Are You A Troublemaker?

Labor Notes is a broad network of activists in unions, workers centers, and community groups. The Troublemakers Union does not collect dues, but does tap into the fighting spirit of its members. Together, we are agitating for more rank-and-file power on the job and inside our unions.

Like what you see? Contact Tiffany Ten Eyck at tiffany@labornotes.org [1] to be a featured member of the troublemakers crew.

Ellen David Friedman
Friedman worked with the NEA in Vermont, sat on the Labor Notes policy committee, and organized the China track at the 2008 Labor Notes conference. Subscriber since... The beginning of time and Labor Notes' birth. The best troublemaking I've done... Helping organize more than 100 new unions of teaching assistants into the Vermont-NEA over the last 15 years. Underpaid, overworked women, who are hungry for respect, a voice and a living wage make great agitators! My least favorite contract concession is... When public employee unions give in to any form of private sub-contracting. My boss's most annoying habit was... I worked as staffer for a union that fired a bunch of my colleagues for organizing a union. I was young and inexperienced at the time and it shocked me! I've since learned how common this is (making me sadder, wiser, and still outraged about lack of internal democracy and integrity in some of our unions). Labor Notes is useful because... It brings the best mix of solid democratic, progressive trade union principles and practices in the U.S. A guiding star in my galaxy. I'm in the Troublemakers Union because... The struggle is permanent. Join Ellen David Friedman and others in the "Troublemakers Union" by subscribing to Labor Notes magazine. Get one year for only $24! [2]

Ellen David Friedman

Friedman worked with the NEA in Vermont, sat on the Labor Notes policy committee, and organized the China track at the 2008 Labor Notes conference.

Subscriber since...
The beginning of time and Labor Notes' birth.

The best troublemaking I've done...
Helping organize more than 100 new unions of teaching assistants into the Vermont-NEA over the last 15 years. Underpaid, overworked women, who are hungry for respect, a voice and a living wage make great agitators!

My least favorite contract concession is...
When public employee unions give in to any form of private sub-contracting.

My boss's most annoying habit was...
I worked as staffer for a union that fired a bunch of my colleagues for organizing a union. I was young and inexperienced at the time and it shocked me! I've since learned how common this is (making me sadder, wiser, and still outraged about lack of internal democracy and integrity in some of our unions).

Labor Notes is useful because...
It brings the best mix of solid democratic, progressive trade union principles and practices in the U.S. A guiding star in my galaxy.

I'm in the Troublemakers Union because...
The struggle is permanent.

Join Ellen David Friedman and others in the "Troublemakers Union" by subscribing to Labor Notes magazine. Get one year for only $24! [2]