Jacobin Radio The Dig: Building the Union w/ Hannah Srajer
8 snips
Feb 1, 2025 Hannah Schreier, the dynamic president of the Connecticut Tenants Union, discusses innovative strategies for building tenant unions by drawing on labor organizing models. She emphasizes the importance of democratic decision-making and collaboration with unions like SEIU 1199NE. The conversation includes the triumph at Blake Street, where tenants achieved Connecticut's first collectively bargained lease, and highlights the challenges faced by tenant unions against eviction and corporate landlords. Together, they inspire hope for collective power in housing advocacy.
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Identifying Leaders: Myra and Shemelia
- Myra, a Concord Hills leader, self-organized a contact sheet after a fire, demonstrating leadership.
- Shemelia, a Blake Street leader, suggested tire slashing, drawing from her labor union experience.
Agitation as a Tool
- Hannah Srajer agitated Daniel Denver into action by challenging his complacency, leading to a productive partnership.
- Agitation, while uncomfortable, moves people from numbness to anger and action.
Blake Street Victory
- The Blake Street Tenant Union, facing rent raises, petitioned to collectively bargain, leading to retaliatory evictions.
- CTTU's intense campaign, including daily actions and legal filings, resulted in reinstated tenancies and a collectively bargained lease.
