FW: Chicago Labor Notes School This Saturday

[martin unzueta]

 

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From: mark.m...@ueunion.org
Subject: Chicago Labor Notes School This Saturday
Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 15:24:26 -0500
To: mark.m...@ueunion.org

Don't Miss It!

Chicago Troublemakers School

Saturday, May 9
9:00 am to 4:30 pm

Malcolm X College

1900 W. Van Buren

Register today! www.labornotes.org/chicago
Or call in your registration to Labor Notes at 313-842-6262.
Pre-registrations will be accepted through Thursday, May 7. Registration will also be taken at the door, but please contact Labor Notes if you’re bringing a group.

Agenda

8:45am-9:30 Registration / Breakfast

9:30-10:15 Opening plenary: Fighting Through the Economic Crisis in Chicago

Labor activists are digging in their heels as the economy pelts workers with everything it’s got. Get equipped with an analysis of the economic crisis, and hear from workers throughout the city who are fighting cuts and concessions.

10:30-Noon Workshops A

Noon-1:30 Lunch and meetings

1pm: Remembering the Staley Lockout
University of Illinois professor Steven K. Ashby, co-author of Staley: The Fight for a New American Labor Movement, will share stories from his book, emphasizing the strategies, tactics, and vision that carried the mid-90s strike at the Staley corn processing plant in Decatur, Illinois. Gail Warner, a member of AFSCME Local 3494, and employee of Heartland Human Services in Effingham, IL has been on strike since July and will give an update on the struggle.

Other lunch meetings: Single-payer organizing, transit workers and Teamsters meetings.

1:30-3:00 Workshops B

3:00-3:45 Closing plenary: You Gotta Fight to Win: Building on Our Victories

Chicago taught the nation a lesson this winter when Republic Windows and Doors workers reminded us that we can't win if we don't fight. Celebrating the victory of the sit-down, along with other victories in Chicago, we'll look at how we won, what to do to win more, and lessons for the day after a victory.

3:45-4:30 Reception - Network with fellow troublemakers after final plenary!

5:00 pm-? Tailgate

We'll continue the party at Teamsters Local 705 hall. 1645 W. Jackson Blvd, two blocks east on Jackson on the north side of Malcolm X College. Hot dogs and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be provided.

 

Workshops

 

Understanding the Economic Crisis

Are you angry that bankers get bailed out and workers get sold out? Workers know better than anyone that our economy’s in freefall. What can the government do to pull us out? That depends on the goal: Are we looking to save the financial system or to save good jobs? How can unions make a difference here in Illinois and across the country? This workshop will discuss what a real recovery would look like, why our bosses are fighting tooth and nail against it, and what labor needs to do in response.

 

Organizing in the Crisis

The need for organizing is greater than ever as unorganized workers feel some of the harshest effects of the economic crisis. What new pitfalls and opportunities has the economic crisis presented for workers’ organizing efforts? Is the crisis making workers more or less likely to organize? Is it changing what they are fighting for? Worker centers and labor unions will discuss the lay of the land for organizing and tactics and strategies for organizing in the crisis.

 

Know Your Contract Rights

Learn how a union works in this workshop, conducted in Spanish. What are the jobs of the officers, executive board, representatives and stewards? What are the responsibilities of union members and what are their rights in the union? Also, learn the basics of the grievance procedure and a union contract. The workshop will focus on the Teamsters though most information will be useful for other unions.

 

Fighting Back in the Public Sector

As the recession hit, falling tax revenues have led to cuts in government spending and services. Hear from union activists who are fighting cuts by saving city-run Mental Health clinics, workers resisting speedups at UIC Medical Center, and teachers and community organizers that rallied to save schools from the Chicago Public Schools’ restructuring plan. Developing community-labor alliances will be discussed as a strategy for all public-sector workers facing the knife.

 

Preparing a Grievance for Possible Arbitration

For many contracts, arbitration determines the final resolution. Learn how to prepare grievances from the outset to have better odds of winning at arbitration. Learn the necessary steps, or pitfalls, for making your case.

 

Defending Immigrant Workers

Though immigrant workers are bearing the brunt of this economic crisis, they are finding ways to win fights for workplace justice and transform their unions in the process. This workshop will look at several successful immigrant-led labor victories in Chicago. We will examine the tactics they used to win and look for ways both unions and workers' centers can build on these victories.

 

Changing Your Union from Within

How can you get involved in shaping the future of your union? Does your union leadership need some "encouragement" from the members? Hear from union members who are taking charge of their unions through reform caucuses, and those that have run for office-and won. Reformers will discuss how to build support among members and will share some of the tough lessons learned from reformers in office.

 

Bargaining Through Crisis and Concessions

Economically distressed companies traditionally seek reductions in wages, benefits and working conditions. Unions and members are often unprepared to respond. In this unique situation unions may have bargaining leverage to increase job security, reduce subcontracting, secure better successors and assigns language, and fight the relocation of work.

 

Lessons from Labor's History

With both the economic crisis and the election of a new president pledged to "Change", many workers and others are asking what we can we learn the last time this happened here, namely in the 1930's. Through participant exercises, handouts, discussion and video clips we will explore what lessons we can draw from the Depression, FDR's New Deal, and the mass, largely left-led, rank-and-file labor movement of that period. We will also pay particular attention to the rich history of Black workers and of Chicago as we search for useful lessons for today.

 

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