Power At Work

For years, the narrative around organized labor in the U.S. has been one of decline. But the success of teacher strikes may serve as a "blueprint for revitalizing worker power across the American economy." Melissa Lyon's piece for Power At Work looks at new National Bureau of Economic Research results on teacher strikes to explain how the recent resurgence of labor activism that has teachers at the forefront. Find out more by clicking the link in the comments and subscribe for more worker power content!

This morning The Burnes Center for Social Change Senior Fellow Seth Harris appeared on Bloomberg News to discuss the suspension of the longshore workers' strike after the International Longshoremen's Association & the U.S. Maritime Alliance reached a tentative wage agreement. Watch the full interview and find out why the parties reached a partial deal, the Biden-Harris Administration's role in the temporary resolution, and other important issues by clicking the link in the comments! Subscribe to Power At Work for more worker power content!

“Ships Pile Up as Longshore Strike Hits East Coast Ports” by Jenny Brown for Labor Notes is one of the curated items on this week's #PowerAtWork Weekly Download — subscribe, and have it delivered to your inbox, every week. The Weekly Download is the place for ideas, features, research, and news coverage about workers, worker power, and unions – delivered to your inbox and Power At Work, every week. Click the link in the comments to check out this week’s edition, and subscribe to stay in the loop!

"I know my worth," says Mariam Karkache, a barista lead at Café Cerés in Linden Hills. In a new piece for Power At Work, Amie Stager tells the story of Minneapolis baristas and the power of unions like UNITE HERE in fighting for fair wages, safety, and empowerment. Read more about what it takes to unionize the service industry by clicking the link in the comments and subscribe for more worker power content!

Coming to Power At Work Tuesday, October 7th, at 10am! US Secretary of Labor Julie Su is joined by The Burnes Center for Social Change Senior Fellow Seth Harris to discuss Su's role and the state of labor in 2024! Click the link in the comments to watch!

In an exciting new blogcast for Power At Work, Senator Bernie Sanders sits down with The Burnes Center for Social Change Senior Fellow Seth Harris to discuss the current status of the labor movement, worker power, and much more! Click the link in the comments to hear about Sander's strategies to improve worker rights and diminish the pay gap in the US!

A very special event is coming to Power At Work tomorrow, October 1st, at 10am! Senator Bernie Sanders is joined by The Burnes Center for Social Change's Senior Fellow Seth Harris to discuss the current state and future of labor in America! Click the link in the comments to watch!

Despite declining union membership across the U.S., labor organizing in higher education is thriving! The 2024 Higher Education Bargaining Directory, co-authored by William A. Herbert, Jacob Apkarian, and Joseph van der Naald, documents significant gains in unionization among faculty, graduate, and undergraduate student workers. Get information on key insights and trends of union resurgence in Joseph van der Naald's piece for Power At Work. Click the link in the comments!

“National Symphony Orchestra musicians unanimously authorize strike” by Michael Andor Brodeur for The Washington Post is one of the curated items on this week's #PowerAtWork Weekly Download — subscribe, and have it delivered to your inbox, every week. The Weekly Download is the place for ideas, features, research, and news coverage about workers, worker power, and unions – delivered to your inbox and Power At Work, every week. Click the link in the comments to check out this week’s edition, and subscribe to stay in the loop!

After 2 years of negotiating for a fair contract, Philadelphia Museum of Art workers went on strike for 19 days, eventually winning their first union contract! Kressent P. interviews Matt Carrieri and Jenna Staffieri, workers at Philadelphia Museum of Art and members of AFSCME Local 397, to learn how they fought for fair wages, benefits, and workplace equity! In his piece for New Labor Forum, now featured on Power At Work, Pottenger tells the story of how union solidarity brought about institutional change. Learn more by visiting the link in the comments and subscribe for more worker power content!