Randall Adams
I have a long-standing interest in industrial-labor relations and organized labor, an area of research that I intend to pursue throughout my career. My focus on labor is not simply academic. For my Master Thesis, I gathered primary information from a union local that was experiencing a rapid decline in membership. My multiple methods approach involved both the analysis of survey data gathered from rank-and–file members in randomly chosen shops and a combination of formal and informal interviews with membership and leadership. Grounded in participatory action research, a series of steps were presented in a report to local leadership that suggested methods to alleviate rapid degeneration of the local and to reestablish communication between leaders and general membership. Experience gained in the thesis process and the subsequent report for the local led to several applied projects including a charter school evaluation matrix design for the Tennessee Education Association and various comparative wage surveys for the Laborer’s International Union of North America.
My emphasis in the study of globalization as a doctoral student at the University of Tennessee reinforced my belief that the study of modern labor should include a study of immigration and immigrants. I soon realized, however, that migration processes should not be examined without the inclusion of economic influences and the flow of capital that accompanied the flow of human beings. Recognizing the magnitude of human and capital flows led to an examination of the various cultural, political, and economic aspects of globalization and its consequences socially and economically. Much of my current research agenda revolves around these movements and their global impact.
Other ongoing work is also focused on labor, but it is grounded in more historical comparative methods. The second Industrial Revolution produced not only rapid industrial growth but also a documented intersection of religion, academia, and organized labor. My research of this intersection resulted in a presentation entitled Glorious Inconsistencies: God, Mammon, and Unionism in the 18th and 19th Centuries given at the 2007 annual meetings of the Southern Sociological Society. I have expanded my research into the various theoretical approaches that may provide further explanations and understanding of the dynamic relationship between academia, religion, and social movements.
Presentations
Adams, Randall. Migrant Remittances: An Examination of Macro and Micro Factors From the New Immigrant Survey presented at the 2008 Southern Sociological Society Conference, Richmond, VA.
Adams, Randall and Stephanie Bohon. The Persistence of Working for Self: Pre- and Post-entry Experiences Among Immigrant Entrepreneurs presented at the 2007 Southern Demographic Association Conference, Birmingham, AL.
Adams, Randall. Glorious Inconsistencies: God, Mammon and Unionism in the 18th and 19th Century presented at the 2007 Southern Sociological Society Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Adams, Randall. Private Sector Union Revitalization: An Analysis of a Southern Local presented at the 2004 Mid-South Sociological Association Conference, Biloxi, MS.
Publications
Bohon, Stephanie and Randall Adams. The Persistence of Working for Self: Pre- and Post-entry Experiences Among Immigrant Entrepreneurs (in progress for submission to Journal of Migrant and Refugee Studies)
Adams, Randall and William Canak. 2005. Career Mobility and Blue-collar Workers, Encyclopedia of Career Development, Sage Publications.
Canak, William and Randall Adams. 2004. Labor Leaders, Berkshire-Publishing Encyclopedia of Leadership.
Applied Work
Wage survey for Laborer’s International Union of North America (LIUNA) Florida. A comparative survey of wages using National, Regional, and Local data designed to assist in upcoming collective bargaining. Report submitted September 2007.
Wage survey for Laborer’s International Union of North America (LIUNA) Tennessee. A comparative survey of wages using National, Regional, and Local data designed to assist in upcoming collective bargaining. Report submitted September 2006. Executive Summary submitted November 2006.
Wage survey for Laborer’s International Union of North America (LIUNA). A comparative survey of wages using National and Regional data designed to assist in upcoming collective bargaining. Report submitted September 2004.
Design charter school evaluation matrix for the Tennessee Education Association (T.E.A.). This matrix assesses compliance with Tennessee law and performance objectives of charter schools, 2004.
Bargaining Unit membership analysis for Local 1995 of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) to determine concerns for upcoming contract negotiations, 2003.
Contact Information
Randall Adams
Department of Sociology
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-0490
Email: radams15@utk.edu