It's unfortunately common for employers to violate worker and union rights. But an unfair labor practice can be a gift in disguise, providing a defense against the employer's most dangerous weapons. A union that plays its cards right can use ULPs to help win contract campaigns and strikes. Learn how.
Bosses break the law all the time, especially when workers are not yet unionized. They get away with it because workers don't know the law. Learn the basics about employers' unfair labor practices and how to use the National Labor Relations Board as part of your campaign, plus how to tell the difference between a grievance and an unfair labor practice and when to do what.
Let the members and the power in! This workshop will dive into the tool of open bargaining, a way to increase democratic participation by members and the community in your contract negotiations. Let the boss organize the workers for you!
Shop stewards are the face of the union—the ones members see day to day, and rely on for everything from basic questions about the job to handling complicated grievances. But stewards are also in a great position to strengthen the union by getting more people involved: by thinking like an organizer. Meet with activists from different unions across the country to learn about how to be more effective stewards by organizing.
Meet with union and nonunion workers at logistics giant Amazon. The more we're in touch, the better we can use our collective power along Amazon's supply chain.
Surprise, creativity, and humor can be the keys to rank-and-file engagement. Whether you’re facing a contract campaign, a privatization battle, or a dormant membership, these tools can be scaled to fit your situation. Discover the talents among your members for song, humor, creative props, and theatrics. Learn the principles of creative organizing, share examples, and develop tactics you can take home. Solidarity and laughter make a potent mix!
Leadership isn't about taking everything on ourselves—it's about developing others to participate, by providing the resources and opportunity. Using the "Learn It, Do It, Teach It" philosophy, this workshop will cover how to get more people involved and expand the capacity of your union.
This session will open with a song by: Sigute Meilus and Sarah Starrett, DC Labor Chorus
Real solutions to the climate crisis depend on workers' know-how. But CEOs hope to cash in on "greener" technology to undercut our unions and degrade our jobs. Hear from workers who started conversations and took action to set the terms for clean energy shifts at work. Then you'll have the chance to discuss what your co-workers are saying about green changes ahead, and plan workplace conversations for green transitions that grow worker power.
