Leo

As <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/06/spam-twitter-account-horse-ebooks-human-internet-relationship/661409/">the horse once said</a>, everything happens so much. In my country, a far-right administration is waging war on students, researchers, activists, workers, immigrants, and every marginalized population you can name, all while strip-mining what remains of our already insufficient social safety net. In short, the world’s on fire. So I want to suggest that — now more than ever — you need a union. A union is many things: it’s an engine of democracy in your workplace; it’s a path to a contract; it’s a community. A union also provides a critical layer of protection and stability. And that’s something you could use right now. Worried about layoffs amid <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/31/economy/tariffs-largest-tax-hike/index.html">the rollout of astronomical tax hikes that could crater the economy</a>? A union contract can’t prevent a layoff, but it can <a href="https://newsguild.org/what-is-status-quo-and-how-can-it-protect-you-from-layoffs/">determine the kind of layoff you get</a>: how much advance notice you’re given, how much severance you’re given, whether or not you can be a priority rehire, and more. Sick of being an at-will employee that can be dismissed for any reason? Unionize, and fight for <a href="https://www.nyguild.org/front-page-details/ny-newsguild-ny-times-reach-tentative-deal-on-historic-first-tech-contract">a contract with “just cause” protections</a>. Want a say over whether or not you’re surveilled at work? <a href="https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2024/12/19/327994.htm">Unionize, and get a contract</a>. Tired of “generative AI” in the workplace? <a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/unions-give-workers-a-voice-over-how-ai-affects-their-jobs/">You can guess what I’m going to say here</a>. A union can be useful for other fights, too. When <a href="https://as.tufts.edu/epcshd/news-events/news/rumeysa-ozturk-our-student-teacher-colleague-and-friend">graduate student Rumeysa Öztürk was abducted by federal agents</a> last week, <a href="https://region9a.uaw.org/events/rallyagainstice">her union took to the streets</a> before <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5225863-tufts-student-detained-union-ad-campaign/">launching a nationwide pressure campaign</a>. Last year, <a href="https://www.cornellsun.com/article/2024/10/fleming-the-prosecution-of-momodou-taal-in-the-words-of-his-faculty-support-part-1">Cornell University suspended Momodou Taal for participating in campus protests</a>. In response, his union went to war: they held multiple mass actions on campus, eventually <a href="https://www.ueunion.org/ue-news/2024/local-300-cgsu-fights-suspension-prevents-deportation-of-member">forcing the university to the bargaining table to fight Taal’s suspension</a>. When people talk about “worker power,” this is quite literally what it looks like: it’s built by workers, standing together not just to win a better form of work, but also to protect each other. You and your coworkers deserve that power, and you can start building it today. Have a quiet conversation with a coworker — discuss what’s working, what isn’t, and what you’d like to change. Invite some trusted work friends to join you at <a href="https://labornotes.org/events/2025/tactics-build-power-april">some</a> <a href="https://workerorganizing.org/training/">organizer</a> <a href="https://www.rosalux.de/en/o4p">training</a>. Start a book club at work, and leave plenty of time for informal discussion. The best time to start forming a union was five years ago; the second best time is right now. And there are so many ways to get started. Nobody is coming to save us, except us. And together, we’re enough.

<hr /> This has been “<a href="https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/time-to-organize/">It’s time to organize.</a>” a post from <a href="https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/">Ethan’s journal.</a> <a href="mailto:listener+rss@ethanmarcotte.com?subject=Reply%20to:%20“It’s time to organize.”">Reply via email</a>