LIUNA Regional Organizing Committees Gather for Bootcamp
This past October, LIUNA Regional Organizing Committee members from around the nation gathered for an annual Bootcamp in what might be one of the most union-adverse locations – Austin, Texas. Several representatives from the Midwest Region were on hand to learn, grow, and spread the word.
The annual Bootcamps are opportunities for newer organizers to strengthen their craft and learn from leadership and each other. “We have 50-60 participants along with staff, and we expose students to a mix of classroom and field activities,” said Jeff Penn, Midwest Region Organizing Committee Director. “Being in Texas had two distinct advantages – one, people from major metro areas where there is strong union representation got to see what it’s like in a state where we have almost zero market share, something that could happen in any area. This really brings home the importance of being involved with local and state legislation.
“Second, it gave us all a chance to see which contractors are working in Texas that might be working union jobs in other states. This can open the door for organizers to have discussions back at home with local reps from those contractors so we can potentially build Texas market share,” Jeff said.
There’s no question that the atmosphere in Texas is hostile to unions and worker right groups. “It’s worse here than anywhere else I’ve been. Daily you read about people getting hurt or killed on the job in Texas,” said Albert Lanham from Indiana. “These guys are just out here trying to make a living for their families and have a good life, and at the end of the day they have to worry about making it home at night.”
In fact, as Jimmy Naville, Organizer from Alton, Ill., stressed, it often seems like the politicians in Texas are actively trying to hurt workers, rather than protect them and make their lives better. “I mean, this is the state that pre-empted water break legislation. Workers have said they’ve been threatened with termination if they take a water break,” he observed. “Texas is the only state that doesn’t require workers comp insurance, and organizers are required to register with the Secretary of State or face criminal charges. Municipalities aren’t even allowed to have PLAs (project labor agreements) on projects.”
To say it’s a challenge for LIUNA to succeed in Texas might be an understatement, but Jimmy and others see some glimmers of hope. “For two years we’ve been laying the ground work in Texas, being told the whole time that it can’t be organized,” Jimmy reflected. “After all that work, we feel like the momentum is on our side. What happens next could potentially strengthen the union movement across the country.”
Southwest Laborers’ District Council Business Manager Cassie Hammond recognizes the challenges in Texas, but believes there is hope if we work on changing one person at a time. “People in this geographical area don’t understand what unions stand for or their value, so we have to start from zero with almost every conversation,” said Cassie. “They also don’t understand how much love we have for the membership. The changing of lives is very dramatic for the people here. We get to help them find a career that offers family-sustaining wages and benefits.”
One person at a time was a lesson that resonated with Michael Campbell, Local 81 Field Representative from Valparaiso, Ind. “One thing we talked about in Bootcamp was how important it is to not approach workers like they’re non-Union, but more as if they could be future members, and to really stress the family aspect of being a union worker,” he offered. “We need to show them support and care, not strong arm anyone; we want to stop them from being exploited.”
At the end of the day, and at the end of Bootcamp, the community and solidarity offered to LIUNA members is what moves the needle, and what may ultimately win over difficult regions like Texas. “A Bootcamp class is an opportunity for new guys to get a little bit of extra training on how to do things the right way, teach them how to speak with workers, how to speak with contractors, and how to handle themselves in a professional manner,” commented Albert.
“They’re building skills … and they’re building relationships,” he said.
“If LIUNA is going to succeed in our ‘March to One Million,’ organizing in Texas is going to have to be a big part of that,” said Jeff.