Leo

Here’s a combination of words I’ve never used before: I just got back from a long weekend at a hotel near O’Hare Airport. It’s probably not the last time I’ll haul that phrase out, though; I was attending my very first <a href="https://labornotes.org/2024">Labor Notes Conference</a>, and I’m so glad I went. The conference was, bluntly, extraordinary. And how could it not be? I was surrounded by some 4,500 people from across the labor movement — workers, artists, writers, union leaders, and more. And every single one of them was fired the hell up. Honestly, I don’t really have the words to neatly sum up the conference. <a class="footnote" href="#fn-rundown" id="fnref-fn-rundown" aria-labelledby="title-footnotes">1</a> I guess I’d describe it as a happy, wild blur, overwhelming and inspiring in equal measure. I sat in on panels where workers discussed shared opportunities for organizing and activism; I watched as attendees organized an impromptu protest against the genocide in Palestine; I teared up during the first plenary, when the speaker called out to <a href="https://janemcalevey.com/writing/latest-news/">Jane McAlevey</a> with love and grateful solidarity. I was in a packed reception hall when the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/04/19/vw-uaw-tennessee-vote/">UAW vote was won at a VW factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee</a>, making it the first Southern auto factory to join a union since the 1940s. The room was practically exploding with joy, with relief, with exhilaration: every single person in the room knew the stakes of the election, and the significance of winning it. I heard organizing strategies for workers across the supply chain; I heard how tech workers built digital tools to support their organizing. I got to meet some of my favorite writers, and met some new favorite writers. I spoke with nurses, teachers, warehouse workers, and more. I connected with friends new and old, and even got a chance to talk about <a href="https://ethanmarcotte.com/books/you-deserve-a-tech-union/"><cite>You Deserve a Tech Union</cite></a> with a roomful of authors and workers. Heck, I even spotted some copies of my little book at the conference, stocked by the fine folks at <a href="https://pilsencommunitybooks.com/">Pilsen Community Books</a>: <img srcset="https://ethanmarcotte.com/media/pilsen-angle.jpg, https://ethanmarcotte.com/media/pilsen-angle@2x.jpg 2x" src="https://ethanmarcotte.com/media/pilsen-angle.jpg" alt="A table overflowing with labor books for sale, written by authors ranging from Hamilton Nolan, Kim Kelly, Les Leopold, and Jane McAlevey. Behind the table are two masked people having a conversation." loading="lazy" width="1500" height="844" /> <img srcset="https://ethanmarcotte.com/media/pilsen.jpg, https://ethanmarcotte.com/media/pilsen@2x.jpg 2x" src="https://ethanmarcotte.com/media/pilsen.jpg" alt="Two masked people sit behind a table overflowing with labor books for sale; the person on the right flashes two fingers at the camera in a “V-for-victory” sign. The top row of books is visible in front of them: Hamilton Nolan’s new book “The Hammer”, Kim Kelly’s “Fight Like Hell”, Ethan Marcotte’s “You Deserve a Tech Union”, Les Leopold’s “Wall Street’s War on Workers”, and Jane McAlevey and Abby Lawlor’s “Rules to Win By”." loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" /> In a weekend filled with wonderful moments, that was right near the top for me. The conference was a lot; the conference was remarkable. I was exhausted and ready to come home when it was over; at the same time, I wish I was still there. And I absolutely can’t wait until the next Labor Notes Conference in 2026. My head’s full, and my heart’s on fire. Let’s get to work. <hr /> <div class="footnotes flow"> <h2 class="hed-footnotes has-dash" id="title-footnotes">Footnote</h2> <ol><li id="fn-rundown" class="footnote-item">If you’re looking for a more detailed recap, I really enjoyed <a href="https://thechiefleader.com/stories/at-chicagos-labor-notes-conference-the-sense-of-solidarity-was-palpable,52301">this write-up over at <cite>The Chief</cite></a>. (My thanks to <a href="https://social.coop/@Matt_Noyes/112322196529303996">Matt Noyes</a> for the link.) <a href="#fnref-fn-rundown" class="reversefootnote">↩︎</a> </li> </ol> </div>

<hr /> This has been “<a href="https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/slingshot/">Slingshot.</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“Slingshot.”">Reply via email</a>