ShelfLife@Texas

Professor Julius G. Getman of The University of Texas School of Law will discuss and sign his new book “Restoring the Power of Unions: It Takes a Movement,” at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 9, at BookPeople on North Lamar at Sixth Street in Austin.

In his book, the prominent labor law scholar examines recent developments to demonstrate that a resurgent labor movement is possible. Getman proposes new models for organizing and innovative techniques to strengthen strikes. Above all, he insists that unions must return to their historical roots as a social movement.

In a recent  review, the Austin American-Statesman writes, “The majority of “Restoring the Power of Unions” is taken up with tracing the symmetry between two factors that may revive unions: organizing on the grassroots level — that is, organizing to make the workers themselves organizers of other workers — and the new “comprehensive campaigns” waged by some unions against corporations.”

Getman’s diagnosis and suggested cures for the labor movement leads the reviewer to conclude,  ”Unlike most accounts of the world of American unions, which paint a picture of unadulterated decline and fall, the reader comes away from Getman’s book thinking that unions might yet survive.”

Getman was also recently  interviewed on KUT Radio about “Restoring the Power of Unions” (Yale University Press, June 2010), the scholar’s tenth book.