Organizing for Power

Abstract

Making change in an organization requires building the power necessary to get a seat at the table. The first step is understanding the power we have and the power we don’t, the power we need and how to build it. Labor organizing principles and practices are one way forward. But what do those practices look like when everything changes overnight due to a global pandemic? Whether we need to advocate for the PPE necessary for a safe return to onsite services or need to keep our space closed entirely, we can’t do it alone. Achieving shared demands relies on the thick connections we build through organizing with each other, working through inevitable setbacks, and scoring wins. In this seminar we’ll discuss the structural antagonism that pits workers against managers, develop a shared analysis of power, and gain practice in using that power to get things done. This won’t be a “burn-it-down” discourse; we will focus on the possibilities for power and not just the problems we face, and we will strive to impart achievable strategies to bring back to your organization.