Food AND Medicine Members Went to “Workers Revive Democracy” Jobs with Justice National Conference

PHOTO: FAM Members at Workers Revive Democracy conference last month.

A group of Maine union members and community activists made it down for the 2026 National Conference: Workers Revive Democracy on May 14–16, in Atlanta, Georgia. The event is put on by the non-profit workers' rights organization Jobs with Justice and brings together workers, union and movement leaders, artists and activists for networking, skill building workshops and more. Typically, the event is held every four years, but after being interrupted by the COVID pandemic, this year’s conference was the first one held in a decade.

The Brewer-based nonprofit Food and Medicine is a chapter of Jobs with Justice and sent Melissa Smith and Meredyth Waters from the FAM staff, FAM board members Peter Howe (UMGW-UAW), Daniel Carson, Brian Markey (MSEA-SEIU 1989) and Marc Cryer of the Bureau of Labor Education to the three-day event. In addition to attending workshops, about a thousand attendees took part in a march on Waffle House waving “Stop Corporate Greed” in support of workers asking for a $25 hourly wage, an end to employees paying for meals while on shift and 24/7 security at restaurants.

“We all wore black aprons to wear in solidarity with the workers and it was f--ing awesome,” said Smith. “I think the workers loved it.”

Waffle House workers have expressed concerns about their safety due to drunken and hostile patrons. The FAM attendees took part in a workshop on workers’ centers and building power. Other workshops focused on fighting fascism, building worker power and supporting pregnant Amazon workers, as some have experienced miscarriages due to the lack of breaks at Amazon warehouses.

“It just felt great to feel like we were part of something bigger than just Food and Medicine,” said Smith. “It was incredibly inspiring and empowering.”