ABSTRACT
As United Parcel Service (UPS) workers in the summer of 1997 took up the struggle to gain some control over their segment of American labor, a number of us in higher education realized it could be a story about us as well. Like many American industries, United Parcel Service has seen its part-time workforce grow rapidly while the percentage of full-time workers decreased. The future of work at UPS seemed clear-a small core of highly paid employees surrounded by vulnerable and underpaid part-timers. We need to stay flexible and competitive, pronounced UPS management, sounding much like a late-night infomercial for an exercise machine. Flexible and competitive. Sounds healthy. Must make sense. Just a matter of discipline.
