The Higgins Labor Program's Labor Café convenes the Notre Dame community for casual conversation on contemporary questions about work, workers, and workplaces. What rights and protections should those who work for others have? What's the proper role for government in the economy? How should we address enduring problems of inequality, poverty, and lack of opportunity? And what does Catholic Social Teaching have to say about these labor questions? Participants choose the concrete topics, all people are welcome, and all opinions are entertained.
The conversation on March 5 will examine the care economy. What is it? Who works in it, and why are they paid so poorly? And what is the Biden Administration's vision for it? Dan Graff, director of the Higgins Labor Program, will facilitate the conversation.
The discussion serves as a lead-in to the virtual visit by Ai-jen Poo, Cofounder and Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Association on March 11. Her appearance is cosponsored by the Higgins Labor Program.
Resources to get the conversation started:
- Ai-jen Poo, "How 'Roma' Reveals the Complex Reality of Domestic Work,(link is external)" The Hollywood Reporter, Dec. 14, 2018
- Ai-jen Poo, "The People Who Look After Your Children Deserve Basic Rights(link is external)," New York Times, Jul. 14, 2019
- William E. Spriggs, "Building Back the Care Economy(link is external)," The American Prospect, Oct. 21, 2020
- David Dayen, "An Interview With Ai-jen Poo(link is external)," The American Prospect, Oct. 21, 2020
- Ellen Wulfhorst, "U.S. domestic workers seen better off under Biden presidency(link is external)," Reuters, Nov. 12, 2020
- Carrie N. Baker, "A New Era for Women: Biden’s Plan to Invest in Workers and Families(link is external)," Ms., Feb. 10, 2021