SEARCH
Labor Caucus at Netroots Nation
 |
|
Elana Levin, communications director for the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), joined us at the recent Labor Caucus during the Netroots Nation 2010 conference of bloggers and online activists.
We had a lot to cover at this year’s Labor Caucus at the Netroots Nation conference in Las Vegas last week. Some 70 participants took part—the largest-ever since we met five years ago at the first such national blogger conference. Participants included union staff, union members, political activists, labor bloggers, community organizations and candidates both past and present. The moderators were the AFL-CIO’s own Tula Connell and Matt Browner Hamlin of SEIU. We focused our discussion on young workers/young people in labor and how to improve public perception of labor unions.
Browner Hamlin brought up how the enemies of the netroots are the same pro-greed forces who are enemies of working people and the union movement. We have a lot of experience fighting against the corporate lobbies who sponsor astro-turf campaigns against the public interest and it would be good for the labor movement and the netroots to work together to stand up to the usual suspects that vex us all.
Because we focused our discussion on reaching out to young workers and demonstrating the relevance of unions to people who work outside traditionally unionized sectors, many participants brought up the changing workplace young workers and others face. Fellow attendee Robert Daraio of the New York Broadcast Trades Council summed it up nicely:
In the past, it was easier to organize and provide services to workers because they usually worked 40 hours a week for one employer, in one location. In the 21st century, work is short term, involves many employers and many locations.
To address the changes in the way work works today, this union, like so many others, needs to create multiemployer trusts for health and retirement plan contributions to be made for these members. There needs to be a greater percentage of union resources allotted for training to keep up with the rapid technological change that is the new norm in all industries.
AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Liz Shuler shared some lessons learned from the AFL-CIO’s Next Up Young Workers Summit. Key issues for keeping young people active in unions include:
- Organizing temps and freelancers in the highly mobile (and highly exploited) workforce.
- Teaching young members union basics since many have had no prior contact with unions.
- Giving young people real leadership opportunities in their union as well as training for their work and their union activism.
Several participants said the young members of their unions are highly engaged in collective volunteering efforts set up by the union—at nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity or food banks. Young people want to see their union invested in the broader community, and want ways to help out.
Speaking of broader community, an attendee from Pennsylvania made a fantastic point: When unions get involved in coalition work with community groups, we need to make sure it’s a two-way street. For example, if you expect a student organization to go to your rally, help out those students in return next time they need the power of a union’s name on a petition for their causes. It’s solidarity, people!
Online organizing came up a lot as a way to engage young workers and non-union workers and to change the public’s perception of unions (big shock, I know). Charles Lechner from the New Organizing Institute emphasized that unions’ social media presence should be written a human voice—not sound like it’s written by committee. It’s great for unions to be on Twitter but if their tweets read like they are written by a robot, aren’t timely and don’t engage in the twitter community as a conversation you won’t get very far.
A really cool thing I learned at the caucus was that Wisconsin has a law requiring labor history to be taught as part of school curriculum. Students from Wisconsin will actually know why they have the privilege to attend class rather than be stooped over in a sweatshop or in farm fields—and find out why they will get weekends off when they join the workforce. If more states adopted legislation like Wisconsin’s, it would go a long way to helping the public understand the value of organized labor.
The caucus ended with some words from past and current candidates for office who stopped by. Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter thanked labor and the netroots for our support during his recent primary bid. Rodney Glassman, a Democratic candidate running against Republican Sen. John McCain in Arizona asked for labor support. AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Emerita Linda Chavez-Thompson received a standing ovation from the crowd—she is running for Lt. Governor of Texas and later spoke during the closing plenary.
That’s all I got for now. Were you at the Labor Caucus? Take better notes than I did? (which is not hard to do). Let me know what I missed in the comment thread. I hope to see even more of you next year.
 |
Become a Fan on Facebook |  |
Follow Us on Twitter |  |
Subscribe to YouTube |  |
Subscribe to Blog RSS | ||||
1 Comment
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Dear, Elana Levin – Communications Director for the Writers Guild of America,
“Let me know what I missed in the comment thread….”
It will be my pleasure…. Hope you are really paying attention this time! I look forward to your feedback!!
Here is one important example of what was missed….
This is a basic need that represents a complete failure of the current concept of real “PROTECTION” within the workplace and Labor environment. What could be more important to young workers than the TRUTH about REAL Workplace Protection – Time NOT TO BE SILENT about Employer FRAUD in the Workmen’s Compensation Scheme!
When a person is “INJURED at WORK” there may be a belief that you have “RIGHTS and PROTECTIONS” but the facts provide, you are WRONG! The TRUTH about this condition should be front and center within the Labor Movement of this day and age, but it is NOT, this issue remains SILENT and a KILLER!
This is a BASIC PROTECTION NEED for ALL Working Men and Women which is a complete FAILURE here in the 21st Century! If it’s a Failure today, what does it represent to any worker, let alone, a young worker?
As long as your members face the failure and indignity of the current Work Comp Scheme across the US, and as long as you remain SILENT about these issues which destroy Injured Workers and their Families, the terms you use in your communications… “Protection” and “Health and Safety” have little to NO – Zero, REAL meaning. It’s a FRAUD and a Fraudulent Representation about a critical issue of Health and Safety in the Workplace of Today. You represent a Fraud to the Real Needs and Interest of Working Men and Women, who are at the heart of the Labor Movement. How is it you can miss the importance of this basic issue?
On the other hand, if you would STEP UP and take the lead within this important area of real Workplace Protection, and stop the White Collar Crime by Employers, Insurers and TPA’s, that ruin the lives of Injured Workers, you would bring REAL VALUE to the terms… “Protection and Health and Safety” in the workplace!
This e-mail was sent out to Netroots early, prior to the event. Several attempts were made to make sure this issue was given a VOICE and addressed, and all we got was SILENCE! This is a REAL “Protection” and “Health and Safety” issue that effects All Working Men and Women.
SILENCE will not solve these real issues. Where is the VOICE of Leadership on this Topic?
Let’s see if you can STEP UP and work for real CHANGE within this Crime directed against Working Men and Women, Injured at Work, and left for Dead. Where is the VOICE of Leadership on this Topic?
Thank you in advance for you interest and feedback. All Comments are Welcome!!
Craig Michie
Injured Worker – Member of an AFL-CIO Labor Union
NvVIAW@aol.com
Las Vegas, Nevada
ck here: » Blog Archive » Welcome to Nevada Voters Injured at Work!
http://votersinjuredatwork.com/?p=4
E-Mail Below…
Netroots Topic – Workmen’s Compensation Reform and Support HR 635
AFL-CIO and Netroots – – Workmen’s Compensation Reform and Support HR 635
Dear AFL-CIO and Netroots Nation,
The following message is sent in an effort to draw attention to a CRITICAL FAILURE within the Labor Arena!
Working Men and Women face a personal catastrophe should they be injured “during and in the course of employment!” This issue and the conditions facing Injured Workers in this 21st Century are an embarrassment and an utter failure to represent the REAL Health and Safety interest of All Working Men and Women. Do you have any idea what can happen to you and your health if you are injured on the Job and report it?
As a result of the achievement obtained in National Health Care Reform, Injured Workers must now be led and assisted out of the bondage of the current FAILED Workmen’s Compensation ( Employer Protection ) Scheme. At present, far too many Advocates, including LABOR, are far too S I L E N T on this Critical Topic and how Working Men and Women and their families are impacted by this failed and outrageous scheme.
At present I am not able to attend this event, but on behalf of “ALL INJURED WORKERS” this Topic must not remain S I L E N T within the Public Arena any more! I will be happy to provide guidance and more information on this topic and the NEED FOR CHANGE if I can obtain some local support at the meeting.
Giving LIFE to HR 635 is also an important opportunity to change the course of History! The Title of the Bill is: H.R. 635 – National Commission on State Workers’ Compensation Laws Act of 2009.
See this Link to HR 635 – http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h635/show
This topic alone affects every single Working Man and Woman across the country. Unless you have been Injured at Work, and had your injury claim “DENIED,” and faced this topic and these conditions first hand, this issue may not have any meaning. The conduct in this arena is simply Criminal and Violates Basic Human Rights Obligations. This form of 21st Century Slavery active within the Labor environment of today must Change, and Change NOW!
Please contact me if I can help to bring a Face and a REAL Voice to this Important Issue for All Working Men and Women. Only we can change the course of History! Now is the time on this Issue! It’s a MUST DO!
Thank you, Please let me know if there are other options available to advance this important issue! Your Comments and Feedback are always Welcome!
Craig Michie – Injured Worker – Member of an AFL-CIO Labor Union
NvVIAW@aol.com
Las Vegas, Nevada