Community fellow considers applications of Just Wage Initiative for collective bargaining

February 17, 2022

In 2021 the Institute for Social Concerns started its Community Fellows Program to enhance research and teaching at the University by connecting community and campus on various social concerns. Community fellows are professionals in the local community with a strong history of making positive social impact. Fellows complete a major project and interact with the center community in various ways such as consulting on community-engaged courses or meeting with faculty fellows. Kevin Hawkins ‘81, mediation technology specialist at the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS), is one of the Institute for Social Concerns’ Community Fellows for the 2021–22 academic year. 

Hawkins has served for nearly 19 years with FMCS which works to preserve and promote peace and cooperation between labor and management groups across the United States. During his time with the agency, he has facilitated joint problem-solving and constructive responses to unavoidable moments of conflict. The approach aims to be mutually beneficial–helping both employers and employees achieve their goals–and sustainable, building foundations of trust that can meet the demands of a rapidly changing workplace.

At the center, Hawkins works with Dan Graff, Ph.D., director of the Higgins Labor Program, on the program’s signature Just Wage Initiative, an interdisciplinary initiative that examines labor issues and asks what makes a wage just or unjust. With extensive experience in labor mediation, he looks at applications of the Just Wage Initiative to collective bargaining settings where it might be useful for negotiation preparations and to establish common ground in economic discussions. His expertise in the field will also be used in a Higgins Labor Program series teaching students about labor advocacy careers that promote the common good. 

Hawkins views his work as an extension of his faith, noting it as a reason for joining the Just Wage Initiative, which has a commitment to the dignity of work and workers grounded in Catholic social tradition. The connection between his faith and work also comes into play outside his professional life. Hawkins has supported the day-to-day life of Central American children waiting to be processed at the US-Mexico border, assisting with wellness and spiritual enrichment. Locally he and his wife operate the Hawkins Family Foundation(link is external), a nonprofit organization that promotes literacy in South Bend schools.

To learn more about the center’s Community Fellows, go to socialconcerns.nd.edu/community-fellows.