This serial issue, which is devoted to the challenges that recent changes in the U.S. workplace pose for society and labor-management relations, contains nine papers focusing on the following aspects of building a new workplace for the 21st century: historical and current perspectives; workforce and workplace changes; education and training of the workforce; the effects of dislocation and trade; and predicting what lies ahead. The following papers are included: "Meeting the Challenges Created by New Workplace Changes" (Malcolm R. Lovell, Jr.); "Building the New Workplace for the 21st Century: An Introduction" (James A. Auerbach); "The Evolution of U.S. Labor-Management Relations" (Thomas J. Schneider, John R. Stepp); "Downsizing and Employment Insecurity" (Harry C. Katz); "Skills and the Education Level of U.S. Workers" (Laurie J. Bassi); "School-to-Work Systems: Redesigning U.S. Education for the 21st Century" (J.D. Hoye, Steven Tegger); "Continuing the Search for a 'New Covenant' for America's Dislocated Workers" (Sheldon Friedman, Jane McDonald-Pines); "Implications of the New Employment Systems" (Peter Cappelli); and "New Guidelines for Labor-Management Cooperation" (Allan D. Gilmour). (MN)