Contingent Jobs and Community Organizing: A Georgia Case Study on the Social Determinants of Health Open Access
Sikes, Roger (2013)
Published
Abstract
Abstract
Contingent Jobs and Community Organizing: A Georgia Case Study on the Social Determinants of Health
By Roger Sikes
Background: Employment structures in the US are shifting towards
contingent jobs characterized as part-time, temporary, contract and
seasonal. These shifts in employment structures are situated within
the social determinants of health framework and may have
implications towards health outcomes. A case study in Georgia
examines the vulnerabilities of contingent work, in this case,
exposed by a policy change at the state level and methods used to
overcome them. In early 2012, Georgia school workers were denied
their unemployment benefits during periods of layoffs. A
labor/community coalition called Atlanta Jobs with Justice
developed the "Justice for School Workers" campaign in order to win
back over $8,000,000 in denied benefits to 4,000 Georgia school
workers. The back pay was an important victory, but the underlying
contingent employment structures remain.
Objectives: To understand how shifts in US employment structures
fit into the social determinants of health framework, explore
public policy responses to contingent employment in the state of
Georgia and to understand how Georgia school workers were able to
win back their unemployment benefits.
Methods: A case study approach used qualitative data,
documentation, direct observation and participation to develop a
descriptive analysis of the "Justice for School Workers" campaign.
Results: A combination of drastic cuts to basic levels of
income, existing relationships, community organizing, and smart
targeting helped to win back unemployment benefits for Georgia
school workers.
Discussion: This case study lies at the intersection of massive shifts in US employment structures, changes in public policy and potential linkages to health and social well-being. The case in Georgia offers in-depth insight into the structural precariousness of contingent work. A policy decision by a statewide official exposed this vulnerability as well as the critical role of the public safety net for this contingent work force. If the school workers were employed year round on a twelve-month pay scale similar to public school teachers, the reliance on the state's safety net would diminish.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1 Chapter 1: Introduction
6 Definition of Terms
7 Chapter 2: Literature Review
21 Chapter 3: Methodology
27 Chapter 4: Results
28 Campaign Timeline
56 Chapter 5: Discussion & Conclusion
66 Implications & Recommendations
69 References
73 Appendix 1 Institutional Review Board (IRB) Determination
74 Appendix 2: First letter from US DoL to the Georgia Labor Commissioner
77 Appendix 3: Letter from food service contractor to employee about possible denial
78 Appendix 4: Notice of public hearing about unemployment rule change
79 Appendix 5: Letter from Congressman John Lewis
80 Appendix 6: Georgia Labor Commissioner's letter in response to the US DoL
83 Appendix 7: Letter from US DoL to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal
85 Appendix 8: Final letter from US DoL to Georgia Labor Commissioner
About this Master's Thesis
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