This content originally appeared on Ethan Marcotte’s website and was authored by Ethan Marcotte
As the horse once said, 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 the rollout of astronomical tax hikes that could crater the economy? A union contract can’t prevent a layoff, but it can determine the kind of layoff you get: 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 contract with “just cause” protections. Want a say over whether or not you’re surveilled at work? Unionize, and get a contract. Tired of “generative AI” in the workplace? You can guess what I’m going to say here.
A union can be useful for other fights, too. When graduate student Rumeysa Öztürk was abducted by federal agents last week, her union took to the streets before launching a nationwide pressure campaign. Last year, Cornell University suspended Momodou Taal for participating in campus protests. In response, his union went to war: they held multiple mass actions on campus, eventually forcing the university to the bargaining table to fight Taal’s suspension. 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 some organizer training. 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.
This has been “It’s time to organize.” a post from Ethan’s journal.
This content originally appeared on Ethan Marcotte’s website and was authored by Ethan Marcotte
Ethan Marcotte | Sciencx (2025-04-03T04:00:00+00:00) It’s time to organize.. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/04/03/its-time-to-organize/
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