Conference Organizer's blog

Labor Notes Silent Auction

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:11:51 -0500

We are planning a silent auction at the conference, with the proceeds going towards supplementing Labor Notes' shoe-string budget.

If you have a vintage labor t-shirt or a memorable picket line sign that you could donate to Labor Notes contact us at conference@labornotes.org.

Thanks for your support!

Main session speaker Sal Rosselli

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:07:10 -0500

Labor Notes is proud to announce that Sal Rosselli will join our growing list of main session panelists!

Rosselli is president of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, a 150,000-member union of hospital, nursing home and homecare workers in California.

He has recently emerged as a leading voice for union democracy inside SEIU, challenging a move to centralize control of organizing and bargaining at the national level. He has been a long-time activist in the struggle for gay and lesbian rights and the fight for health care reform.

Early-bird registration deadline FAST APPROACHING

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:40:01 -0500

Register Now for the Labor Notes April 2008 Conference and Get $35 Off! The early-bird registration discount deadline is fast approaching. You have less than two weeks to register before February 15 to register and pay only $80 instead of the regular registration cost of $125. Take advantage of this special rate before it's too late!

We also need your help making sure that the word is out about the upcoming early-bird registration dead line through phone banking and other promotional activities.

Let us know if you can get involved in getting your fellow labor activists in on this special rate by contacting Anna at anna@labornotes.org or (313) 842-6262.

Workshops at Rebuilding Labor's Power

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 16:53:37 -0500

Labor Notes conferences consistently feature the most comprehensive list of workshops for labor activists. No matter what kind of work you do in the labor movement, you'll find a slew of workshops that fit your needs and expand your horizons. Check out our preliminary list below of what Labor Notes has in store this time around at Rebuilding Labor's Power:

Rebuilding Labor's Power takes talent!

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:43:05 -0500

The Labor Notes conference boasts some of the most talented labor activists in the country and from around the world. We want to give you the chance to showcase your talent. In the past we have seen everything from singing, to juggling, to traditional Japanese dance.

So don't forget to bring your talent for the Saturday night open mic/talent show complete with any equipment/instruments you need to show off!

Let us know if you intend to perform at our open mic/talent show so that we can help out. Contact Anna at anna@labornotes.org or (313) 842-6262.

Volunteers needed to help Rebuild Labor's Power

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:11:43 -0500

Want to be part of making the 2008 Labor Notes conference the best organized ever and get a discount on registration at the same time?

Sign up now to become a conference volunteer and Labor Notes will consider a reduction in your registration fee on request. We will also match you with the conference task that best matches your interests and capabilities. So this is your chance to gain great experience, give to a great cause AND earn a break on registration costs!

Contact Anna Saini at conference@labornotes.org or (313) 842-6262 for more information about how you can join us as a volunteer.

The program at Rebuilding Labor's Power

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:21:59 -0500

Here at Labor Notes, we are starting to put together the program for Rebuilding Labor's Power and thought you might want a sneak peak:

Special pre-conference event

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:31:04 -0500

For the first time ever the Detroit/Michigan National Lawyer's Guild Chapter & Sugar Law Center invite conference participants to arrive early and attend a reception they are hosting for the Authentic Workers' Front (Frente Auténtico del Trabajo) delegation on Thursday, April 10 at 6 p.m.

Conference Scholarships

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:21:01 -0500

Labor Notes is committed to ensuring that, as far as is possible, potential delegates are empowered to attend the conference regardless of financial constraints.

If you would like to attend the conference but require financial assistance apply for a conference scholarship today. Our scholarships are allocated on an individual need basis with consideration also given to the demographics of those requesting. For instance we will target a number of low-wage worker organizations and are also interested in supporting the attendance of people of color, low-wage workers, immigrants, women, and striking/locked-out workers.

Go to our scholarship page to find out more or apply for a conference to attend Rebuilding Labor's Power.

Rideshare to Rebuilding Labor's Power

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:30:58 -0500

Call a regional contact near you to set up a ride-share to the conference so that you can save costs, have fun and arrive safely!

Ohio: Dan La Botz, 513-861-8722
New York: Steve Kindred, 917-679-0275
Pittsburgh: Patrick Young, 412-298-6361
Chicago: Jose Oliva, 773-612-2559
Toronto: Sarah Declerk, 416-830-9537
Madison: Ron Kaminkow, ronkaminkow@yahoo.com
Michigan: Anna Saini, anna@labornotes.org, 313-842-6262

Or let us know if you're organizing a ride share from your local area!

Chinese Labor Movement Track

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:16:00 -0500

For the first time ever Labor Notes is offering a special Chinese Labor Movement track. Attend if you want to learn more about the Chinese labor movement or if you are a labor activist who is already doing work in this area. The track will include:

Rebuilding Labor's Power locally

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:25:00 -0500

Help us build the conference by contacting a local organizing committee member in your area:

Albany, NY: Jon Flanders, 518-272-1318
Boston, MA: Steve Early, 617-930-7327
Chicago, IL: Jose Oliva, 773-612-2559
Cincinnati, OH: Dan La Botz, 513-861-8722
New York, NY: Steve Kindred, 917-679-0275
Pittsburgh, PA: Patrick Young, 412-298-6361
Portland, OR: Johanna Brenner, 503-234-2306
Seattle, WA: Paul Bigman, 206-214-61694-6169
Vermont: James Haslam, 802-272-0882
Western Massachusetts: David Cohen, 413-773-3548

Register Now for the Labor Notes April 2008 Conference and Get $35 Off!

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:02:16 -0500

“I’ll be there!” says Rose Ann DeMoro, Executive Director of the California Nurses Association, who will be a main session speaker. "Labor must be in the forefront of the broad social movement we need to win single-payer health care reform. For unions, it is the only solution to the escalating employer demands for health care takeaways and cost shifting, and the best way to fight outsourcing of jobs to other countries. The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee is a longtime critic of corporate, insurance-based medical care and incremental reforms. We look forward to working with other labor activists at the Labor Notes Conference on this fundamental campaign.”