In the wake of the global pandemic, many U.S. working people are organizing for a multiracial democracy in which they have more power on the job and in their communities. Their efforts build, in part, on a newfound public appreciation for labor unions that developed out of a celebration of essential workers and subsequent dismay for their poor working conditions. Public support for unionism is at a historic high – – 71% approve of unions, the highest level since 1965. Today’s labor movement is more diverse than ever – – the majority of union members are women and people of color. A multi-racial group of young people are leading a new wave of organizing at Starbucks, Google, Amazon, and other corporations.
Public support for unionism is at a historic high – 71% approve of unions, the highest level since 1965.
In Spring 2023, a nationwide series of local teach-ins and events will lift up ongoing current campaigns, delve into pivotal historical moments for workers, highlight racial and gender equity in the worker justice movement, and examine the crucial importance of this moment in labor’s history. These local meetings will be accompanied by a live Zoom plenary panel featuring national and global organizers, thought leaders, and discussants. Online postings of any teach-in related event should use the hashtag #laborspring.
For questions, email the point of contact listed. For general questions, or to issue an update of correction, contact Pace Schwarz at KILWP@Georgetown.edu
Sign up HERE to sponsor a local Labor Spring event. Please fill out as much of the form as you can, even if you don’t have all the information yet. You can return to the form later and update it as you get more information.
Sign Up on the national website; fill out as much information as you have now – – you can return later to fill in more details;
Develop an organizing committee at your campus/school/community that includes a diversity of workers from your campus and community, including students, faculty/teachers, campus and community workers, nearby unions, worker organizations and others. Student and youth participation is particularly essential. We encourage community outreach by students to show college students are engaged in the community that they are in.
This organizing committee should look for a diversity of voices and ideas. We will publicize the name and contact information you provided on the sign up sheet so that others who are interested in participating can connect with you.
Determine a time and place – you may decide you want to do a single, one-hour event, while other groups may decide to have events lasting a whole day or even a whole week.
You can choose whatever dates work best for you, but ideally events will start no earlier than March 20, and be done by April 21.
Organizing committees are encouraged to prioritize accessibility when determining locations and times.
The focus is providing a forum for a community conversation in which members educate one another. Engaging students and younger people is a priority. We expect that many events will cover subjects like:
Labor history
Your rights on the job
Contemporary labor struggles, either nationally or close to home
Anti-unionism – how it works, why it happens, why it’s important to call it out.
Building a diverse 21st century worker justice movement
Climate and the connection to worker issues
Key issues for working people, including housing, health care, education, child care, and immigration.
Connections between racial and economic justice
The organizing committee will have primary responsibility for advertising the teach-in at their institution, but if you need help or suggestions, the media outreach committee can help.
We encourage organizing committees to share the materials they are creating with us by emailing kilwp@georgetown.edu, so that they can inspire other groups.
We strongly encourage that the event be free and open to the public.
Use the hashtag #LaborSpring on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
VIDEO: Labor Spring at Georgetown Law feat. Erica Smiley, Sara Steffens, Elissa McBride, Jennifer Abbruzo, Starbucks Workers, UNITE HERE hotel workers and more
The national organizing committee is developing resources, such as Powerpoint presentations and curricula, that can be found on the website. If you have resources to share or would like to join the resource committee, please email kilwp@georgetown.edu.
Our organizing committee is made up of dozens of organizers and allies representing multiple labor groups, student groups, campuses, unions and research organizations.
