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Washington State Labor Research

Up to $10,000 Available

The Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies seeks proposals from University of Washington faculty for policy-oriented research on aspects of labor directly relevant to policy makers in Washington State. While we are interested in new investigations, we also encourage scholars to apply their national or global research in ways that demonstrate implications for, or relevance to, the State of Washington.

Priority will go to work that examines:

  • Aspects of labor force employment, wages, conditions (including health and pension benefits), and/or unionization
  • Local policies to ameliorate the impacts of trade, outsourcing, off-shoring subcontracting, or technology
  • Policies of unions and professional organizations to expand or preserve marketable skills and quality production
  • Problems facing contingent or casual workers and employment related aspects of poverty and/or discrimination
  • Historical work that has demonstrable and direct impact upon contemporary policy
  • International case studies and/or comparative research relevant to Washington State

Proposals must:

  • Indicate the significance of the investigation
  • Summarize the state of current research and debate
  • Explain the method of investigation and progress (if any) to date
  • Include a timeline that demonstrates the capacity to finalize a report by June 1, 2010

Please submit proposals as email attachments (maximum length 1500 words exclusive of timeline, budget and CV). Be sure to include your contact information, including email, mailing addresses, and phone number.

Selection of the Washington State Labor Research grant recipients will be made by the Standing Committee of the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies and presented at the Bridges Center's annual awards celebration.

Application Deadline

Priority will be given to proposals made by

May 4, 2009.

Proposals following the deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Send applications to

    Andrew Hedden, Program Coordinator
    Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies
    University of Washington
    Box 353530
    pcls@u.washington.edu

Washington State Research Projects Funded in 2007-08

  1. Anne Goodchild - Civil and Environmental Engineering

    Puget Sound Warehousing Employment Research Project - $10,000

    This project explores the dynamics of warehousing and distribution work related to the import of goods into the United States via marine transportation. Because of the many changes that have taken place in this sector, it is important that we understand more about the relationship between infrastructure, logistics operations, workforce development, and economic concentration. While industry changes, so does the nature of employment, and there is evidence that technology and economic activity are changing the nature of warehousing in Washington State. While much academic research in the transportation field has focused on modeling goods movement, and some work has been done to understand the labor force of the trucking and goods movement industries, we are currently lacking an understanding of the labor force in the Puget Sound region. This research will provide a better understanding of warehouse and distribution center workers and working conditions in the Puget Sound.

  2. Dan Jacoby - Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, UW Bothell

    Washington State Policy and the Demand for Part-Time Faculty at Community Colleges - $10,000

    With nearly half a million instructors employed as contingent academic workers in American higher educational institutions, it is extremely important for us to understand their conditions of employment as well as the impacts of this practice on instruction and student outcomes. This research begins by exploring the demand for part-time faculty at the two-year community college level. In line with the work of the American Federation of Teachers in Washington and the Washington Educational Association, the project will analyze legislative proposals that aim to increase full-time employment for faculty, as well as gain an understanding of how the community college system in Washington State differs from systems in other places. Ultimately, this project will produce a stakeholder analysis that will provide more information about the political environment and help to set key parameters for achieving legislative goals in this arena.

  3. Brendan Sweeney - Department of Geography

    Labor Market Convergence in a Cross-Border Region: the Case of Cascadia’s Forest Products Industry - $5,000

    This project examines labor market convergence in the cross-border region of Cascadia, comprised of Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Cascadia provides an interesting case study because of its well developed cross-border institutional linkages and significant economic, political, environmental, historical, and socio-cultural similarities. The project examines convergence in labor market and employment practices in four segments of Cascadia’s forest products industry: pulp and paper manufacturing, lumber and plywood manufacturing (sawmills), logging, and reforestation. The project is organized into broad case studies focusing on each segment. A comparative analysis of the four case studies will determine if, and to what extent, convergence in labor market and work practices is occurring in Cascadia’s forest products industry. Policy implications of this research include the areas of globalization and regionalization, environmental and land use/tenure, and community impacts.