Diary of an Organizer: Week of Action from Coast to Coast

AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff took part in many “week of action” events across the nation, joining workers and union members to protest the failure of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to protect workers. The NLRB soon will rule whether many nurses, building and construction trades workers, journalists and others should be classified as “supervisors.” If the NLRB expands the definition of supervisor to include such workers, an estimated 8 million workers no longer have the federally protected right to join a union.

From Seattle to Nashville and back in Washington, D.C., Acuff reports the energy, spirit and determination of union members fighting for their rights was as inspiring as the sea of union colors joining together in solidarity.

The American union movement today closes a truly extraordinary week, a week of action to stop the assault on workers’ rights in our country. Twenty-one actions in 21 cities across the length and breadth of America, which peaked in Washington, D.C. with civil disobedience and massive rally at the National Labor Relations Board.

I was privileged to travel, see and be part of these actions logging some 7,000 miles through the week.

My week started in Seattle where 350 people rallied at Virginia Mason Medical Center, which has recently moved to withdraw recognition from the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) in anticipation of the NLRB’s “Kentucky River” decision. There were 150 WSNA/UAN nurses there along with International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) members, UFCW members, construction workers, Jobs with Justice and many others. The message was clear: Stop the assault on workers’ rights and Virginia Mason—we won’t let you destroy the nurses’ union.

From Seattle, I drove the 275 miles to Eugene, Ore., where I hooked up with local Jobs with Justice activists and the new, dynamic Oregon Federation President Tom Chamberlain. We joined an Electrical Workers (IBEW) picket line at a struck local utility company. Then Tom led the IBEW strikers to the federal building where 200 of us rallied against the assault on workers’ rights, again calling on the NLRB not to slash more rights in the upcoming Kentucky River decisions.

Raced to the airport and dropped off the car on the way to Nashville through Denver. Landed about 11 p.m., and got to the hotel about midnight. Back home in Tennessee where I was born and where all my people are from. It’s late but gotta wind down so I walk the six blocks to Printers’ Alley for the last set of the Somebody Blues band.

The rally at noon with the Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council and Jobs with Justice was worth the trip. Two hundred of us rallied at Legislative Plaza then, led by state federation President Jerry Lee, we marched to the federal building. Six of us then delivered petitions and letters from the entire Democratic Caucus of Tennessee Congressmen to the NLRB regional director. Jerry and I reminded him of his responsibility to encourage and promote collective bargaining, not destroy it.

Home in Tennessee I had to get some barbecue. So we went to Jack’s on Broadway just across the street from Tootsies Orchid Lounge. Won’t nothin’ get you right like Tennessee barbecue.

It takes hours to get back to D.C. on Wednesday night because of bad weather and a ground stop at Dulles Airport. Home about midnight.

It had been a great three days. But the week only got better. Thursday at noon, we marched—1,500 strong—to NLRB headquarters in our colors, some 30 or 35 unions: The blues of the Postal Workers (APWU) and AFT, the greens of AFSCME and IBEW, the orange of the Bricklayers and the beautiful camouflage of the Mine Workers (UMWA). 

UMWA President Cecil Roberts and his camouflaged miners led us to the board where we picketed and rallied at the NLRB. We rallied, then blocked the doors of the board in an act of civil disobedience. We ramped up the action and civil disobedience by walking into and taking over the intersection of 14th and L streets. The police blocked traffic in an eight-square block area for our protest, a dramatic and extraordinary show of solidarity.

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