The Globalization of the SEIU and the J4J model

This research, funded through a SSHRC standard grant, 2010-2013, traces the SEIU partnerships with global unions for the implementation of the J4J organizing model to counter the impact of the global cleaning industry. I seek to examine the in place(s) implications of the J4J model and the variations arisen therefrom. For a complete description of this research project, please visit the website dedicated to this study here. Publications to date associated with this research focus are:

Luis LM Aguiar and Shaun Ryan, "The Global Geographies of the Justice for Janitors." Geoforum 40 (6) (Nov) 2009: 949-958.

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The Hinterland of British Columbia: The case of the Okanagan Valley

Investigating the economic change but cultural homogeneity of the Okanagan Valley has been a longstanding intellectual interest of mine. Therefore, I have examined the shift to a post-industrial, place of play economic landscape and theorized whiteness as a comparative advantage construction in the niche marketing strategies of the valley ands Kelowna in particular. An edited book on whiteness in the valley is forthcoming from UBC Press, 2011. Publications to date associated with this research theme are:

Luis LM Aguiar, Ann Marie McKinnon and Dixon Sookraj, "Racialization and the Repertoires of Racism: Reaction to Jamaicans in the Okanagan Valley." BC Studies 168 (Winter 2010/2011). (in press)

Luis LM Aguiar and Tina Marten, "Shimmering White Kelowna and the Examination of Painless White Privilege in the Hinterland of British Columbia." In Andrew Baldwin et al (eds.), Rethinking the Great White North: Race, nature and the Historical Geographies of Whiteness in Canada. Vancouver: UBC Press. (in press)

Luis LM Aguiar, Patricia Tomic and Ricardo Trumper, "Work Hard, Play Hard: Re-inventing the Okanagan for the 'New economy'." The Canadian Geographer 48 (2005): 123-139.

Organizing Immigrant Workers in the 21st century

This research theme focuses on investigating new strategies to organize immigrant workers in the neo(post)liberalism era. This has taken me to follow the migration of the J4J model to the globe as well as to investigating foreign migrant agricultural workers in British Columbia. I continue to pursue this work as a member of the research network in the "Working in a Warming World" CURA directed by Dr. Lipsig-Mummé at York University. A study of organizing challenges and opportunities in the BC and southern Ontario greenhouse industry is taking shape. Publications to date associated with this theme are:

Luis LM Aguiar, Patricia Tomic and Ricardo Trumper, "Dans la valle de l'Okanagan." Revue du CREMIS (Centre de recherché de Montreal sur les inegalities socials) 3 (4) 20110): 30-33. Find article here: http://www.cremis.ca/docs/vol%203%20No%204%2021-12-10%2096dpi.pdf

Luis LM Aguiar, "Let him stay! Portuguese Resist Deportation." In Jose Carlos Teixeira and Vitor Pereira da Rosa (eds.) The Portuguese in Canada. Second edition. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2008: 136-160.

Luis LM Aguiar, "Janitors and Sweatshop Citizenship in Canada." Antipode 38 (3) (2006): 441-462.

Luis LM Aguiar, "The New 'In-Between' Peoples: Southern European Transnationalism." In Vic Satzewich and Lloyd Wong (eds.) Transnational Communities in Canada. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2006: 202-215.

Luis LM Aguiar, "Resisting Neoliberalism in Vancouver: An Uphill Struggle for Cleaners." Social Justice 31 (2) (2004): 105-129.

Research