies program.

• Hosted by ILWU Local 13, on November 9, Labor Studies students toured the port of Los Angeles. This engaged learning experience allowed students to connect and learn about the longshore workers servicing one of the biggest ports in the world.

• On November 16, Labor Studies tabled at the Major Blast, an event where students can explore majors, minors, schools, resources and academic programs at UCLA.

• On November 21, hosted its second Coffee Chat with Professor Victor Narro. Narro discussed the importance of caring for your mental and spiritual health within labor organizing.

• Spectrum News 1’s “Inside the Issues” interviewed Labor Center Director Saba Waheed about her recent appointment, current organizing efforts across Los Angeles and the future of the labor movement. Waheed discussed the urgent need for workers’ voices as AI continues to impact the workplace and how the recent waves of worker organizing are a result of longstanding worker issues exacerbated by the pandemic.  

• IRLE Director Tobias Higbie spoke with Marketplace on the rise of undergrad workers unionizing. Higbie explained that young people are interested in learning more about labor issues as seen by the increase of enrollment in labor studies classes and through standing in solidarity with other striking workers.

• Rev. James Lawson Jr. spoke with “Then & Now” by the UCLA Luskin Center for History and Policy on the enduring power of nonviolence. Lawson spoke on his early life experiences that led him to the practice of nonviolence and how it can continue to be practiced today.

• Project Director for Labor and Community Partnerships Kent Wong spoke with The Guardian on the public approval of unions. Wong described how unions currently have the strongest public approval in more than 50 years and its positive effect in contract fights. 

• LAist’s“Airtalk” host Larry Mantle interviewed Project Director Janna Shadduck-Hernández about the new UCLA Labor Center report on young workers. Shadduck-Hernández discussed the disparities young workers face and the lack of job mobility.

• Despite the fact that Koreatown is an LA dining destination with diverse and densely-packed dining options, many Koreatown restaurant workers cannot afford housing locally. LAist reported on this issue by citing a recent UCLA Labor Center report that finds many Koreatown restaurant worker households are at, or near poverty and face housing risks.

Labor Legal Developments

New rule would make it easier for millions of Americans to unionize, but businesses are pushing back | AP News

In this piece, journalist Dee-Ann Durbin explores a new NRLB rule that sets new standards for how companies can be considered joint employers. The rule could affect fast-food companies such as McDonald’s and Burger King and make them liable to bargain with workers even if their restaurants are owned by franchisees. Read more here.

This newsletter was published by IRLE's communications team. Media inquiries for the UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment and its labor experts can be sent to citlallichavez@ucla.edu.

Did someone forward you this newsletter, want to sign up to received IRLE regular updates? Sign up here.

Read previous IRLE Newsletters here.