What's Left of Philosophy 107 | How Labor Can Win w/ Eric Blanc
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Feb 10, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Eric Blanc, an assistant professor at Rutgers University and author of "We Are the Union," shares insights into revitalizing the U.S. labor movement. He challenges the notion that labor is dead by showcasing the powerful grassroots organizing happening at places like Starbucks and Amazon. Topics include the importance of solidarity in a digital age, navigating workplace surveillance, and transforming labor strategies to engage new workers. Blanc emphasizes the need for collective action to combat rising inequality and advocates for global labor solidarity.
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Worker-to-Worker Organizing
- The 'worker-to-worker' organizing model empowers workers to initiate organizing before union involvement.
- This addresses scalability issues by training worker-leaders, reducing reliance on limited staff.
Workers' Existing Knowledge
- Union staff found workers already knowledgeable about organizing, thanks to online resources and prior activism.
- This prior experience reduced training time and empowered workers in the organizing process.
Decentralization's Impact
- Capital and society have decentralized, making it harder for workers to connect and organize.
- Suburbanization, long commutes, and the dispersed nature of service industries contribute to this challenge.
