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Barry Eidlin

@eidlin.bsky.social
4.4K followers 2.4K following 795 posts

Former organizer, current Associate Professor of Sociology at McGill University. Author, Labor and the Class Idea in the US and Canada (Cambridge University Press, 2018)

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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Today, with a few exceptions, once the song came on, the room got quiet, and students just sat and listened to the music. A proud moment for a Canadian Gen-X labour scholar. ✊🥹 4/end
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
It’s a short song, completely a cappella, just Margo Timmins’ haunting voice, singing about miners putting their lives on the line to dig gold out of the ground for their bosses. 3/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
For today’s lecture on “The Labour Problem Under Capitalism,” I chose as my opening song “Mining For Gold” by the Cowboy Junkies. 2/ youtu.be/kugPD36y5YA?...
youtu.be
Mining For Gold Cowboy Junkies
YouTube video by Kylar Stern
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Small teaching wins: in my Sociology of Work and Industry class at @mcgillarts.bsky.social , I start each lecture with a song related to the world of work. Usually students keep chatting as they get settled in and ready for class. 1/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
"To paraphrase [Prime Minister Lester B.] Pearson, if workers are to be told through repeated invocations of Section 107 [or Canada Labour Code reform] that they can never strike, one may be precipitating the very thing one is trying to prevent." 3/end
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
"The problem is that, if governments keep showing such disregard for workers' fundamental rights, we shouldn't be surprised if workers start showing more disregard for government orders. 2/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Reposting my @theglobeandmail.com op-ed from last year re: Air Canada strike in light of the Carney gov't's current plan to "reform" the Canada Labour Code in a way that will curtail workers' Charter-protected right to strike. It seems that they still don't want to learn from history 1/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Take a few minutes to watch @alexhanna.bsky.social break down key myths about AI and the workplace: youtu.be/3BO0iy91lfU?...
youtu.be
Myths Around AI and Labor
YouTube video by Dr. Alex Hanna
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Reposted by Barry Eidlin
McGill Arts @mcgillarts.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Le NPD ne défend pas les droits des employés de Dynacare, selon Barry Eidlin, professeur agrégé au Département de sociologie de l’Université McGill et spécialiste des mouvements syndicaux. @eidlin.bsky.social ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premie...
ici.radio-canada.ca
Le NPD ne défend pas les droits des employés de Dynacare, selon un expert | OHdio | Radio-Canada
Écoutez l’extrait de l’émission Le 6 à 9 : Le NPD ne défend pas les droits des employés de Dynacare, selon un expert
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
@kirstenanker.bsky.social and I were able to sit down with Jules Bugiel at CKUT 90.3FM this afternoon to talk about the current state of faculty unionization and contract bargaining at McGill. (Scroll to 4:33 here to listen to to the interview): archives.ckut.ca/archives/128...
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Linen suit, button down collar shirt, and tassel loafers: J. Crew. Pocket square: @toddsnyderny.bsky.social Leather backpack: Lotuff. Lapel pin: @soc4pal.bsky.social #AcademicLife #AcademicFashion #BackToSchool #GenderPerformance #Masculinities
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
The first walk through Roddick Gates up to the Arts Building never gets old. It’s still summery in Montreal, so I dressed appropriately in breezy linen with tassel loafers. A great way to kick off the academic year! 2/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Academic Fashion Report, First Day of School 2026-27 Edition: After a summer in LA full of travel, bike rides and trips to the farmers’ market with the kids, and never enough writing, today was my first day back with my students at @mcgillarts.bsky.social 1/
Picture of a middle-aged white academic male posing in front of his office library. View of the McCall MacBain Arts Building on the campus of McGill University in Montreal, Québec, Canada.
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
The actual moment when Popper interrupted me on @yourmorningctv.bsky.social to discuss the national rail dispute #academiclife
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Reposted by Barry Eidlin
Larry Savage @profsavage.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
#BrockU is hosting the annual @cawls-acets.bsky.social conference next year. Check out the call for proposals here: cawls.ca/en/2027-annu... #labourstudies #canlab @brocklabour.bsky.social
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Celebrating two years since Popper’s surprise guest appearance on @yourmorningctv.bsky.social to provide additional expert commentary on the national rail dispute 🐱
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Photo credit: Anne Quismorio This concludes the Alt-ASA 2026 Edition of the Academic Conference Fashion Report. It’s been far from the usual academic conference for sure, but such a fulfilling way. Stay tuned for the next edition of the report at SSHA 2026 in Atlanta! 5/end
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Linen suit: COS. Linen button-down collar shirt: J. Crew. Arizona sandals: Birkenstock Pocket square: Altea Milano. Backpack: Lotuff. Lapel pin: @soc4pal.bsky.social . Children: custom creation. #AcademicFashion #ConferenceLife #BoycottASA #GenderPerformance #Masculinities 4/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
To get from conferencing to the airport and back home on a transcontinental flight, I opted for the Birkensuit: a relaxed linen suit with sandals meant for walking. 3/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
But with the labor section programming out of the way, I took some time to meet with mentors, co-authors, and editors on this last day in New York. 2/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Academic Conference Fashion Report, Alt-ASA 2026 Edition, Day 4: Today was day 2 of the alternative conference organized by @soc4pal.bsky.social around the theme of “Resisting Authoritarianism: Global Solidarity and Democratic Futures.” 1/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
P.S. The QR code in the pics should direct you to the petition for an ASA bylaws reform that would prevent leadership from denying members the right to vote on key decisions in the future. 9/end
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Linen herringbone suit, button-down collar shirt, and suede tassel loafers: J. Crew . Pocket square: MarZThomson. Backpack: Lotuff. Lapel pin: @soc4pal.bsky.social #AcademicFashion #ConferenceLife #BoycottASA #GenderPerformance #Masculinities Photo credit: Jen Schradie 8/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
To get through such an action-packed day, I went for a Mediterranean vibe in a sand linen herringbone suit with suede tassel loafers. 7/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
And we capped off the day with a joint reception for the Sections on Labor and Labor Movements, Marxist Sociology, and the Political Economy of the World System, where we honoured our award winners and celebrated together. 6/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
A personal highlight of the day for me was the session on @prof-deleon.bsky.social ‘s new book, “Freedom Train: Black Politics and the Story of Interracial Labor Solidarity,” featuring commentary from Kim Voss, @saigrundy.bsky.social , and Tristan Ivory. 5/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Sessions were packed, and the main hall turned into a commons for the day, a place to meet, mentor, exchange ideas. It was the best of what sociology can be. 4/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
It was wonderful for everyone to be able to gather in this alternative space that was much more true to this year’s ASA theme of “Disrupting the Status Quo” than the official meeting. 3/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
As acting chair of the ASA Section on Labor and Labor Movements, I consulted with our section council and polled the membership, and the overwhelming majority position was to move our section activities off-site this year. 2/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Academic Conference Fashion Report, Alt-ASA 2026 Edition, Day 3: Today was day 1 of the alternative conference organized by @soc4pal around the theme of “Resisting Authoritarianism: Global Solidarity and Democratic Futures.” 1/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Japanese seersucker suit: Buck Mason. Poplin button-down collar shirt: J. Crew. Driving loafers: Tod’s. Lapel pin and sign: @soc4pal.bsky.social #AcademicFashion #ConferenceLife #BoycottASA #GenderPerformance #Masculinities
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
With a lot of walking outside in the muggy New York summer heat, again breathable fabrics like seersucker were key to a sharp yet relaxed look. 4/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
We were joined part-way by a second group who had walked out of ASA President Shelley Correll’s presidential address. We were also encouraged by passersby who were attending the Dominican Day parade, adding to the festive atmosphere. 3/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
by refusing to put a duly-submitted resolution on the boycott of Israeli academic institutions (*not* individuals) to a membership vote. 2/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Academic Conference Fashion Report, Alt-ASA 2026 Edition, Day 2: Today was full of meetings with editors, co-authors, and former students, followed by a trip up to the Midtown Hilton to join a few hundred of my fellow sociologists to protest ASA leadership’s violation of democratic process 1/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Seersucker striped tunic: In Good Company. Linen drawstring pants: Uniqlo . Sandals: Birkenstock . #AcademicFashion #ConferenceLife #BoycottASA #GenderPerformance #Masculinities 6/end
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
and a trip to the Met with the family. So I kept things a bit breezier and more casual than my usual conference attire, while still staying put-together. Breathable fabrics like seersucker and linen cut in a loose drape were key players here. 5/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
With no official conferencing today, I had a chance to kick things off with morning yoga at Peloton Studios, followed by a meeting in the park with co-author Micah Uetricht to discuss our project, 4/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Adding a layer of disquieting irony, this is all happening in a year when the ASA meeting’s theme is “Disrupting the Status Quo.” 3/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
by refusing to put a duly-submitted resolution on the boycott of Israeli academic institutions (*not* individuals) to a membership vote. 2/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Academic Conference Fashion Report, Alt-ASA 2026 Edition, Day 1: The Report is back under unusual circumstances, with a boycott called by @soc4pal.bsky.social to protest ASA leadership’s violation of democratic process 1/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Sorry I missed it! Next time…
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
What's your shop?
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I still have the red bandana, which I wore because we were actually getting tear-gassed by riot cops. But I wish I knew where that Quicksand t-shirt is… 2/end
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Not quite sure why this is popping up in my feed today, because IIRC 1) this was 26 years ago, not 5 years ago; and 2) it was June 1, not July 26. I’m pretty sure this was taken at the anti-FTAA protest in Windsor, Ontario, just months after the anti-WTO Battle of Seattle the previous November. 1/
A young man wearing sunglasses, a red bandana, and a Quicksand t-shirt, protesting against the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas in Windsor, Ontario on June 1, 2000.
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Thanks! 🙏 I’m looking forward to seeing what papers I receive, and also to the opportunity to visit Gwangju 😊
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
My opening remarks, published in @jacobinmag.bsky.social 4/end jacobin.com/2019/08/what...
jacobin.com
Why I’m a Socialist
I believe in democracy, freedom, and humans' ability to create a better world than the one we have now. That's why I'm a socialist.
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
and the length of the line of people waiting to talk with you afterwards, then I won hands-down. Link to my opening remarks below 3/ #AcademicLife #RedAcademy #CapitalismVsSocialism
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
As I said at the time, the audience predictably voted Mackie the winner of the debate at the end, but if you use academic scoring, where the winner is determined by the number of questions directed at you in the Q&A, 2/
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Barry Eidlin @eidlin.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Remembering that time seven years ago when I debated Whole Foods founder and CEO John Mackie in a Las Vegas hotel on the merits of capitalism vs. socialism as part of FreedomFest, a big libertarian gathering. 1/
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