Last night at the DC Democratic State Committee, members of the committee adopted an add-on measure to the DC platform. Added last night was an entire plank provided by Fred Allen. In addition, the body adopted language noting that it fully supports the right for workers to organize. To which they further noted their support for
passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. (okay, I'm cheering myself here, it was my measure!!)

There was significant debate on the measure and a number of "no" votes, however, it still passed!!! Whew!!

The most disturbing thing for me last night were the number of abstention votes from members of the body who seemed not to know about the Act or what it does for workers, despite my explanations. The Right Wing talking points for some reason resonated with some of the members, and these are pro-union democrats.

This weekend, Uniongal Blog will be hosting an Obama platform meeting on Labor: Finding Our Seat At the Table. Part of this discussion will focus on our talking points about the Employee Free Choice Act and how best to use them.

If you will be in DC and have not already done so, I urge you to sign up for the event. Use the "Listening" widget on the upper right hand corner of this blog.

I'm excited not only about an Obama victory this November, but also the ability of my brothers and sisters in labor to work toward representation for all workers. It really is as simple as as one of my favorite quote from Harry Bridges "The most important word in the language of the working class is `solidarity.'"

In Solidarity.

Kirsten Burgard

PS, I kind of lost it a little last night with a member of the committee who is anti-worker. I'd like to say that won't ever happen again, but let's face it, when it's something as important as organizing and having a voice in your workplace, I doubt I'll be able to hold back. So, yeah, I yelled, but at least I did ask him to step outside and beat the shit out of my fellow Democratic committee member. Oh and if I'd had that opportunity, I'd have been able to knock him down a few pegs. Clearly, that's not what I should be thinking about, but, there yuo have it. Even I can lose my cool. So, I'll be practicing my talking points this weekend. It's much better than beating them into someone else!!!

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And one more reminder,

SPACE IS LIMITED!!!

DC DEMS GATHER SATURDAY: More than 500 District activists are expected to turn out Saturday for the DC Democratic State Committee Convention, the first held in many years. The day long event features nearly two dozen workshops on topics including DC Voting Rights, Getting Politically Active Online, 411 on Blogging (with a focus on union blogging), Party Building, Politics & Religion, Trade & Politics and Political Fundraising. There will also be programs by nearly a dozen Constituency Caucuses, including labor, where Metro Washington Council President Jos Williams will facilitate a discussion from 11:30A to 12:30P on the “Role of Labor in Expanding Political Participation,” assessing the importance and role of organized labor in the political process and “exploring ways in which organized labor can expand political participation and accountability at ward, city and national levels.” Panelists include Cynthia Kane (SEIU), Earl O'Neal (AFSCME Council 20) and Nathan Saunders (Washington Teachers Union). Click here for more details and to register.

See you all tomorrow!!

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This Saturday, I will be working with an absolutely amazing group of bloggers. We will be providing a workshop on E-Activism and Blogging and yes, it has a very labor slant at the DC Democratic State Convention at the University of the District of Columbia.

Space is limited!!
So Use This Link and SIGN UP NOW!!

This should be an absolutely amazing experience and if you live in the DC metro area, and want the 411 on Blogging, you should sign up on line and come on out to meet:

Kirsten Burgard
from Women, Unions and Our Stories. Kirsten is a Ward 6 resident and co-chair of PSA 105, she writes on her blog site as well as Dailykos, Booman Tribune, and other liberal blog sites. Kirsten is an At-Large member of the DC Democratic State Committee and also a former member of SEIU and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Tula Connell
I got my first union card while I worked my way through college as a banquet bartender for the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee (we were represented by a hotel and restaurant local union—the names of the national unions were different then than they are now). With a background in journalism—covering bull roping in Texas and school boards in Virginia—I started working in the labor movement in 1991. Beginning as a writer for SEIU (and OPEIU member), I now blog under the title of AFL-CIO managing editor.

Richard Negri
from UnionReview. Richard, a lifetime unionist, is a member of the web communications team for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT). Union Review is one of the highest trafficked union blog site's.

Joe
from Joes' Union Review . Joe is a lifetime unionist, former Teamster, current UA Local 638 Steamfitter and a delegate for the NYC Central Labor Council. Joseph is also a co-administrator of UnionReview, and is active on many labor, news and social justice websites on the internet.

Now just to be clear that everyone understands what kind of workshop this is, here’s a little teaser on it:

411 on Blogging

This is a hands-on e-activism workshop. We will assist users in accessing the blogging world; starting their own blog; making comments on other blogging sites to spread their views and will focus users on the labor blogging community. We will also teach some html coding specific to blogging like adding links, embedding videos and inserting links using graphics. As a hands on event, this will be a longer workshop with a lunch break in the middle. At the end of the session, users will have created their own blogs, have user profiles in other blog sites and also be able to create simple code for their new sites.

So, if you’re in the DC area and want to know what blogging is all about, how to use blogs and e-activism to build your site or start a labor blog or even just to start a personal one, come on out and join us for the event!!

Space is limited!!

So Use This Link and SIGN UP NOW!!

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