labor and communication

Box 10.11, authored by Dana Cloud, associate professor at the U of Texas, Austin, focuses on labor issues in the new economy, arguing that the plight of most workers really hasn't changed. Currently, Professor Cloud is organizing a boycott of the Manchester Hyatt Hotel in San Diego, the site of the National Communication Association convention in November. The owner of the hotel contributed to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign. In addition, Unite Here claims it's been trying to unionize the hotel for some time.

The boycott has involved individuals not staying at the convention hotel and some groups moving their events off site. Several persons with disabilities have noted that they must stay at the hotel to participate in the convention and getting to any events no longer at the hotel isn't possible. There's been quite a bit of discussion about the issue on NCA's listserv.

Rather than boycotting the hotel (NCA reserved the hotel five years ago; the Manchester Hyatt will get its money even if some people choose to host their events elsewhere), my department decided to protest in the hotel. We chose a slogan and one of our graduate students (who was a graphics designer in a former life) developed a design for a t-shirt and button. If members of the department want to support this form of protest, they can order their t-shirt or button and wear it at the convention. The faculty decided the best way to address the issue is to engage people in discussion rather than leave the scene.

~ Professor Cyborg