Mark Brenner

After the pandemic sent state and local budgets into a tailspin, public sector workers across the country were suddenly faced with furloughs, layoffs, and potentially deep concessions. Although federal stimulus through the CARES Act helped avert a budgetary freefall last spring, more than 1.3 million state and local government workers lost their jobs in 2020.

Main Image: 
Several women sit in the middle of the crosswalk, holding upside-down buckets that they are using as drums. One holds a flag that reads "SEIU 1199 New England: Health Care for All."

Donald Trump’s win is the gut-punch finale to a surreal election season. For thousands of rank-and-file activists the outcome is even more bitter after the inspiration and energy stirred up by Bernie Sanders’ improbable campaign.

Unfortunately, we don’t need a crystal ball to figure out what a Trump presidency has in store for labor, especially with Republicans controlling the House and the Senate.

Main Image: 

An organizer has to learn to recognize the existing networks and natural leaders, who may be hidden in plain sight.

Main Image: 

How can you move people from passive to active supporters of the union, and incorporate them into your core group of organizers?

Main Image: 

Janitors are building a coalition to confront the Twin Cities' extreme racial and economic inequality. Their new contract pushes wages for most of the workforce over $15 an hour immediately.

Main Image: 

April 1 is shaping up to be a big moment for the Chicago labor movement, and once again, teachers are leading the charge.

Main Image: 

Labor activists from around the country gathered October 3 to celebrate Herman Benson’s 100th birthday and pay tribute to the organization he founded, the Association for Union Democracy.

Main Image: 

Thousands of nurses poured into the streets of New York City, coordinating their contract campaign across 17 hospitals for the first time. Voting for strike authorization could come soon.

Main Image: 

Pages