DC Activists Hone Their Troublemaking Skills

Local activists packed into the Foundry United Methodist Church in downtown DC on Saturday morning to kick off DC’s first-ever Labor Notes Troublemakers School. Throughout the day, activists attended workshops on topics such as assertive grievance handling, the secrets of organizing, fighting privatization, building community-labor alliances, organizing across borders, beating apathy in the workplace, and more…

With more than 130 people in attendance, the day-long event began with former Union City mobilizer and Labor Notes organizer Julia Kann welcoming rank-and-filers and leaders from unions and campaigns throughout the DC area. Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO President Jos Williams fired up the crowd by emphasizing the urgency of training and uniting labor activists in light of the ongoing political war against the union movement. Troublemaker School attendees heard from transit workers, teachers, postal workers, communications workers, as well as community groups. Local unions helped turn out their members, with some unions sending dozens of member activists. “The turnout and energy at the Troublemakers School shows there is hunger for training and labor fight-back in DC,” said Kann. “Workers in so many different unions and worker justice organizations are ready to come together, share ideas and strategies, and make some trouble for the bosses. We plan to keep the conversation and organizing going in the new few months, so stay tuned!”