Labor–Social Work Collaboration: Current and Historical Perspectives

Abstract

Labor unions and the social work profession have a complicated history of closeness and distance, cooperation and confrontation, respect and caution. However, as both increasingly come under attack by conservative forces, it becomes clear that labor and social work share many common goals that can lead to mutually advantageous joint activities in the arenas of social service and social action. However, the often latent organizational symbiosis present needs to become manifest to establish the preconditions for such continued collaborative endeavors.

KEYWORDS:

• labor unions
• labor welfare
• occupational social work