"Unions Cannot Win On Our Own" Says Aussie Activist

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

“While coalitions are not an absolute solution to changing the dynamic of a hostile political environment – and an economy that only serves the interests of large corporations – they are paramount to strengthening the brawn and brains of unions,” said Australian labor activist and author Amanda Tattersall (r) at yesterday’s lunchtime discussion at the AFL-CIO. “Unions cannot win on our own – it is vital that we bring others to the movement around social change issues not isolated to collective bargaining.” Tattersall reflected on experiences based on campaigns in Australia, Canada and the United States and explored five key lessons to sustain an effective social movement, which are the focus of her new book, Power In Coalition: Strategies For Strong Unions And Social Change. She is the founder and Director of the Sydney Alliance – a diverse coalition of unions, community organizations and religious organizations – and is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Unions New South Wales, the central labor council in Sydney representing 600,000 workers. – report/photo by Adam Wright