Labor Reading Group to Discuss “Community Unionism” & to Begin Reading “We Are The Union: How Worker-to-Worker Organizing is Revitalizing Labor and Winning Big”

The Maine AFL-CIO’s Labor Reading Group will discuss two short articles and a podcast on community unionism at its next meeting on Zoom on Thursday, March 27 from 5:30-6:30pm.

Back when workers at large industrial plants often lived in the same mill towns or urban neighborhoods, socialized together, and often worshipped together, union organizing was community organizing. Nowadays we have to make an extra effort. The selections include:

• Janice Fine, "Building Community Unionism," Nation (online), December 14, 2000
• Jane McAlevey, "New Labor Forum: It Takes a Community", janemcalevey.com(May 8, 2003)
• Hannah Srajer, "Building the Union" [Connecticut Tenants Union SEIU 1199NE], The Dig[podcast] (Feb. 1, 2025)

On Thursday, April 24, 5:30-6:30 the group will begin discussing our next book, Eric Blanc's much-anticipated We Are The Union: How Worker-to-Worker Organizing is Revitalizing Labor and Winning Big. Blanc says:

Our best bet for beating back and defeating Trumpism lies in a revitalized labor movement....Trump is not invincible. Rebuilding a powerful labor movement remains the single most effective path to defeating MAGA, reversing rampant inequalities, and transforming American politics. So take a breath, talk to your co-workers, and get in the fight. It’s only just begun.

• If you order the paperback edition of Blanc's book directly from the publisher, the University of California Press, you can take advantage of a discount that will let you buy the paperback edition for half-price. Here's how:
  • Click on the book's listing at the publisher website
  • Click on BUY
  • From the drop-down menu, choose UC Press
  • Check the box saying you agree to Terms & Conditions
  • In the Discount Code box, type UNION50 and click Apply
  • Though the paperback lists for $24.95, your cost will be $18.26, including tax and economy shipping.