Learning objectives

Referring to knowledge Observe the evolution of concepts, the meaning of work, professions, and the division of labour in contemporary societies, with particular attention to gender issues. Evaluate the causes and consequences of labour market transformations. Understand the framework of labour relations, including the features and strategies of social agents.   Referring to abilities, skills Develop independent learning skills in the study of the subject. Select, use, produce and critically evaluate information related to the subject matter. Acquire the technical skills to study professional and work-related realities.   Referring to attitudes, values and norms Approach the world of work from a pluralistic and critical perspective, giving particular importance to gender issues. Each lecturer chooses to address these objectives within their own specific course plan, which can be consulted on the Virtual Campus.

 

 

Teaching blocks

 

1. Course Syllabus

*  1. Conceptualisation of work and historical evolution of labour and of its social meaning.
2. Division of labour and gender: key theoretical approaches and an assessment of current inequalities and trends.

3. Review of major theories, statistical sources, and analytical categories for studying the labour market, including recent developments and the current state of employment.

4. The core concepts of labour relations, collective bargaining, and labour disputes. The main social agents in labour relations: trade unions, employers’ associations and the State.

5. Professions in the post-industrial society: major theoretical contributions and the contemporary position of professionals within labour markets and organisations.

Each lecturer structures and sequences these broad topics within their own course plan, which can be consulted on the Virtual Campus.

 

 

Teaching methods and general organization

 

The course combines theoretical and practical components, and therefore requires a strategy that integrates activities and resources to achieve the learning objectives related both to theoretical understanding and the development of skills. Classroom sessions led by the teaching staff have a dual focus. Some are lectures, in which the lecturer presents the theoretical content of the course; these may be complemented with recommended readings. Others are practical sessions, involving work with various materials in class, such as press articles, audiovisual resources, and similar materials. As part of the project to promote teaching quality currently being implemented in the Faculty, the teaching methodology for some groups may differ slightly from that described above. In all circumstances, the specific methodology employed with each group is described in detail on the Virtual Campus at the start of the course.

 

 

Official assessment of learning outcomes

 

Continuous assessment. Continuous assessment consists of two components: 1) Written Examination – This part evaluates the knowledge acquired during the course and its application. It takes place on the date established by the Academic Council The exam accounts for 50% of the final grade. 2) Practical Assignment – This component is worth the remaining 50% of the final grade. It comprises one or two tasks chosen by the student and carried out throughout the course. Deadlines and specific requirements for the assignment are provided to each group in the course syllabus and discussed in class on the first day. As a result of the implementation of various teaching quality enhancement projects over recent years, the continuous assessment system for some groups of this course—including the weighting of each type of assessment—may differ from what is described here. If this is the case, the details of the assessment will be published in the programme for the teaching group(s) affected. These details can be accessed via the Virtual Campus before the start of the course. Nevertheless, continuous assessment consists of various evaluable activities carried out throughout the term, which serve to demonstrate that students have achieved the learning objectives established in the course syllabus. Students who do not achieve a pass mark during the standard assessment period (June) are entitled to be re-evaluated. The resit follows the same criteria as those for the single mode of assessment and is scheduled to be taken on a date established by the Academic Council. Repeat assessment does not affect in any way the maximum grade that students can obtain on the course.   Examination-based assessment This mode of assessment, which does not affect in any way the maximum grade that can be obtained or the student’s right to attend classes and participate in formative activities conducted in the classroom, consists of a single examination to be sat on the date established by the Academic Council. The examination (100% of the final grade) combines multiple-choice questions and essay questions; however, the latter may be replaced by a more practical assessment to be completed throughout the course. Students must prepare the course material in accordance with the lecturers’ explanations (including personal notes) and the practical activities carried out in class throughout the term. Students who do not achieve a pass mark during the standard assessment period (June) are entitled to be re-evaluated. The resit follows the same criteria as those for the single mode of assessment and is scheduled to be taken on a date established by the Academic Council. Repeat assessment does not affect in any way the maximum grade that students can obtain on the course.

Reading and study resources

Check availability in Cercabib

Book

Buğra, Ayse; Özkan, Yalçin (eds.) Trajectories of female employment in the Mediterranean, Houndmills (Basingstoke): Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

Catàleg UB  

Argüelles Blanco, Ana Rosa; Fernández Villazón, Luis Antonio (dirs.) Acción sindical y relaciones colectivas en los nuevos escenarios laborales, Cizur Menor (Navarra): Thomson Reuters Aranzadi, 2022.

Catàleg UB  

Anxo, Dominique; Bosch, Gerhard; Rubery, Jill (eds) The welfare state and life stage transitions: A European perspective, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2010.

Catàleg UB  

De la Fuente Núñez, Vània. La trampa de la edad: Cómo los estereotipos edadistas nos perjudican en todas las etapas de la vida, Barcelona: Ediciones B, 2024.

Catàleg UB  

Goldin, Claudia. Carrera y familia: El largo viaje de las mujeres hacia la igualdad, Madrid: Taurus, 2024.

Catàleg UB  

Etxezarreta, Miren; Iglesias, José. Sobre la mochila austriaca: qué supone el modelo de pensiones e indemnizaciones de la derecha europea, Barcelona: Icaria, 2020.

Catàleg UB  

Delpierre, Alizée. Servir a los ricos: Una mirada crítica a la intimidad de la élite social y económica, Barcelona: Península, 2025.

Kalleberg, Arne L. Good Jobs, Bad Jobs: The Rise of Polarized and Precarious Employment Systems in the United States, 1970s-2000s. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2011.

Catàleg UB  

Meulemann, H. (ed.) Social capital in Europe: Similarity of countries and diversity of people?, Leiden: Brill, 2008.

Catàleg UB  

Velden, S. et al. (eds.) Strikes around the world, 1968-2005: case-studies of 15 countries. Amsterdam: Aksant, 2007.

Fergusson, R; Yeates, N. Global youth unemployment: History, governance and policy, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2021.

On order.

Catàleg UB  

García Calavia, Miguel Ángel (2024) La regulación del empleo en entornos nacionales europeos (España, Gran Bretaña, Suecia, Alemania, Francia, Italia), València: Tirant lo Blanch.

Catàleg UB  

Hester, Helen y Srnicek, Nick (2024) Después del trabajo: Una historia del hogar y la lucha por el tiempo libre, Buenos Aires: Caja Negra

Catàleg UB  

Ferguson, Susan J. Mujeres y trabajo. Feminismo, trabajo y reproducción social, Barcelona: Sylone, 2020.

Catàleg UB  

Riesco-Sanz, Alberto; Lahera-Sánchez, Arturo (coords.) Detrás de tu App. Descubriendo las condiciones laborales en las plataformas digitales en España, Madrid: Los Libros de la Catarata, 2024.

CCNCC. El futuro del trabajo: Retos para la negociación colectiva, Madrid: Ministerio de Trabajo, Migraciones y Seguridad Social, 2018.

Granovetter, Mark S. Sociedad y economía: Marco de referencia y principios, Madrid: Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 2019.

García Calavia, Miguel Ángel (2023) Sociologia de les Relacions Laborals, Valencia: Universitat de València, 2a edició.

Catàleg UB  

Ocde. Perspectivas del empleo 2021, Madrid: Ministerio de Trabajo, Migraciones y Seguridad Social, 2022.

Comisión europea. Evolución del empleo y de la situación social en Europa 2021, Madrid: Ministerio de Empleo y Seguridad Social, 2021.

Christiansen, J; Koistinen, P; Kovalainen, A. (eds.) Working Europe: Reshaping European employment systems, London: Routledge, 1999.

England, P. Comparable worth. Theories and evidence, New York: Routledge, 2017.

Catàleg UB  

Aguado, Empar. Mujeres y hombres frente al desempleo: El caso español en la primera crisis del siglo XXI, València: Tirant Lo Blanch, 2019.

Alós, R. i Lope, A. “El desempleo y sus consecuencias: vulnerabilidad y riesgo de exclusión social”, pàg. 651-662, A: Cristóbal Torres (ed.) España 2015: Situación social, Madrid: Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 2015.

Baylos, A. ¿Para qué sirve un sindicato?, Madrid: La Catarata, 2012.

Beneyto, P.J; Nova, P; De la Torre, I. Trabajo y empresa, Valencia: Tirant lo Blanch, 2014.

Castro, C. de i Pedreño, A. “Trabajo y ocupaciones”, pàg. 617-628, A: Cristóbal Torres (ed.) España 2015: Situación social, Madrid: Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 2015.

CocaColaenLucha. Somos Coca-Cola en lucha: Una autobiografía colectiva, Madrid: La Oveja Roja, 2016.

Coco, A; Daza, L. «Marx y Engels y la división sexual del trabajo en la familia: Ambigüedades, equívocos y vacíos teóricos». Arxius de Sociologia, 38, 2018, pàg. 11-26. http://roderic.uv.es/handle/10550/67304

Cruz Villalón, J. La negociación colectiva en Europa: Una perspectiva transversal, Madrid: Ministerio de Trabajo, Migraciones y Seguridad Social, 2019.

Dribbusch, H. i Vandaele, K. «Comparing official strike data in Europe –Dealing with varieties of strike recording». Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, 22 (3), 2016, pàg. 413-418.

Garcia Femenia, A.M. El asociacionismo empresarial en España: La conformación del sujeto empresarial de las relaciones industriales. Madrid: Instituto de Estudios Económicos, 2001, cap. 2, 10 i 11.

Hidalgo Pérez, M.A. El empleo del futuro: Un análisis del impacto de las nuevas tecnologías en el mercado laboral, Bilbao: Deusto, 2018.

Ibañez, M. (dir.) Mujeres en mundos de hombres: La segregación ocupacional a través del estudio de casos, Madrid: Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 2017.

Jodar, P; Guiu, J. Parados en movimiento. Historias de dignidad, resistencia y esperanza, Barcelona: Icaria, 2018.

Martín Artiles, A. i Pérez Amorós, F. “Cambios de las relaciones laborales”, pàg. 684-698, A: Cristóbal Torres (ed.) España 2015: Situación social, Madrid: Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 2015.

Miguélez, F. i Molina, O. “Políticas de empleo”, pàg. 672-683, A: Cristóbal Torres (ed.) España 2015: Situación social, Madrid: Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 2015.

Moreno, A. “De la familia de un sustentador económico a la familia de doble ingreso”, pp. 315-320, A: Cristóbal Torres (ed.) España 2015: Situación social, Madrid: Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 2015.

Muñoz Comet, J. Inmigración y empleo en España: De la expansión a la crisis económica, Madrid: Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 2016.

Muñoz, D; Santos Ortega, J.A.; Poveda, M. Trabajo y empleo: Tendencias sociales recientes. València: Tirant lo Blanc, 2018.

Prieto, Carlos. Las metamorfosis del trabajo y de la relación salarial: El caso español, Madrid: Los Libros de la Catarata y Fundación 1º de Mayo, 2024.

Prieto, C. i Pérez de Guzmán, S. “La precarización del empleo en el marco de la norma flexible-empresarial de empleo”, pàg. 629-639, A: Cristóbal Torres (ed.) España 2015: Situación social, Madrid: Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 2015.

Pulignano, V; Ortíz, L I De Franceschi, F. «Union responses to precarious workers: Italy and Spain compared». European Journal of Industrial Relations, 22 (1), 2016, pàg. 39-55.

Rodríguez ávila, n. Manual de sociología de las profesiones. Barcelona: Publicacions i Edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona, 2008.

Sánchez Mira, N. “¿Hacia el doble sustentador mediterráneo? Evidencias de los periodos de auge y de crisis económica en España”, Anuario IET de Trabajo y Relaciones Laborales, 3, pàg. 128-143, 2016.

Sanchis, E. Los parados: Cómo viven, qué piensan, por qué no protestan, Valencia: Publicacions de la Universitat de València, 2016.

Tobío, C. “Las relaciones de género en la familia”, pàg. 424-434, A: Cristóbal Torres (ed.) España 2015: Situación social, Madrid: Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 2015.

Torrejón, S. El cambio estructural del empleo en España a lo largo del ciclo económico (1995-2014): Diagnósticos y pronósticos de futuro, Madrid: CSIC, 2019. Disponible en CRAI-UB: https://elibro-net.sire.ub.edu/es/ereader/craiub/120682

Vandaele, K. “Un futuro sombrío: Estudio de la afiliación en Europa desde 2000”, Colección informes de la Fundación Primero de Mayo, 143, 2019, junio [Traducción de: Bleak prospects: mapping trade union membership in Europe since 2000. Brussels, ETUI, 2019]. http://www.1mayo.ccoo.es//0e68135349e052f223712ced986a93e3000001.pdf

VVAA. Economía, política y ciudadanía: Reformas estructurales para una década de progreso, Madrid: Los Libros de la Catarata, 2024.