A Beautiful Kind of Foundation

We are approaching the 60th anniversary of the UCLA Labor Center, and we are celebrating – both how far we’ve come and where we’re going next! In honor of our anniversary, in this episode we’re sharing insights and memories from our colleagues about their work...

Re:Work and the IRLE Present “Labor Studies 101”

It’s back-to-school season, and we’re sharing a recording of “Labor Studies 101” from our archives at the IRLE, the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment. In this episode, our IRLE director, Toby Higbie, interviews Kent Wong, our previous long...

Re:Work and the IRLE Present “Changing Lives, Changing L.A.”

In partnership with the UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE), Re:Work presents “Changing Lives, Changing L.A.,” a play created from transcripts from the UNITE HERE Local 11 Oral History Project and originally performed before a live audience at Loyola Marymount University and UCLA.

Portrayed by professional actors, four members of UNITE HERE Local 11 share their stories of becoming leaders in their union, and fighting for a better life while helping transform Los Angeles.

Here Comes Mau!

There’s a tendency to associate fast-food with American nostalgia, which can shield issues in the franchise structure ranging from wage theft to violence and safety concerns. Most recently, fast-food workers have been at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 in their...

Stranded

In 2020, India suddenly went into a national lockdown without advance planning or adequate government support, which led to a humanitarian crisis in addition to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Millions of jobs disappeared and hunger was a serious issue. Tens of millions of migrant workers struggled to get home — often on foot — and many died attempting the journey. In this episode, we bring you the story of Gulzar, a migrant worker who left his village as a child and traveled across the country, to earn money to support his family.