Five Things the New BLS Union Membership Statistics Don’t Tell You Union membership is slightly on the rise—but the hope for U.S. labor’s future is far brighter than the numbers alone suggest.

As workers have been on the frontlines at #NoKings rallies, organizing in Minnesota and more, a recent bump in union membership "heralds real hope"
The Kalmanovitz's Associate Director weighs in on what this means for the future of labor organizing for In These Times.

“America’s labor movement has been going through a transition over the last decade that is far more layered and nuanced — and that holds more potential for future growth — than the BLS annual membership survey reveals.” New leaders & organizational forms having an impact— @lanewindham.bsky.social

Five Things the New BLS Union Membership Statistics Don’t Tell You Union membership is slightly on the rise—but the hope for U.S. labor’s future is far brighter than the numbers alone suggest.

"The union membership statistics do nothing to demonstrate the new forms of worker justice organizing that have blossomed in the 21st century."

@lanewindham.bsky.social lays out five things the numbers miss.

inthesetimes.com/article/unio...

No Contract, No Coffee | Starbucks Workers United Starbucks baristas brewing change. Join the movement for fair contracts, better wages, and worker protections.

Pledge to stop buying Starbucks and find a mass picket event near you:

www.nocontractnocoffee.org

Don't Buy Starbucks! At any location, today and beyond, while workers are on ULP strike!

As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.

Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX

Plus Labor Network for Sustainability. @transsocial.bsky.social, Community Labor United, @aaup.org, Charleston Workers center / CAFE

So proud of this class whose hosts include @unitehere.org, @opeiu.org, @jwj.org, @labwc.bsky.social, @powerswitchaction.org, @ncstateaflcio.bsky.social, @aflcio.org

A General Air of Anxiety - Boston Review The Red Scare targeted my father. He taught me the meaning of resistance.

Must read

www.bostonreview.net/articles/a-g...

We Are All DC: A National March · Mobilize DC communities are powerful, connected, and under attack. Federal troops, out-of-state National Guard, and Trump controlled police are harassing, surveilling, and detaining Black and Brown residents...

I'm attending Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO's event, “We Are All DC: A National March” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/mobilize/eve...

Nominations EXTENDED to SEPTEMBER 1st for the WILL Empower Edna Berger Young Courageous Leader Award - $15,000!
✨Do you know a young courageous leader (age 30/under) committed to worker, racial, and gender justice?
🔥Nominate here by 9/1: go.rutgers.edu/sf3j15y3

Air Canada and Striking Flight Attendants’ Union Reach Tentative Deal

Direct action gets the goods.

UMWA meeting

Now that Trump Admin is purging museums of ideas that contradict its world view, hurry to see the National Archives excellent Power and Light, Russell Lee's 1946 coal survey. Part of the settlement to the 7-week miners' strike was this survey. Glad I saw this treasure before it is disappeared.

Worth sharing for the reference list alone (a lot of bangers on that list!). But this is a real question and the examination here by @lanewindham.bsky.social is a great read.

Personally I believe organizing around working people's solidarity and life improvement is always a better option.

Yes, lots of new leaders, and many are women

Could Sisyphus Have Tried Harder? Reflections on the Sweeney Administration’s Efforts at Mass Organizing, Thirty Years Later When I came to the AFL-CIO in 1998, not long after John Sweeney was elected president, the enthusiasm and hope around organizing was contagious. I’d spent much of my twenties as a union organizer in t...

Now available on Portside!

"Is the purpose of organizing to increase union membership, or is it to rebuild a working-class movement that can effectively make life better for the vast majority of working people?"

@lanewindham.bsky.social for New Labor Forum

portside.org/2025-05-28/c...

@Duckworth.senate.gov was terrific. Talked about how Vets never would leave a comrade behind and so now will fight for Vets in VA facilities being cut and left behind.

Then tonight heard @joan-c-williams.bsky.social at @politicsprose.bsky.social on her latest, Outclassed. She argues that working people are angry because no one has done much for them in decades. Are liberal and progressive Dems willing to center working class people and issues?

"Who will stand for us?" asked @dropkickmurphys.com at @unite4vets.bsky.social rally. America's working class is asking that question, loud and clear.

From Lane Windham, here's an unsparing look back at the period 20 years ago, when the leadership of the AFL-CIO really did try to recommit to organizing the unorganized and rebuild the labor movement as a movement. And failed to do so. portside.org/2025-05-28/c...

And it was 30 years ago!! Not 20

Excellent points! My New Labor Forum assignment was to assess why the Sweeney aspirations for mass organizing failed, in 3000 words of less. But perhaps this discussion merits a longer forum. I think the reasons for tge failure are complicated, and much of it is deeply structural.

Could Sisyphus Have Tried Harder? Reflections on the Sweeney Administration’s Efforts at Mass Organizing, Thirty Years Later - Lane Windham, 2025

My latest piece. I reflect on what we can learn today from the Sweeney era hopes and failures. Is boosting union density the ultimate organizing goal? journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

BREAKING: The Department of Health and Human Services has fired every single worker in its program that helps low-income Americans pay their energy bills.

thehill.com/policy/energ...

Amazon Uses Arsenal of AI Weapons Against Workers A study of a union election at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, shows that the company weaponizes its algorithmic surveillance tools to prevent organizing.

Amazon weaponizing AI to fight workers' union: prospect.org/labor/2025-0...

An important read...

Zoom Book Talk: Labor Historian Debbie Goldman will be discussing her new book 'Disconnected' with CWA Area Director Pat Telesco and @lanewindham.bsky.social. 2/26 4.00PM EST.
RSVP here: bit.ly/cwaqa

Zoom Book Talk!📖 On 2/26 at 4:00 PM, Labor Historian Debbie Goldman, @cwaunion.bsky.social
Area Director Pat Telesco and KI Associate Director @lanewindham.bsky.social Windham will discuss call center workers, AI, and the lessons labor can learn from history! #LaborSpring

👉http://bit.ly/cwaqa

SEIU Joins Forces With AFL-CIO Ahead of New Trump Era A marriage between the service employees union and the A.F.L.-C.I.O. could better equip organized labor to deal with a less-friendly administration.

20 years after split: SEIU rejoins AFL-CIO... this is good for working people... www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/b...

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