This episode features a panel discussion from the Socialism 2022 Conference in Chicago, moderated by Daphna Thier and discussing the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee. Panelists include Tristan Bock-Hughes, Olivia Prager, and Gabriel Winant.
Tristan is an organizer with the Illinois Nurses Association and formerly one of two staff with the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee. Through EWOC, other staff positions, and volunteer efforts he has worked with dozens of union locals and worker organizations throughout the country. He wants to organize himself out of a job.
Olivia is a current Medical Case Manager working with adults living with HIV and AIDS at Howard Brown Health Center. She was one of the initial staff members brought into the organizing campaign for Howard Brown Health Workers United shortly after EWOC helped re-connect them with INA who currently represents their nurses union. HBHWU won their union in early August, successfully unionizing nearly 500 staff members across the organization.
Gabe is a labor historian at the University of Chicago. His book “The Next Shift: The Fall of Industry and the Rise of Health Care in Rust Belt America” came out last year. He’s a former member and organizer with UNITE HERE and currently a volunteer organizer with EWOC. I also recommend his essay on one of my personal favorites, but also one of DSA’s founding members, Barbara Ehrenreich in n+1.
You’ll recognize Daphna, the moderator, from our “What is Capitalism?” series. Daphna is the Labor Education Coordinator for Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC). She's also a longtime bartender based in Brooklyn. And the current Labor Education Coordinator at EWOC. You can also find her written work at Jacobin.com, and a chapter she contributed in the book Palestine: A Socialist Introduction.
Gabriel Winant and Teagan Harris "Socialists are Trying to Revive the Labor Movement"
https://jacobin.com/2022/05/emergency-workplace-organizing-committee-ewoc-dsa-labor
If you need help organizing your workplace, here’s the link to Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC)
Donate to Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC)
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/workerorganizing
Credits:
Producer: Elton LK
Logo by Michaela Brangan
Sound Engineer & Opening Music by Casey Sticker
Additional Assistance by Palmer Conrad
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