Western Massachusetts Virtual Troublemakers School

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The Western MA Area Labor Federation is partnering with Labor Notes to offer a Troublemakers School. We aim to build labor power and solidarity from the Worcester Hills to the Berkshires. Workshops and
panel discussions will highlight the struggles, wins, and ongoing organizing efforts of workers in Western Massachusetts.

Friday, February 5:

5 pm – 6:30 pm
Plenary: Organizing for Power in Western Massachusetts
Facilitated by WMALF president, Jeff Jones, UFCW 1459, this panel will feature conversations with members about successful contract and organizing struggles.

8 pm - 9:30 pm
Building Power Through Community Labor Alliances
with Cecily Myart-Cruz, president, United Teachers of Los Angeles
UTLA set an example for all of us about how to build community support, take on social justice issues within contract campaigns, strike and win. President Myart-Cruz will tell us how it built those alliances and its next steps.

Saturday, February 6:

10 am – 12 pm
Race and Labor
This workshop uses conversation to examine how race is used to divide workers and steps we can take to overcome those divisions and fight racism in our unions, workplaces, and society.

Beating Apathy
There is no such thing as apathy. It is up to us to talk with workers, identify issues, and use our collective power to win. This workshop gets us started.

1 pm – 3 pm
Assembling Your Dream Team
What makes a good leader? How do we bring workers into organizing activities? This workshop focuses on identifying leaders and building worksite communication / activism networks.

Fighting Austerity
Management and politicians claim there is no money and we need austerity budgets. Find out why this is a lie and how we can fight back.

Sunday, February 7:

10 am – 12 pm
Be the Union You Want Your Union to Be
Hear from rank and file union members about how to grow worksite power and more democratic, transparent, and militant unions.

Turning an Issue into a Campaign
This workshop will focus on how to take a worksite issue and build an escalating campaign to win.

1 pm -3 pm

Housing as a Labor Struggle
Hear from union members about how we bring the labor movement into the fight for housing justice.

New Organizing
Western MA is organizing. Lessons from new organizing drives – what were the challenges, how were these overcome, what lessons can we draw for the labor movement?

Cost: $15.00 per person – sliding scale ($10 and $5).
For more information contact Barbara Madeloni at barbara[at]labornotes[dot]org