Video-Conference/Listserv Participant Introductions:

U.S.:

Chris Benner: I'm originally from California.  I first got interested in South Africa as a student in the mid-1980s, and got involved in the anti-apartheid movement promoting sanctions against the apartheid government.  My undergraduate degree is in African Development Studies, and as part of this I had the opportunity to live and study in Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.  I had the opportunity to live in South Africa from 1991-1994, partially working on a computer training project with COSATU, and partially working with civic associations as part of the U.S.-South Africa Sister Community Project.  Since I started graduate school in 1994, I've been focusing primarily on how information technology is involved in reshaping work and employment practices around the globe--primarily in Silicon Valley and South Africa--but in Silicon Valley I also became very involved in the local labor movement, which was developing some pretty innovative organizing efforts.  I moved to Penn State in 2001. Anyone who wants more professional info on my can look at my web-site, but on a more personal level--I'm married, with a 7 year old son, who's a big part of my life.  I play saxophone, and love jazz music (South Africa has some of the best jazz music in the world!!), and spend a lot of leisure time outdoors--hiking, climbing, cycling, skiing, whatever.

Aaron Angert: I lived in Houston, Chicago, St. Louis, and Central Pennsylvania - moves that were a result of my parents being "laid off" by Hughes Tool, Arthur Anderson Co., and Monsanto, respectively - before coming to Penn State. So, from an early age I can remember wondering why my educated, hard-working parents were seemingly always looking for work and needing to relocate. My interests include international economics/trade, international law, and public policy. Over the next year, I will be researching the effects that the EU and MERCOSUR have had on specific industries/laborers in nations within those trading blocs. After finishing my undergraduate courses next semester, I hope to travel to South America for an extended period by teaching English before returning to the U.S. to continue my studies at law or graduate school.

Theresa (Reese) Bowman: Here is a little bit about me. I am 23 years old. I am the other Theresa in the class but I prefer Reese. I was born and grew up in Ithaca, New York. I attended Cornell University and obtained my bachelors of science from their school of Industrial and Labor Relations in 2004.  I am currently a second year masters student here at Penn State in the liberal arts college. I am set to finish my degree in Industrial Relations and Human Resources this May. I have worked in a number of different industries and for

both unions and management. This past summer I worked for a defense contractor in one of their missiles plants as a human resources and industrial relations intern. I work on campus in the Liberal Arts Alumni Office and at Career Services. I am an active member of my sorority's alumni chapter. I just got home from Orlando Florida a few hours ago so I hope you all had a great weekend and are having a great day!

Angela (Angie) Conner: My name is Angie Conner. I moved to Pennsylvania in 1999 when my family moved from Florida for my husband to attend graduate school at Penn State University. He is now finshing his Ph. D. in the English Department, while I am finishing my Master's of Science in Industrial Relations and Human Resources. I earned my Bachelor's of Science with honors this past year from Penn State in Labor Studies and Industrial Relations with a minor in Dispute Management Resolution. Before returning to the world of academics, I was a practicing licensed massage therapist for several years, and I also worked in the restaurant industry as a baker, pastry chef, and floor manager. One of the reasons I have an interest in the field of Labor is due to the fact that my grandfather and great-grandfather were coal miners in West Virginia. My great-grandfather worked in the mines during the donkey and cart era; he was in charge of blasting tunnels (and lost his vision because of it). My grandfather worked 19.75 years in the mines, but died recently without ever qualifying for a full or partial pension. He did qualify for Black Lung, however, and that is now what my grandmother survives on. In the past year, I completed internships in the fields of both labor and management. I was very impressed with my labor internship (with the state teacher's association), but much less so with my HR internship (at Penn State's Office of Human Resources). I aim to pursue either a career in labor, or possibly as a neutral party, in the field of arbitration/mediation, or as an ombudsman. But, my gut leans toward labor, so we'll have to see about that! Together, my husband and I have an 8-year-old daughter named Odessa and a four-year-old son named Aeden. Our  pet rabbit is named Bunners, and everyone is shocked that she just lives about the house and is litter-trained. We're a "musically-inclined" family (mostly Trey and the kids) with an extensive discography, a huge record collection, and lots of musical instruments around our house. Looking forward to the upcoming interactions,

Bryan De Valdivia: My name is Bryan de Valdivia and I am a Junior at Penn State.  I am 29 years old and have come back to school due to my partner's work.  I was born to immigrant parents in Los Angeles, California and have worked in many areas from factory line work, sales, retail, daytrading, to running a small organic farm in Missouri.  I have a 10 week old son for whom I am the primary caregiver.  My primary interest in Labor and Industrial Relations is in learning more about "good work," i.e. work that is fulfilling for individuals, organizations, societies, and the environment. My main hobby is Argentine Tango.

Seth Dixon: I'm Seth Dixon, I'm originally from San Diego, California and am a brand new graduate student at Penn State in the geography dept.  I've always considered myself a human geographer, and am very interested in development, economic and urban geography, but ironically, my past coursework hasn't reflected that interest.  So here I am. I'm a graduate of Brigham Young University in Utah look forward to the coming semester. Just for fun-Here's a picture of me with my wife and oldest daughter at an aquarium in San Diego. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/SethDixon/DSC00026.jpg

Kevin Dodge: My name is Kevin Dodge and I am a senior at Penn State.  I will be graduating in December with a B.S. in Supply Chain and Information Systems and minors in International Business and Geography.  I'm from Greensburg, PA, which is about 40 minutes from Pittsburgh.  I have complete a co-op in the International Operations department of McNeil Consumer and Specialty Pharmaceuticals, a division of Johnson & Johnson.  I have also spent a summer doing a study abroad in Maastricht, The Netherlands.  My other international travels include France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and most recently Chile (not to mention trips to Canada and a week in Cancun).  Through working with our partners in South Africa, I hope to gain an understanding of another perspective in the global labor and economic markets. 

Theresa Haas: I am from a small town outside of Philadelphia. I am a biology major but in the past two years have developed a much more social science focus. My primary interest is in human rights and the environment, and the link between the two. Last year I helped form Penn State’s first housing cooperative, where I am currently living. This year I will be organizing a sweat free apparel campaign at Penn State and so I hope this class can help provide some ideas for that project. After I graduate this spring, I plan to take a few years off doing non-profit human rights work, and eventually attend graduate school.

Melissa Hatch: My name is Melissa Hatch. I grew up north of Philladelphia, in Doylestown. I studied in the Dominican Republic my Sophomore year and Venezuela my Junior year, but I'm an English major, so this year I'm catching up with that. This past summer, I had an internship with the Gambit Weekly, an alternative paper in New Orleans. I left the city 9 days before Katrina to come to Penn State. Now I have 2 New Orleans refugees living with me. I also write for the Collegian.

Jim Hildenbrand: I am originally from the New York City metro area through several different locations there, but currently reside in Livermore, California.  I am a Labor Studies and Industrial Relations major and I am thoroughly interested in the corporate relationships with labor and the environment.  I am currently in the Bachelor Degree Completion Program with the Navy and will be shipped out to training soon after graduation (won't know my billet for another couple months).  After I complete my service to the Navy I hope to spend time doing some serivce work in disadvantaged area of Africa.  My grandfather has strong ties to the tribes of the Sudan and I hope to follow in his footsteps. Hopefully I can gain a much broader global perspective of Industrial Relations outside of Europe and the United States in the course.  Thats me in a nutshell.

Greg Howling: I am from Hollis, New Hampshire, a small town on the Massachusetts border, about 50 min. from Boston.  I am currently a Junior majoring in Labor and Industrial Relations.  My academic interests focus on the role of unions in professional athletics, especially Major League Baseball.  I am training director of the Undergraduate Student Government Department of Legal Affairs, where we advise students facing prosecution by the Office of Judicial Affairs.  I am also the treasurer of the Penn State chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.  I hope to practice either labor or mergers/acquisitions law as a profession.  On a more personal note, I am an avid sports fan and I play guitar and drums.

Tina Klug: I am from Darmstadt, a town close to Frankfurt in Germany. I am visiting Penn State for the fall semester and I am really happy having the opportunity to participate in this class. I am a PhD student at the Darmstadt University of Technology since April 2003. I am in my last year at my Graduate College. I studied economics and sociology at the Cologne University. At the beginning of my sophomore year I started working for a professor for sociology at the University. There, I got to know the field of applied empirical research and liked it a lot. However, after finishing my masters I decided to work in the non academic field at first. I have worked in a youth organization, managing finances and youth policies. A year later I started working at the Claims Conference, which is a Jewish organization who runs many compensation programs for victims of the Holocaust. I managed the Swiss Refugee Program for Europe. The Swiss Refugee Program is a program that provides victims of the Holocaust the possibility to apply who tried to enter Switzerland during the 3rd Reich but were rejected at the border or entered Switzerland and were interned there. After my working experience outside of the academic field, I missed studying and went back to school to do my PhD. I am working in the field of sociology of labor and sociology of technology. My dissertation focuses on the development of flexibility of labor and work and how that is connected with the development of information and communication technology. There are a lot of connections with the topics we will discuss in class. I am also looking forward learning about the South African labor situation, something I have not been involved with before. In my free time I love to play Volleyball, which I do all year around in a club in Germany. I also like swimming and biking. During the winter / spring time I  try to find time to go skiing in the Alps. And I like to read a lot.

Brendan Schmitt: My name is Brendan Schmitt and I'm a junior here at Penn State.  I live in an area south of Pittsburgh, Mt. Lebanon for those of you who know the area. Currently I intend on persuing a law and possibly business degree after graduating from Penn State with a degree in Labor Studies and Industrial Relations.  I am very intrested in the legal aspects of the management/labor

relationship.  After working for Merrill Lynch after my freshmen year, I traveled extensively through Europe.  While there, I visited France, Amsterdam, Prague, Venice, Florence, and Rome.  Afterwards I returned home and worked in Pittsburgh with my Father who is a lawyer and does some labor related law. 

South African:

Andries Bezuidenhout: My name is Andries Bezuidenhout. I co-teach the course on "Labour in the Global Economy" with Eddie Webster, the director of the Sociology of Work Unit - where I'm employed as a researcher. I'm originally from Pretoria, a small town to the north of Johannesburg. My research interests include debates on labour market flexibility and non-standard employment, industrial policy, and dynamics of "race" in postcolonial workplaces. In my free time I play for an Afrikaans alternative rock band (guitar &

vocals). From the introductions it seems as though we could form a new cross-over act though - sax, drums, guitar. One of the students in our class is an excellent singer, as we discovered on our field trip to Namibia!

Edward Webster: I am Eddie Webster , one of the convenors of the course. I am what you could describe as a typical WESA - White English speaking  South African – at least with regard to my leisure time activities !!! It is  a few minutes nearly  9:30 am in Johannesburg - I imagine you are all asleep as it must be  3:30am in PennState. I started the day with a jog and

a swim - my routine in the summer time - summer has just started in  South Africa! I was a key sportsmen in my youth - now  I play Squash every Friday with my son and watch rugby ever Saturday afternoon. Rugby is one of our national past times and it differs very much from your football  although I realise it is one of the features of Penn State. I visited your campus in November 2002 and I was struck by the veneration of the University for your football team. I am looking forward to meeting you this afternoon / morning. Chris Benner

and I have worked together in the past and I have a great respect for him as a scholar and a committed teacher. In fact is an honorary associate of our research unit , SWOP. I am hoping that next year  we can have some sort of an student/staff exchange where Penn State joins our class in August and we join you in November. You have a lovely campus in the country; we are an urban campus in the heart of Africa's most cosmopolitan city . You were founded in the middle of the nineteenth century to serve the farming community - and that is why you can still do a course in ice cream ; we were set up to serve the world's deepest gold mines towards the end of the nineteenth century. We have lots of similarities and lots of differences - let us hope some of these emerge over the next six weeks .

Martin Chembe: My Name is Martin David Chembe, a Honours Industrial and Economic Sociology at Wits. I am originally from Zambia, working for the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions as head of the International department. I have worked for the labour movement for quite a while and this course has opened me up to a whole new dimension of the dynamics of labour movements, particularly the responses to issues of global capital and globalisation in general. Our field trip to Namibia, a relatively huge South West African country with the lowest population in Southern Africa, exposed how capital can manipulate labour if left unchecked. I am very interested to study the current state of labour and how labour can disentangle itself from this cell of "slavery" created by the power of global capital. I am also interested to study the relationship between unemployment and provision of decent jobs. It will also be interesting to learn how the American labour movement is coping with globalisation, particularly given the recent split that rocked the AFL-CIO. What does the future hold for a disunited labour force? My interests include travelling, watching television and writing as I come from a journalism background. I look forward to engaging with you all during the few weeks we will be crossing-over inter-continentally.

Khayaat Fakier: My name is Khayaat Fakier. I am an Honours (or 4th year) student in Industrial Sociology and work with Andries Bezuidenhout and Eddie Webster for the Sociology of Work Unit as the 'executive administrator' which is a fancy term for administrative officer! I am interested in the impact of work on the lives of the 'working poor', specifically women in low-paying jobs. Being in this class has been very exciting as we are quite a vocal bunch with very strong opinions. My respect for my classmates, Andries and Eddie grew tremendously over the past week that we spent in Namibia. We had great fun AND worked hard! I was born in Cape Town at the southern tip of Africa and grew up in a small town, Worcester, which is in the centre of South Africa's wine production. I have been living in Johannesburg for almost 14 years. In my spare time (that is the few hours left after working, studying and parenting I like to go for 5km runs. I am also very happy that we appear to be having an early spring, so I can start swimming. My other favorite passtimes are cooking and reading. Unfortunately, I am musically handicapped so won't join the crossover band, but I make a very enthusiastic spectator!

Nsika Khumalo: My name is Nsika Khumalo, an Industrial Sociology student at Wits University. I don't have much to say except for that I cannot wait for the video conference to take place, and hear different views from different people. My particular interests in the field of Sociology include labour issues and the global restructuring of states, institutions, and the world of work, and it is always interesting to hear what other people from different parts of the world think in relation to the issues mentioned above. I hope we'll all enjoy talking to each other and sharing various thoughts and ideas.

Zama Kiti: Hi guys, typical of a mother, she is the last to do things; having to wait for all her kids. I am deeply sorry for telling you about myself so late. Nevertheless I am Zama finishing my Honors Industrial Sociology hoping to be accepted for a Masters program next year, considering the age, time is running out for me to contribute in making the world a better one for all. I am South African born and bred in the Kwa-ZuluI Natal province, am 42yrs old. Trained and worked as a nurse as a professional nurse for the better part of my life. Resigned in 2002 to pursue this course. Married with two lovely boys aged 15 & 13.  

Merryman Kunene: My name is Merryman Kunene. I’m in fourth year (Development Studies, Wits University). My academic life has developed in an rather awkward manner – from studying English Studies, Sociology and Media & Communication at the University of Natal in South Africa; African Literature, Media Studies, Economic Studies and Industrial Sociology (Wits) to Development Studies. To me it is not surprising to have been involved in such a varied array of disciplines. To most people it may seem like lack of focus yet I can safely say that it has been extremely fulfilling in moulding my brain towards what I do for a living & love very much – writing (creative & journalistic), publishing (events, commercial, etc) and research (development, labour, communications, etc). On the development side I am presently working on a short paper on the mechanics of a single currency for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) by 2016 and for a long time now I have been to trying to develop a model for standardised (global) labour regime which can cater for a basic wage and basic working conditions across board as a response to capital mobility. I read for fun, watch soccer and sleep a lot (I find it relaxing!), that is when I am not making noise at any given opportunity. Look forward to interacting with you all.

Gwede Mansashe: I am Gwede Mantashe a Masters student at Wits. I am a mineworker by background. I am working as a trade unionist being in the National Mineworkers

Nathaniel Mketwe: I must say that our contact comes at a very good time when the momentum is high amongst us at wits after

going to Namibia for a research study on labour isuues in the global economy there. this trip has broadened our perspective and clarified a lot with regard to theory, thanks to Dr. Anries Bezuidenhoud who planned it. Otherwise, I am a South African who lives in the East

of Johannesburg. I started at wits in 2001, doing Psychology and Sociology as my majors. I have also done electives in Anthropology and english as I speak it as a second language. I hope it would be very nice to share ideas with our American friends and I am looking forward.

Dinga Sikwebu:

Xolani Simelane: My name is Xolani Simelane and I was born in Nhlangano, a small town in the southern part of Swaziland. I'm currently doing my Industrial Sociology honours here at Wits University. I also consider myself as a political activist, and I am currently the Secretary for International Affairs in the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO). I am generally interested in labour issues and trade union issues in particular. Unfortunately I'm not much of a singer and spend whatever sparetime I have, hanging out. Also looking foward to having a great time with my American colleagues.

Maria Tsoeu: My name is Maria Tsoeu, I am completing my Homours Degree in Industrial Sociology. I majored in Industrial Psychology and Industrial Sociology in my undergraduate studies. I have also done a bit of research with the research unit in the Sociology department. South African labour is best known for its militancy and social movement unionism, so it would be very interesting to speak to you about American labour in contrast with our own context here.

Adolfo Zunguza: My name is Adolfo Armando Zunguza, I am from Mozambique, but currently doing my fourth year in economics and industrial Sociology at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. I am thoroughly interested in understanding labour in the global economy trends, specially the extent to which Southern African region has attempted to respond to the challenges of globalisation. This comes from the understanding that globalisation has produced shinning winners and losers and SADC region is one of the world’s spheres that has not benefited from globalisation. At undergraduate level I studied economics, International Relations and Industrial Relations Sociology at the same University. However, after finishing BA I decided to enrol for postgrade, which I am extremely excited having the chance to be apart of this wonderful 2005 class. Labour in the global economy which is lectured by Prof, Webster and DR Andries B is very important course because it looks at labour response to globalisation, especially the way firms relocate in search of cheap labour. Last week we went to Namibia for a comparative case study. We visited Ramatex textile industry where we witnessed examples of similar case studies to those discussed by Beverly Silvers’s book. Interests: During my holidays I like to play football, cricket, volleyball, because I believe that participating in sport develops strength in the area of leadership, character, conflict management and physical health Reading: Reading is informative and exposes one to the rich diversity of the world we all live in.