Summer 2025 - LBST 101 D100
Work and Worker's Rights: Introducing Labour Studies (3)
Class Number: 2854
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
John-Henry Harter
jhharter@sfu.ca
1 778 782-7693
Office Hours: Monday 1:15 – 2:15 and Wednesday 5:30 – 6:30 pm and anytime by apt. on Zoom
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Introduces key concepts and approaches for understanding the character and organization of work, employment relations, worker’s rights, and labour movements in contemporary society. Explores who does paid and unpaid work and under what conditions through the study of trends and issues, including migration and immigration, unionization, precarious employment, and automation. Breadth-Social Sciences.
COURSE DETAILS:
In this course, we will examine the nature of work and class in Canada. We begin by looking at the concept of class and what it means to be working class. Then we move onto examining the history of working-class organization in Canada and an examination of the current state of the labour movement and working-class politics. We will also look at the contemporary nature of work and our economy. While our jobs often seem individual, isolated, temporary, even random, they are part of a global economic system, and so understanding work means understanding that system. We will think critically about work to better understand our own jobs, the Canadian economy, and corporate organization.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
This course will allow students to learn about the labour movement in Canada. Students will come away with an understanding of how class operates in society. This course will also provide students with the basic vocabulary for understanding concepts in the field of labour studies.
The course will draw on students' experiences and will further develop research, writing, and presentation skills through the lectures, films, and class assignments. In addition, the course will provide the tools we need to understand the increasingly complex world of work and labour. We will stress themes of social justice, labour relations, and the work process, ranging from contingent labour to the boardroom.
Grading
- Participation 15%
- Short Discussion Answers 15%
- Work Experience Reflection 25%
- Final Essay 45%
Materials
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.