Kalamazoo Book Party: Lessons from Chicago Teachers

Join us for a discussion of How to Jump-Start Your Union: Lessons from the Chicago Teachers, hosted by the Kalamazoo Education Association with a presentation from Labor Notes author Jane Slaughter. Come to discuss what we can learn from the Chicago Teachers and how we can tackle the challenges Michigan teachers face.

How to Jump-Start Your Union tells how activists transformed their union by engaging their co-workers and neighbors and unleashing the smarts of rank-and-file members. Readers will learn how to work with their communities, organize a caucus, run for office, rebuild a stewards network, train new leaders, run a contract campaign, and strike.

Books will be available for purchase at the special price of $5 for KEA members (usually $15 each).

“How to Jump-Start Your Union should be a beacon to all rank-and-file members on how to bring democracy to their locals. It’s a toolkit that shows how good old-fashioned hard work and faith in the membership can empower every frontline worker. The bird’s-eye view of the CORE caucus carefully proves that issues are more important than elections and can serve to unite us. It is never all right to just complain.”
—KAREN LEWIS, president, Chicago Teachers Union

“Labor Notes has done it again! Every unionist should read this book that chronicles how the new leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union organized their members, built strong support with the community, and waged a strike against formidable adversaries. But this book is more—it’s a manual on how all unions can revamp to win justice, with lessons that every union can apply to their own situation.”
—STEVEN ASHBY, professor of labor relations, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

For questions or to RSVP, call 269-548-8919 or email davestaiger[at]gmail[dot]com.