Perry Work Report: work&labour news&research, November 27, 2015

November 27, 2015

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Decent Work in the Not-for-Profit Sector

“Published ... by the Mowat Centre’s not-for-profit research branch, the Change Work report outlines the need for a 'decent work' agenda that can serve as the 'flip side' to precarious employment. The report argues that if the not-for-profit sector were to adopt wage standards and ensure better work-life balance and predictable schedules, they could more easily accomplish their goals and set an example for the broader job market.”

“‘It’s meant to be a jumpoff point,’ said report co-author Lisa Lalande, executive lead at the Mowat research hub on University Ave.”

"As Lalande explained, the Mowat report zoomed in on the not-for-profit industry in Ontario to see how the concepts of decent work could apply. Over 18 months, researchers pored over existing literature, surveyed more than 800 industry leaders and conducted nine focus-group sessions to ask not-for-profit staffers to define decent work."

“The results, Lalande said, included the desire to establish benchmarks for fair pay, making sure even part-time workers receive some health and retirement benefits and emphasizing the need for managers who value such principles in the workplace.”

The Toronto Star, November 25, 2015: “A ‘decent’ proposal: Not-for-profits should raise job standards, report says,” Alex Ballingall 

Mowat Centre, Novemeber 25, 2015: “Change Work: Valuing decent work in the not-for-profit sector,” by Jamie Van Ymeren and Lisa Lalande

Mowat Centre, November 25, 2015: “Change Work: Valuing decent work in the not-for-profit sector,” by Jamie Van Ymeren and Lisa Lalande (48 pages, PDF)    

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Mental Health e-Learning Programs

Below are two online courses on mental health  -- one directed at legal professionals, and the other at nurses, but valuable for anyone interested in mental health. Create an MDcme.ca account here.

“About MDcme.ca: As a consortium of all seventeen Canadian medical schools, MDcme.ca is Canada’s University eCME provider. Our access to a diverse and highly skilled group of content experts is unparalleled.”

Mental Health and Wellness in the Legal Profession

“Mental Health and Wellness in the Legal Profession was created as a result of a proactive and dynamic partnership between the Canadian Bar Association, the Mood Disorders Society of Canada and Bell Let’s Talk. It is the hope of these sponsors, as well as the drafters of this program, that participants will not only expand their own knowledge of these issues, but will then contribute to the building of a culture of wellness and self-care throughout the legal profession in Canada.”

MDcme.ca, 2015: “Mental Health and Wellness in the Legal Profession”

“In every province and territory, the CBA Wellness Forum offers support, advice and training to Lawyer Assistance Programs serving Canada’s legal professionals. We conduct research into the personal and professional challenges affecting lawyers. We develop programs to address them and to help lawyers lead healthy, happy lives.”

Canadian Bar Association Wellness [website]

Nurses Working Together to Support Mental Health and Well-Being

“By engaging in this program you have an opportunity to learn about mental illness from a patient’s perspective. You will be guided in a self-reflective process to examine your own beliefs and behaviours while engaging with, learning and benefiting from the support of other health care providers. Examples of how you might respond to stigmatizing practices in the workplace also are provided to assist you as you move forward to help make a difference in the lives of those living with mental health challenges.“

MDcme.ca, 2015: “Course: De-Stigmatizing Practices and Mental Illness: Nurses Working Together to Support Mental Health and Well-Being”

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Slower Growth, New Economic Reality

“Slow growth: Get used to it.” 

That’s the conclusion of the Bank of Canada’s newest research report.

“’Overall, there is increasing evidence that growth in advanced economies may remain slow in the immediate future compared to its pre-[financial] crisis average, as a result of a combination of cyclical and structural factors,’ according to authors Abeer Reza and Subrata Sarker.”

“The cyclical factors -- including households and governments getting their debts under control -- will eventually ease, according to the report contained in the autumn edition of the Bank of Canada Review, a twice-yearly collection of academic papers by bank economists. But longer-term factors, including the aging population and slowing labour force expansion, will continue to take a bite out of growth.”

“The most significant longer-term problem is the slowing growth rate of the working-age population as the baby boom generation retires. The report pointed out that later retirement and increased participation by women have in the past helped offset demographic trends. ‘There is likely less scope for these trends to continue,’ according to the report. ‘Unless these demographic forces are offset by rising productivity or higher immigration, they will result in slower potential growth for any given rate of labour productivity.’”

“The report, however, said monetary policy is already adapting to the new reality. And the authors reject the notion that economies are headed for lasting stagnation.”

The Globe and Mail, November 19, 2015: “Slower growth new economic reality, Bank of Canada says,” by Barrie McKenna

The Bank of Canada, November 19, 2015: “Is Slower Growth the New Normal in Advanced Economies?,” by Abeer Reza and Subrata Sarker (13 pages, PDF)

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Searching for Work in the Digital Era

“The internet is an essential employment resource for many of today’s job seekers, according to a new survey by Pew Research Center. A majority of U.S. adults (54%) have gone online to look for job information, 45% have applied for a job online, and job-seeking Americans are just as likely to have turned to the internet during their most recent employment search as to their personal or professional networks.”

“Yet even as the internet has taken on a central role in how people find and apply for work, a minority of Americans would find it difficult to engage in many digital job seeking behaviors -- such as creating a professional resume, searching job listings online, or following up via email with potential employers. And while many of today’s job seekers are enlisting their smartphones to browse jobs or communicate with potential employers, others are using their mobile devices for far more complex and challenging tasks, from writing a resume to filling out an online job application.”

“Among the key findings:

  • The internet is a top resource for many of today’s job hunters: Among Americans who have looked for work in the last two years, 79% utilized online resources in their most recent job search and 34% say these online resources were the most important tool available to them
  • Like many other aspects of life, job seeking is going mobile: 28% of Americans have used a smartphone as part of a job search, and half of these ‘smartphone job seekers’ have used their smartphone to fill out a job application
  • Even as digital job seeking skills have become increasingly important, a minority of Americans would find it challenging to engage in tasks such as creating a professional resume, using email to contact potential employers, or filling out a job application online
  • Many Americans now use social media to look for and research jobs, share employment opportunities with friends, and highlight their skills to potential employers; 13% of social media users say their social media presence has helped them find a job”

Pew Research Center, November 19, 2015: “Searching for Work in the Digital Era,” by Aaron Smith (30 pages, PDF) or HTML

Pew Research Center, November 19, 2015: “Job Seeking is Going Mobile”

Websites vs. Unions: What Do Voice Performers Make?

“Those who regularly hire voice talent -- especially advertisers -- want work done faster and cheaper. Just as technology has disrupted a number of other creative industries, it has changed this corner of the ad world as well.”

“The growth of sites such as London, Ont.-based Voices.com and San Francisco, Calif.-based Voice123.com, has democratized voice work, particularly by opening up opportunities for those who are just starting out. But some actors are raising concerns. Websites listing voice talent, they say, set a problematic precedent by offering jobs for a fraction of what talent used to earn. And they demand subscription fees just to look for jobs, even from inexperienced newbies who may not have the skills or the quality of equipment to land work.”

“Payments for work on sites such as Voices.com and Voice123.com vary widely, since actors decide to quote their own prices for work.”

“Voice actors working through the union, ACTRA, in Canada have set rates for advertising work, depending on the geography of where it runs, in what media, and for how long.”

The Globe and Mail, November 19, 2015: “How much is the right voice worth to an advertiser?” by Susan Krashinsky

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Where Are Canada's PhDs Employed?

 “A PhD is a prerequisite for an academic career, but fewer than 20 per cent of Canada’s PhDs are employed as full-time university professors. The majority of PhDs are employed in a wide range of rewarding careers outside academia.”

“As a result, schools are increasingly trying to prepare students for careers in business, government or the non-profit sector. The Conference Board study is significant because it looks at whether the private sector can provide that alternative to academic careers.”

“This report examines the employment opportunities and outcomes of PhD holders both inside and outside academia. It characterizes the challenges that some PhD graduates face when transitioning to careers beyond post-secondary education, as well as the state of demand and receptor capacity for PhDs among Canada’s employers. The valuable contributions that PhDs make in a wide range of careers are highlighted. The report examines the state of professional skills development for PhD students and innovative examples of professional development initiatives in Canada and peer countries.”

”The 136-page study estimates that only 2 per cent of jobs require a doctoral degree. And relatively low starting salaries -- many in the $50,000 range -- mean it takes decades for PhD graduates to close the earnings gap between them and someone with an MA.”

“The report appears more hopeful about the long-term returns on the educational investment, and Dr. Edge [one of the co-authors of the report] pointed out that after the first few years, salaries outpace lower levels of education. On average, for example, PhDs earn about $13,000 more than those with an MA.”

“Lost earnings in the time that a PhD student is in school lead to an almost $300,000 head start by a master’s graduate. As a result, the study says, ‘the earnings of PhD graduates will not surpass master’s graduates until the later stages of their career.’”

“Many of the problems identified in the study cannot be solved by providing students with more professional training. PhD salaries in the United States have grown much faster than in Canada; the Conference Board speculates that is because U.S. firms invest more in research and development and need the specialized skills.”

The Globe and Mail, November 23, 2015: “Earning a PhD in Canada likely to provide modest returns,” by Simona Chiose

The Conference Board of Canada,November 24, 2015: “Inside and Outside the Academy: Valuing and Preparing PhDs for Careers,” by Jessica Edge, Daniel Munro (136 pages, PDF)

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When the Long-Form Census Comes Back

“The new Liberal government’s announcement that Canada will return to the long-form census in 2016 marked a step in the right direction toward what Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains calls an ‘evidence-based’ approach to governance.”

“In 2016, the government will reintroduce the census used before the previous government came to power. Adherence to inflexible testing principles and a looming print deadline mean that a more comprehensive survey will not be ready in time for next year.”

“Will we be asking the right questions? Will we capture the data we need to grasp how quickly technology is driving change, and the pace?”

“Can we afford to go five years between censuses given the current rate of change driven by technology? Just look at Canada’s manufacturing, automotive, and oil and gas sectors -- rapid change in a fast-evolving world. In today’s world, five years is too long to go between drinks of new data, not to mention that five-year intervals translate into 10-year timelines before we can establish a trend. It’s high time we pick up the pace.”

“In the meantime, the 2021 census presents an opportunity to reimagine what a modern census could achieve -- a census that captures the nuances of the new economy in something closer to real time. More accurate data collection will allow us to see not just who we are, but also what Canada will need to thrive in this rapidly changing world.”

The Globe and Mail, November 21, 2015: “Canada’s new census needs to capture nuances of fast-evolving economy,” by Mike McDerment

Statistics Canada, November 23, 2015: “Infographic: The Journey of Statistics Canada Data“

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New Workplace Harassment Laws for Ontario

“On October 27, 2015 the Ontario Government introduced Bill 132, the Sexual  Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence and Harassment), 2015. Bill 132 is the legislative action arising from the Government’s March 6, 2015 report, 'It’s Never Okay: An Action Plan to Stop Sexual Violence and Harassment'. This article will only deal with Bill 132’s proposed changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act ('OHSA'). As these proposed changes will, at a minimum, require every employer to revise their workplace harassment policies, the requirements are set out in detail below.”

“Bill 132 confirms that sexual harassment is not only a human rights issue covered by the Human Rights Code, it is also a workplace safety issue covered by OHSA. As such, in addition to human rights liability, employers can face orders, fines and even prosecution under OHSA. It is important to keep in mind that just as the MOL can charge employers for more 'traditional' safety incidents in the workplace (e.g. an arc flash or mechanical breakdown causing physical injury to an employee), employers may be charged for failing to abide by their, soon to be expanded, obligations in relation to workplace harassment.”

"In this changing climate, employers need to be diligent in dealing with harassment complaints in the workplace. At the very least, employers should be looking at their workplace harassment policies now with an eye to changing them once Bill 132 comes into force -- currently set for July 1, 2016."

Torkin Manes LLP, November 19, 2015: “New workplace harassment laws are coming,” by Daniel Pugen

Ontario Government, March 2015: “It’s Never OK: Action Plan to Stop Sexual Violence and Harassment”

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Trans-Pacific Partnership Public Interest Problems

“... [T]he dozens of times that Canada has already been sued, largely under the North American free-trade agreement, show that private arbitrators have been very willing to second-guess Canadian policy-makers and administrative enforcement, extracting damage awards. While Canadian governments have insisted that the tribunals have gotten it wrong on many issues, they have had little recourse. Indeed, there have been mounting concerns about ISDS and its ability to challenge legitimate policy. TPP negotiators assured the global public that the deal addressed these concerns. After its public release, we can see that this is not the case. In some areas, we see a further evisceration of the role of domestic policy, institutions and constituents, and greater liabilities for governments and domestic stakeholders."

“For instance, the treaty partners assured the public that language 'underscores that countries retain the right to regulate in the public interest, including on health, safety, the financial sector and the environment.' That provision, however, is subject to compliance with all of the other investor protections in the chapter, fully negating the preservation of policy space. Only a handful of very specific measures -- those related to tobacco control and taxation, for instance -- are selectively excluded from arbitration. This means that the types of public-interest measures that have been challenged in Canada, including efforts to enforce environmental obligations or to restrict hydraulic fracturing, and court decisions invalidating pharmaceutical patents, remain at risk of continued challenges by foreign investors.”

The Globe and Mail, November 25, 2015: “TPP would let foreign investors bypass the Canadian public interest,” by Lisa Sachs and Lise Johnson

Columbia Center on Sustainable Development, November 2015: “The TPP’s Investment Chapter: entrenching, rather than reforming, a flawed system”

CCSI Policy Paper, November 2015: “The TPP’s  Investment  Chapter:  Entrenching,  rather  than  reforming,  a  flawed system,” by Lise Johnson and Lisa Sachs (19 pages, PDF)

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Five Facts about Family Caregivers

“Most American adults say a family member is caring for their aging parent who needs help handling their affairs or caring for themselves. And if they’re not already helping out a parent, most expect to do so someday.”

“Here are five facts about caregivers of older Americans for National Family Caregivers Month:

  1. There are 40.4 million unpaid caregivers of adults ages 65 and older in the United States.
  2. Adults ages 45 to 64 are the most likely to be caregivers. 
  3. Most caregiving for aging parents is not in the form of financial support or personal care.
  4. Emotional support is a big part of caregiving.
  5. Most adults who have helped an aging parent see it as rewarding; relatively few say it is stressful.”

“The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines eldercare providers (referred to here as caregivers of older Americans) as anyone age 15 and older who has provided unpaid care to any adult age 65 and older in the last three to four months because of a condition related to aging.“

Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 23, 2015: “Unpaid Eldercare in the United States -- 2013-14 Summary"

Pew Research Center, November 18, 2015: "5 facts about family caregivers,” by Renee Stepler

Pew Research Center, January 30, 2013: “Emotional Ties,” by Kim Parker and Eileen Patten

Pew Research Center, January 30, 2013: “Caregiving for Older Family Members,” by Kim Parker and Eileen Patten

Pew Research Center, November 18, 2015: “Family Support in Graying Societies”

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Auto Workers Defeat the Two-Tier Wage System

“When union contracts were finally ratified at Ford Motor and General Motors last week, a new era began in the American auto industry.”

“The deals, which culminated labor talks among the nation’s three big automakers, were the most generous for workers in more than a decade and represented a striking shift from years of cuts and stagnant wages.”

“But for automakers, the pay raises will add to the pressure to maintain profits and could spur a shift of less-profitable car production to Mexico from the United States.”

"'From the company’s point of view, the U.S. is where you have to build your premium products,' said Harley Shaiken, a University of California, Berkeley professor who studies the auto industry. 'To cover the cost of labor, you have to go upscale.'"

“It is all part of the delicate series of changes needed to solve the two-tier wage problem that has been dogging the United Automobile Workers since the system took effect in 2007.”

“The companies were also willing to meet the U.A.W. halfway on reducing the gap in pay between entry-level and veteran workers.”

“But the strategy collapsed on Oct. 1, when workers at Fiat Chrysler overwhelmingly rejected a proposed contract that did not eliminate the divisive two-tier wage system.”

“‘We showed we aren’t quite as naive as they thought,’ said Scott McGinnis, an entry-level worker at a Fiat Chrysler plant in Michigan. ‘After that first agreement, a lot of people were insulted.’”

“It was a stunning rebuke of the company and the U.A.W. leadership, and completely altered the course of the talks -- and ultimately the cost structures of G.M., Ford and Fiat Chrysler.”

“Since then, all three companies have agreed to contracts that provide a defined path for every worker to earn the top union wage of $29 an hour.”

The New York Times, November 24, 2015: “U.A.W. Contracts Change Math for Detroit Automakers,” by Bill Vlasic and Mary M. Chapman

U.A.W. and the Auto Industry: A Short History

“Prodded by its once-powerful and socially conscious union, the auto industry served as the 20th-century trailblazer in spreading prosperity to millions of workers and their families and fostering middle-class security through higher wages and company-sponsored benefits. But as Detroit has lost its control of the American market to strong and nimble foreign competitors, the model of a 'social contract' that automakers and the United Automobile Workers created has begun to unravel. Here is a short history."

The New York Times, October 8, 2015:  “U.A.W. and the Auto Industry” -- a timeline form January 1914 to 2008.

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The Women Are Speaking Out: Hollywood Sexism Expose

“’The Women of Hollywood Speak Out’ in Maureen Dowd’s extensive New York Times Magazine cover story taking on sexism that permeates the entertainment industry. Dowd spoke with over 100 female actresses, executives and filmmakers for the piece published Friday [November 20, 2015], weaving in stories of how women have been passed over for top entertainment roles in favor of their male counterparts. Dowd [also] sprinkled in glaring statistics throughout the piece, like the fact that in both 2013 and 2014, women made up just 1.9 percent of the directors for the 100 top-grossing films."

The Wrap, November 20, 2015: “Hollywood Sexism Exposed by Over 100 Women in Groundbreaking NY Times Cover Story,” by Jordan Charitonf

“The women I interviewed often brought up a question: Why didn’t things change when women began helping to run studios? There have been a sprinkling of women at the top -- always with a male overlord -- ever since Sherry Lansing became the first woman to head a major studio when she became president of 20th Century Fox in 1980. Women now head two of the Big Six Hollywood studios, though one is co-chairwoman. Often, as women explained it to me, these are women who care about the problem, but self-preservation comes first, so they feel they can do little except to ‘keep chipping away,’ as one of Hollywood’s top female executives put it, hoping that ‘our children and grandchildren will have an easier time of it.’”

“[Lena] Dunham offered the perfect distillation of the anthropology of women running studios: ‘I believe a lot of these women were like, ‘I’m here, I worked my ass off to get this job and I’m not gonna make hiring women directors my mission because then I’m going to get [expletive] fired. And I need to make a difference. This is how I can make a difference, by being the woman who has this job.’ It’s the metaphor of: You are on a raft, you got away from the sinking ship, are you gonna pull everyone onto the raft with you? What if that sinks your raft and you all die? That’s the sympathetic read. The nonsympathetic read is they want to impress their upper bosses and make money.’”

New York Times Magazine, November 20, 2015: “The Women of Hollywood Speak Out,” by Maureen Dowd

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Hidden Political Power of the 1%

“Despite fizzling out within months, Occupy Wall Street succeeded in changing the terms of political discussion in America. Inequality, the concentration of wealth, the one percent, the new Gilded Age -- all became fixtures of national debate thanks in part to the protesters who camped out in Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan. Even the Republican presidential candidates have felt compelled to address the matter. News organizations, meanwhile, have produced regular reports on the fortunes of the wealthy, the struggles of the middle class, and the travails of those left behind.”

“Even amid the outpouring of coverage of rising income inequality, however, the richest Americans have remained largely hidden from view. On all sides, billionaires are shaping policy, influencing opinion, promoting favorite causes, polishing their images -- and carefully shielding themselves from scrutiny. Journalists have largely let them get away with it. News organizations need to find new ways to lift the veil off the superrich and lay bare their power and influence. Digital technology, with its flexibility, speed, boundless capacity, and ease of interactivity, seems ideally suited to this task, but only if it’s used more creatively than it has been to date.”

“It’s encouraging to see the Times devote more resources to covering the wealthy. Even so, its approach seems too limited and scattershot. After running the story about the 158 powerful families, for instance, the paper moved on, with little follow-up. As a result, the impact of its reporting was not as deep or lasting as it could have been. The problem is hardly limited to the Times. In American journalism as a whole, the coverage of the superrich is far too sporadic, fleeting, and unimaginative to make a real difference. News organizations need to develop a new methodology that can allow them to document the structure of wealth, power, and influence in America—to show how the ultrarich make their money, what they do with it, and to what effect. The coverage needs to be more sustained, ambitious, and broadly conceived. And digital technology can help.”

The New York Review of Books, December 17, 2015: “Reimagining Journalism: The Story of the One Percent,” by Michael Massing

“Wealth inequality in the United States is pervasive -- so much so that it’s apparent even in Congress.”

“The House and Senate have their own form of inequality within their ranks. Of the 534 current members, the 53 richest owned nearly 80 percent of the estimated wealth held by all federal lawmakers in 2014, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis shows. That concentration resembles the inequality that exists in the United States more broadly, where 76 percent of the country’s wealth is held by the top 10 percent of households.”

OpenSecrets.org, November 17, 2015: “Personal wealth: a nation of extremes, and a Congress, too,” by Will Tucker

OpenSecrets.org -- The Center for Responsive Politics [website]: “The Center for Responsive Politics is the nation’s premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the organization aims to create a more educated voter, an involved citizenry and a more transparent and responsive government.”

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Slavery and Coercion in the Seafood Supply-Chain

“Impoverished migrant workers in Thailand are sold or lured by false promises and forced to catch and process fish that ends up in global food giant Nestle SA’s supply chains.”

“The unusual disclosure comes from Geneva-based Nestle SA itself, which in an act of self-policing planned to announce the conclusions of its yearlong internal investigation on Monday. The study found virtually all U.S. and European companies buying seafood from Thailand are exposed to the same risks of abuse in their supply chains.”

“Verite, [the non-profit organization commissioned by Nestle] interviewed more than 100 people, including about 80 workers from Myanmar and Cambodia, as well as boat owners, shrimp farm owners, site supervisors and representatives of Nestle​’s suppliers. They visited fish ports and fishmeal packing plants, shrimp farms and docked fishing boats, all in Thailand.”

“Nestle said it would post the reports online -- as well as a detailed yearlong solution strategy throughout 2016 -- as part of ongoing efforts to protect workers. It has promised to impose new requirements on all potential suppliers and train boat owners and captains about human rights, possibly with a demonstration vessel and rewards for altering their practices. It also plans to bring in outside auditors and assign a high-level Nestle manager to make sure change is underway.”

“Nestle, among the biggest food companies in the world, launched the investigation in December 2014, after reports from news outlets and nongovernmental organizations tied brutal and largely unregulated working conditions to their shrimp, prawns and Purina brand pet foods. Its findings echo those of The Associated Press in reports this year on slavery in the seafood industry that have resulted in the rescue of more than 2,000 fishermen.”

CBC News, November 23, 2015: “Nestle​ admits slavery and coercion used in catching its seafood,” by Martha Mendoza

Nestec SA, November 23, 2015: “Responsible Sourcing of Seafood-Thailand Action plan 2015-2016” (6 pages, PDF)

Verite, November 23, 2015: “Fishing and Aquaculture” (10 pages, PDF)

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Clothing Lines Produced in Prisons around the World

“When it comes to ethical labor in the fashion industry, the conversation usually begins and ends with sweatshop labor practices. But how does fashion produced by prisoners fit into the equation? In recent years, a handful of clothing labels have cropped up, touting that their collections are manufactured inside prison walls.”

“Three years ago, Thomas Jacob launched a streetwear line, Project Pieta, manufactured in a trio of jails in Lima, Peru. ‘I wanted to show the world that with all our ardor, efforts, and capacity, we could make high-quality work, like any other high-fashion studio.’”

“As for the biggest misconceptions Jacob has to contend with, given the brand’s unusual labor force: ‘People think we are exploiting the inmates, but that’s not true at all. Pieta has been created by the inmates,’ Jacob says. ‘Inmates earn a nice salary, and feel very engaged and responsible to do the work. They feel free!’”

“Since 1989, Prison Blues’ array of jeans and T-shirts have been produced out of a factory at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institute in Pendleton, OR. Launched in 2012, Netherlands-based Stripes Clothing’s slogan is ‘made in prison, inspired by freedom.’ Another brand born out of inmate labor was Haeftling, which began in Germany’s largest prison, Tegel Penitentiary in Berlin; the line utilized prison industry labor, and lasted from 2003 to 2013. The brand couldn’t keep up with demand or offer a wide array of pieces, since the prisoners employed to work on the line had limited technical experience.”

Refinery 29, November 20, 2015: “Clothing Lines Are Produced In Prisons Around The World,” by Alexandra Ilyashov

The Business of Fashion, November 19, 2015: “Would You Buy Clothes Made in Prison?” by Kate Abnett

But is it Ethical?

To answer this question, you must look at the context and the program. For example, Angola Prison’s penal labour program. 

“In the shining promise of freedom that was the Thirteenth Amendment, a sharp exception was carved out. Section 1 of the Amendment provides: ‘Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.’ Simply put: Incarcerated persons have no constitutional rights in this arena; they can be forced to work as punishment for their crimes.”

“To the untrained eye, the scenes in Angola for Life: Rehabilitation and Reform Inside the Louisiana State Penitentiary, an Atlantic documentary filmed on an old Southern slave-plantation-turned-prison, could have been shot 150 years ago. The imagery haunts, and the stench of slavery and racial oppression lingers through the 13 minutes of footage.”

“The film tells two overlapping stories: One is of accomplishment against incredible odds, of a man who stepped into the most violent maximum-security prison in the nation and gave the men there -- discarded and damned -- what society didn’t: hope, education, and a moral compass. Through work and religion, they learn to help each other, and try to become better fathers to their children on the outside.”

“But there is a second storyline running alongside the first, which raises disquieting questions about how America treats those on the inside as less than fully human. Those troubling opening scenes of the documentary offer visual proof of a truth that America has worked hard to ignore: In a sense, slavery never ended at Angola; it was reinvented.”

The Atlantic, September 21, 2015: “American Slavery, Reinvented,” by Whitney Benns

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Book of the Week

The Global Automotive Industry, edited by Paul Nieuwenhuis and Peter Wells. Chichester, West Sussex, UK : John Wiley & Sons, 2015. 236 p. ISBN 9781118802397

From the publisher: "The automotive industry is still one of the world’s largest manufacturing sectors, but it suffers from being very technology-focused as well as being relatively short-term focused. There is little emphasis within the industry and its consultancy and analyst supply network on the broader social and economic impacts of automobility and of the sector that provides it. The Global Automotive Industry addresses this need and is a first port of call for any academic, official or consultant wanting an overview of the state of the industry. An international team of specialist researchers, both from academia and business, review and analyse the key issues that make vehicle manufacturing still the world’s premier manufacturing sector, closely tied in with the fortunes of both established and newly emerging economies. In doing so, it covers issues related to manufacturing, both established practices as well as new developments; issues relating to distribution, marketing and retail, vehicle technologies and regulatory trends; and, crucially, labour practices and the people who build cars. In all this it explains both how the current situation arose and also likely future trajectories both in terms of social and regulatory trends, as the technological, marketing and labour practice responses to those, leading in many cases to the development of new business models."

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