Call for papers for a session on “Labour market intermediation: Buttressing, flanking or contesting precarity in neoliberal times”
The last several decades have been associated with tremendous instability in labour markets, what Zizys (2011) refers to as a “perfect storm”. Increasing number of workers are employed in precarious jobs, with precarity stratified by gender, race and class (Fudge and Strauss, 2013; Strauss, 2018; Vosko, 2000). The decline of the welfare state and rise of neoliberal modes of governance have prompted the rise of new types of intervention, and in particular, new types of labour market intermediaries. In order to fill the gaps left by cutbacks to state programs and organized labour, a range of intermediaries and “shadow state” institutions now play a more important role (Martin 2011; Peck and Theodore, 2007). These intermediaries include private sector intermediaries (such as temporary help agencies), membership-based intermediaries (including guilds and professional associations), but also a range of publicly-funded agencies, non-profits, and community organizations, such as neighbourhood workers’ centers or work-integration social enterprises (Benner 2003; Peck and Theodore, 2001, 2012; Choudry and Henaway 2014). While many intermediaries are involved in struggles that challenge the nature of contemporary labour markets, potentially intersecting and/or allying with organized labour unions, many end up compensating for the inadequacies of the capitalist market or more actively facilitating the rise of precarious employment. This session aims to bring together scholars who are looking at a range of intermediaries, from the more regressive to the more transformative, and the contradictions embedded in these institutional forms. We are interested in examining the evolving landscape of labour market intermediation, and what it implies for tactics, strategies and policies for attaining decent, secure work. Such intermediaries can include, but are not restricted to, the following: - Workers’ Centers (this can range from immigrant workers centers, workers action councils, neighbourhood-based centers, to for-profit workers centers) - Community-Labour Alliances - Guilds/Professional Associations - Non-profit intermediaries - Work-integration Social Enterprises - Temporary Agencies If interested, please send an abstract of *no more than* *250 words* to Deborah Leslie, University of Toronto (deborah.les...@utoronto.ca); Norma Rantisi, Concordia University (norma.rant...@gmail.com) and Mostafa Henaway, Concordia University (mhena...@gmail.com) by October 1st. Thanks! -- Norma M. Rantisi Professor Department of Geography, Planning & Environment Concordia University 1-514-848-2424, x2018 Professeure et Directrice des programmes d'études de cycles supérieurs Département de géographie, urbanisme et environnement Université Concordia 1-514-848-2424, poste 2018 *Concordia University is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodian of these lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.* *L'Université Concordia est située en territoire autochtone, lequel n’a jamais été cédé. Je reconnais/Nous reconnaissons la nation Kanien'kehá:ka comme gardienne des terres et des eaux sur lesquelles nous nous réunissons aujourd'hui. Tiohtiá: ke / Montréal est historiquement connu comme un lieu de rassemblement pour de nombreuses Premières nations, et aujourd'hui, une population autochtone diversifiée, ainsi que d'autres peuples, y résident. C’est dans le respect des liens avec le passé, le présent et l'avenir que nous reconnaissons les relations continues entre les Peuples Autochtones et autres personnes de la communauté montréalaise.* *Source: Indigenous Directions Leadership Group (February 16, 2017) * If interested in urban issues, check out: https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.progressivecity.net&data=02%7C01%7CECONOMICGEOGRAPHY-L%40listserv.uconn.edu%7Cfa057c1635584fc8808308d736ecc5c4%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637038262870326112&sdata=jibT%2F%2FXr0KSY6H%2FAfJon%2BQsuGCM95Jzga51ZhJhTl9Q%3D&reserved=0 https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpcityradical%2F&data=02%7C01%7CECONOMICGEOGRAPHY-L%40listserv.uconn.edu%7Cfa057c1635584fc8808308d736ecc5c4%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637038262870326112&sdata=ZyrSg9igzL6rVHzHt%2F80zyQFp%2FyEFmvDzJMsztdQYTQ%3D&reserved=0 @pcityradical <https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fpcityradical%3Flang%3Den&data=02%7C01%7CECONOMICGEOGRAPHY-L%40listserv.uconn.edu%7Cfa057c1635584fc8808308d736ecc5c4%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637038262870336114&sdata=sZP%2BlkxHjSR1LJAIO9upeOduq4BZZD6NQX9aJdhABjE%3D&reserved=0>
