Return-Path: <nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id e92CM0905612; Mon, 2 Oct 2000 08:22:00 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 08:22:00 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <s9d84547.097@webmail.aflcio.org> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Laura Chenven" <lchenven@workingforamerica.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-POVRACELIT:86] application X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="=_633B8F97.22432340" X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 5.5.3.1 Status: O Content-Length: 3919 Lines: 72 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Here is one example of how race and class play out in a workplace literacy situation. A joint labor/management training program offers an ESOL class to immigrant workers in a hospital. In order to encourage the workers to participate, the employer offers them a 50/50 time split. They get off one hour early for a 2 hour class. So the class is half on the employers time and half on the workers. The English speaking workers who remain on the floors have to work harder to cover for the workers who leave for class. Most (although not all) of these workers are African American. They are resentful of working harder and accuse the employer (and by implication the union) of favoring the immigrant workers. Some of the English speakers would like classes as well, such as basic skills, high school diploma prep, or Spanish. This is not a made up situation. I've seen it or a close variation of it in several different workplaces. How we handle these difficult situations is part of how we turn theory into practice. I'd like to discuss some of the ways people might handle the situation. Addressing the question from a union perspective, (which I believe is probably the only way it can be addressed since it would be difficult for any other organization to represent both groups of workers collectively) has been difficult in practice and requires a great deal of negotiation as well as consciousness raising. Laura Chenven lchenven@workingforamerica.org
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