New Books in Political Science Naomi R. Williams, "A Blueprint for Worker Solidarity: Class Politics and Community in Wisconsin" (U Illinois Press, 2025)
Oct 12, 2025
Naomi R. Williams, Associate Professor of Labor Studies at Rutgers University, explores worker solidarity from Racine, Wisconsin. She shares how her upbringing fueled her passion for labor history and highlights the impact of the 1976 hospital strike, which united diverse workers. Williams discusses the concept of total person unionism, emphasizing the interconnectedness of community needs and labor rights. She also stresses lessons for modern organizing, urging a holistic approach that connects workplace struggles with broader social issues and building solidarity beyond traditional boundaries.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
William Jenkins' Working-Class Leadership
- William Jenkins rose from shop steward to Central Labor Council president and pushed racial justice within unions.
- He joined NAACP leadership and enlisted unions as organizational members to link economic democracy with racial justice.
Memory Sustained Militancy
- Racine's 1950s labor activism stayed intense because workers repeatedly fought management and retold past struggles.
- That sustained memory fueled political engagement and placement of workers into city leadership roles.
Total-Person Unionism Explained
- 'Total person' unionism treated workers' lives beyond work, addressing housing, education, and civic participation.
- Leaders from Depression-era backgrounds championed social responsibility to prevent future hardship.
