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Proceedings from the
Union for Radical Political Economics
2011 Conference:
The War on the Working Class
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Conference: The War on the Working Class: Saturday, October 1
Membership Meeting: The Role of URPE Today: Sunday, October 2
St. Francis College Brooklyn
180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn
For directions go to:
www.stfranciscollege.edu/
The “Great Recession” set the stage for a multi-pronged attack by the capitalist class on the working class. Wages are falling, the safety net is being shredded, government spending on social programs is being slashed and the workers displaced are adding to the ranks of the unemployed, while unions, collective bargaining and the very notion of collective rights are under attack. But these attacks are meeting resistance.
To engage with that resistance, URPE has planned a 2-day conference and membership meeting to address this war on the working class. The conference will bring together people whose theoretical perspectives and practical experience can contribute to a movement to resist the attacks and build for the future. Participants include economists, organizers and policy analysts from academia, think tanks, international institutions and labor unions, as well as political and social justice activists. Day 2’s open membership meeting will ask what role URPE can play in this social and economic crisis.
SATURDAY CONFERENCE PROGRAM
10:00 am – 6:30 pm
Registration opens at 9 a.m. in the Callahan Center.
10 a.m. - 11:10 a.m. Opening Plenary (Founders' Hall)
Dean Baker, Co-Director, Center for Economic Policy Research
Arithmetic Trumps Bad Economics: The Simple Story of the Great Recession
Laura Dresser, Associate Director, Center on Wisconsin Strategy
Overreach and Response: The Complex Story of the Wisconsin Resistance
Dean's Powerpoint PDF of Dean's Powerpoint
YouTube Video of Wisconsin "Budget Repair Bill" Protest
Workshops / Panels
11:20 - 12:40 Session 1
Day Laborers and the Structure of Unemployment: Room 4402
Behrouz Tabrizi (St. Francis College)
David Van Arsdale (Onondaga Community College)
The New Redlining:
How Consumer Debt Harms Communities and Perpetuates Inequality: Room 4403
Deyanira Del Rio (Associate Director, Neighborhood Economics Development Advocacy Program)
NEDAP website
The Housing and Public Sector Crises: Educating for Social Transformation: Room 5402
Anne Jaclard (Marxist-Humanist Initiative)
Andrew Kliman (Pace University)
Ray McKay (former officer of DC 37 local union)
VIDEO by Terry Morrone http://www.terrymorrone.com/
post productiton by Zein Nakhoda
Kliman Paper
Fair Trade: Room 5403
Michela Calabrese (Interrupcion)
Jacqui Holmes (Kopali Organics)
Chris London (New School University, Graduate Program in International Affairs)
Tamara Stenn (Keene State College)
AUDIO of Chris London by Al Campbell
(The other panelists were not able to attend; see Left Forum 2011 proceedings and scroll to panel on Fair Trade to hear an earlier talk by Tamara Stenn.)
Social Security: Room 6402
Bill Arnone (Founding Board Member, National Academy of Social Insurance)
Robert Hiltonsmith (Demos)
Brent Kramer (Borough of Manhattan Community College, Fiscal Policy Institute)
Capital's Strategy and Labor's Response: Room 6403
Michael Abouzelof (University of Utah)
Jerome Joffe (St. John's University)
Stephanie Luce (Murphy Institute/CUNY)
AUDIO by Ruth Indeck Intro Abouzelof Joffe Luce Q&A
12:40 - 1:40 LUNCH (provided free to conference participants): Callahan Center
1:40 - 3 p.m. Session 2
Forced March:
Immigration policy, I.C.E. and the increased oppression of low-wage migrant labor: Room 4402
Paul Hancock (Green Mountain College, Vermont)
Karrah Johnston (Green Mountain College, Vermont)
Jennifer Rosenbaum (Counsel, National Guestworker Alliance)
Cooperative Economic Development: Room 4403
Frances Boyes (Alliance to Develop Power)
AUDIO by Al Campbell Boyes Q&A
ADP Website
Challenges to Government Budgets: Room 5402
Bettina Damiani (Good Jobs First, New York)
Julio Huato (St. Francis College)
Gibb Surette (UAW Local 2320 President, US Labor Against the War)
Livestream VIDEO by Julio Huato
The Attack on Public Education in NYC and Beyond: Room 5403
Michael Fiorillo (UFT-ICE Caucus, NYC teacher)
Akinlabi Mackall (Co-Chair Coalition for Public Education)
Ellen Raider (Citizen's Education Board)
Chris Rude (URPE)
VIDEO by Terry Morrone http://www.terrymorrone.com/
post productiton by Zein Nakhoda
Housing: Room 6402
Rina Garst (URPE, housing activist)
Tom Waters (Community Service Society of New York)
Representative from Community Voices Heard
Union Rights, Civil Rights: the Importance of Public Sector Struggles: Room 6403
Molly Noble (University of Wisconsin Teaching Assistants Association)
Charity Schmidt (University of Wisconsin Teaching Assistants Association)
AUDIO by Ruth Indeck Noble & Schmidt Q&A
Teaching Assistants Association Website Defend Wisconsin Website
TAA Presentation PDF
3:10 - 4:30 Session 3
Health Care: Room 4402
David Amdur (Connecticut Center for a New Economy)
Jerome Joffe (St. John’s University, New York)
Len Rodberg (Community Studies of New York Inc/Infoshare)
Joffe Paper
Cooperatives: Room 4403
Al Campbell (University of Utah)
Lippe (4th Street Coop, Manhattan)
Sonia Martinez (Si Se Puede/YesWeCan Coop)
AUDIO by Al Campbell Lippe Q&A
Si Se Puede Website
The War on Moms: Room 5402
Sharon Lerner, MPH (Senior Fellow, Demos)
Paddy Quick (St. Francis College)
AUDIO by Ruth Indeck Lerner Quick Q&A
Lerner Website
Quick Paper
Long Island University on Strike: Room 5403
Michael Pelias (Long Island University)
Jessica Rosenberg (Long Island University)
Green Jobs: Room 5404
David Minasian (MassCLU)
Public Sector Unions – the Wisconsin struggle: Room 6402
Carol Meyers (SEIU)
Occupying Wall Street and the Fiscal Crisis of the State: Room 6403
Jackie DiSalvo (CUNY)
Grimwomyn (Strategic Communications, blogger)
John McGloin (NYC high school math teacher)
Chris Rude (URPE)
VIDEO by Terry Morrone http://www.terrymorrone.com/
post productiton by Zein Nakhoda
4:40 - 6 p.m. Closing Plenary: Moving Forward (Founders' Hall)
Arthur Cheliotes, President CWA Local 1180
Glen Ford, Executive Editor The Black Agenda Report "The Black Agenda"
David Howell, New School University "Research for the Working Class"
VIDEO by Terry Morrone http://www.terrymorrone.com/
post productiton by Zein Nakhoda
CWA Powerpoint PDF of CWA Powerpoint In the Public Interest (pdf)
6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Cocktail Party (Callahan Center)
Note: the rules of St. Francis prohibit SFC students from attending the cocktail party, which will take place in the rear of Callahan Center. But soft drinks and snacks will be available at the front of Callahan Center, and all participants are encouraged to continue their discussions there.)
