Workers' Centers: Building Worker Power Through Community Organizing

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Submitted by T. Forsyth on Wed, 2013-05-22 08:40

On April 13, 2013, the Labor Lyceum hosted a panel and discussion called “Building Worker Power Through Community Organizing.” The panel and discussion met at NYSUT Hall, 30 North Union Street in Rochester, NY.

As workers across the nation are struggling with the consequences of job flight, downsizing, discrimination, rampant unemployment, and other labor troubles, a different way of organizing outside of the traditional union model is emerging.

Workers' centers, in more than eighty cities, have been founded by communities through grassroots organizing that combine worker and community struggles in order to find justice and dignity. Worker centers are comprised of a wide range of occupations that advance a strong worker/community focused agenda that includes dignity, justice, living wages and good working conditions, while fighting against wage theft, discrimination, poverty wages, sexual harassment, workers' compensation hassles, and so much more.

Moderating the discussion was Linda Donahue. Presenters included Pete Meyers of the Tompkins County Workers' Center, located in Ithaca, Caroline Kim-tee-han—ee (Kimtihanyi) of the Workers' Center of Central NY, located in Syracuse, and Reyna Ramolete Hayashi, of the Worker Justice Group located in Rochester.

video of panelists presenting on workers' centers: