To Improve the Lives of To Improve the Lives of Working Families…Working Families…Building Power to Building Power to

Transform the Labor Transform the Labor MarketMarket

NAACP National ConventionNAACP National ConventionSteven C. Pitts, Ph.D.Steven C. Pitts, Ph.D.

UC Berkeley Labor CenterUC Berkeley Labor CenterJuly 25, 2011July 25, 2011

The Economic Situation…The Economic Situation…

• Since June 2009, Black unemployment Since June 2009, Black unemployment rates have remained stubbornly highrates have remained stubbornly high

• This jobless distress reflects the continued This jobless distress reflects the continued racial dimension of the labor market and racial dimension of the labor market and the overall weak labor marketthe overall weak labor market

• Attempts to solve the today’s Black job Attempts to solve the today’s Black job crisis must address institutional racism in crisis must address institutional racism in the labor market and push for full the labor market and push for full employment fiscal and monetary policies employment fiscal and monetary policies

The Political Situation…The Political Situation…

• Certain political forces are dead set on Certain political forces are dead set on radically reducing the role of government in radically reducing the role of government in assisting everyday people in achieving their assisting everyday people in achieving their basic needs and a decent living standardbasic needs and a decent living standard

• Other forces, due to their pragmatism Other forces, due to their pragmatism and/or lack of commitment to defending the and/or lack of commitment to defending the basic values that have driven progressive basic values that have driven progressive political action for the last century, have political action for the last century, have acceded ground to the former forcesacceded ground to the former forces

Recovery?!?!?!?...Recovery?!?!?!?...What Recovery!!!!!What Recovery!!!!!

Black Unemployment Rate:Black Unemployment Rate:16+16+

• December 2007December 2007– 9.0%9.0%

• June 2009June 2009– 14.9%14.9%

• June 2011June 2011– 16.2%16.2%

Black Unemployment Rate:Black Unemployment Rate:16 - 1916 - 19

• December 2007December 2007– 33.1%33.1%

• June 2009June 2009– 39.0%39.0%

• June 2011June 2011– 39.9%39.9%

Black Unemployment Rate:Black Unemployment Rate:Females, 20+Females, 20+

• December 2007December 2007– 6.6%6.6%

• June 2009June 2009– 11.7%11.7%

• June 2011June 2011– 13.8%13.8%

Black Unemployment Rate:Black Unemployment Rate:Males, 20+Males, 20+

• December 2007December 2007– 8.2%8.2%

• June 2009June 2009– 16.3%16.3%

• June 2011June 2011– 17.0%17.0%

The Great Recession: The Great Recession: the Job Lossthe Job Loss

• 8.78.7 Million Jobs Million Jobs

• 6.3% 6.3% of all jobs in the economyof all jobs in the economy

Overall Employment-Overall Employment-Population Rate: 16+Population Rate: 16+

• December 2007December 2007– 62.7%62.7%

• June 2009June 2009– 59.4%59.4%

• June 2011June 2011– 58.2%58.2%

What is to be done?What is to be done?…some thoughts on …some thoughts on

solutionssolutions

Overview…Overview…

• The historical problem: persistence The historical problem: persistence institutional racism in the labor institutional racism in the labor marketmarket

• Policy advocacy without power Policy advocacy without power results in weak policiesresults in weak policies

• The need to build institutions that The need to build institutions that can transform power dynamics in the can transform power dynamics in the labor marketlabor market

• We focus on supporting individuals in We focus on supporting individuals in the job market (job training; job the job market (job training; job search)search)

• ……but in a labor market shaped bybut in a labor market shaped by– Institutional racismInstitutional racism– Employer dominance over workersEmployer dominance over workers– Global economic changeGlobal economic change

• ……the individual approach results in the individual approach results in declining working conditions for most declining working conditions for most workers racial discrimination for workers racial discrimination for Blacks and other workers of colorBlacks and other workers of color

We need to support and We need to support and build…build…• UnionsUnions

• Black worker centersBlack worker centers

• Workforce development Workforce development intermediaries (training academies intermediaries (training academies linked to good jobs)linked to good jobs)

• Unemployment committees/councilsUnemployment committees/councils

• Durable progressive coalitions to fight Durable progressive coalitions to fight for job access and good jobsfor job access and good jobs