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“Confronting ‘Right to Work’ in Michigan: Surviving and Thriving”

John P. Beck
School of Human Resources and Labor Relations
Michigan State University

Wednesday, October 16, 2013, at 4 p.m.
3025 Brown Hall

The so-called “Right-to-Work” legislation pushed through the Michigan legislature last December obliges all of us to reassess how we move forward and preserve workplace rights in what is becoming an increasingly hostile environment for workers nationwide. Labor expert John P. Beck will address issues associated with the new legislation and discuss ways we can respond to the challenges it presents as well as build our strength and capitalize on our opportunities.

John P. Beck is Associate Professor in the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations at Michigan State University. He recently stepped down after ten years as associate director of the School, where he was primarily in charge of its efforts in the areas of labor, employment, and workplace education. He has taught a variety of courses in union leadership across and beyond the state of Michigan and university courses in labor studies and history. As MSU Museum adjunct curator, he co-directs (with Kurt Dewhurst) the “Our Daily Work, Our Daily Lives” program, which explores the culture of workers and the workplace. Before joining the faculty at MSU, John served as the Education and Research Director of the United Paperworkers International Union. He has earned degrees from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan and worked for five years at the University of Michigan Labor Studies Center.