Its time to start making plans for the 2010 Labor Notes conference. Activists from across the country and around the world will be in Detroit April 23 to 25, 2010, so get ready!

"We'll be there!"

Rub shoulders, shake hands, and share strategies with other committed workplace and labor activists from around the world at the April 23-25 Labor Notes conference.

“We were at the Labor Notes conference just a few months before Republic Windows said they were shutting down our plant. It was good to be with all those other troublemakers, but we didn’t know we were going to be some of the most famous troublemakers of 2008, by sitting in and sticking it to Bank of America. We’ll be back for more next time.” —Ricky Maclin, Vice President, UE Local 1110, Chicago

“Labor Notes has always supported the work of organizing the South. Before the conference, we’re putting together a Southern workers school centering on the human right of public employees to have collective bargaining. “We’re piquing the interest of workers who are just getting active, and the next place we’ll gather will be the Labor Notes conference.” —Shafeah M’Balia, Black Workers for Justice

Some ways to help:

• Download and print a Save the Date flyer
• Send out an email blast or mailing to your lists. Contact conference [at] labornotes [dot] org for materials.
• Link to the conference page from your blog or website. Use one of these clickable web graphics if you'd like.
• Fill out our conference survey and tell us what you'd like to see at the conference.

conference [at] labornotes [dot] org (subject: Conference request from Labor Notes website) (Email us) to request brochures (print-only), flyers (print or electronic), text to email your conference, graphics, and other materials as needed. Don't forget to include your postal address if you need print copies.

WORKSHOP TOPICS

With more than 100 workshops and meetings during the 3-day conference, this list is just a teaser!

• Bargaining during tough times
• Understanding the economic crisis (it’s not just greedy bankers)
• Contract campaigns
• Public sector fight-backs
• Facing trusteeships and top-down union campaigns
• What’s next after labor’s fight for EFCA and health care reform?
• Understanding and defending pensions
• Building lasting labor-community partnerships
• Pitfalls of neutrality agreements and top-down organizing deals
• Fresh strategies for single-payer health care
• Organizing with health and safety
• Member-led organizing drives
...and many more!

THEMES

Defend jobs, contracts, and unions during the economic crisis.
The Republic Windows and Doors Chicago sit-in taught a lesson: we can win allies—and win—even in tough times. What are the strategies that work?

Hold the line on the shop floor.
Technology and management schemes are changing the workplace dramatically. Are we keeping up?

Organize and build unions that work.
We’ll discuss strategies for starting and strengthening unions with members at the helm, not just numbers on a spreadsheet.

Examine labor's political agenda.
Unions went all-out in the elections, but labor law and health care reform aren’t measuring up. What’s the best use of our political time and energy?

Bring up the next generation.
We need more young workers than ever at this conference. We’re encouraging organizations to send workers under 30, and help build a special scholarship fund.

Defend the public sector.
Don't let layoffs and budget cuts threaten the future of public sector work and public services.

Focus on the work ahead.
What do we make of messy trusteeships and internal rifts, and how can we keep focused on labor’s real goals?

Connect our fights.
Build coalitions that strengthen labor, environmental, and anti-war movements.

Conference details and logistics

Location
Hyatt Regency Dearborn
600 Town Center Drive
Dearborn, Michigan, USA 48126-2793
Booking information available soon.

Register

Registration rates for the 2010 conference will be posted shortly, with a money-saving "early-bird" special.