from the archives, 2009: Judith Gappa & Rich Moser

Vintage movies yesterday, news updates and archives today...all looking back. Meanwhile (back at the ranch), the week looks forward to the International Student Movement (ISM) Week of Global Action and NTEU's online conference from Tasmania on #auscasuals' insecure work. That's getting around some ~ digital globetrotting. Now for some digital time travel:

Thursday, December 10, 2009. "Organizing: the Arts and Sciences," Rich Moser.   Cross posed from New Unionism. 

Organizing, yes, but for what? Richard Moser presents an intriguing summary of the current state of work and unionism in the U.S.. He argues that unions have tended towards an organizational culture which is resistant to change and unaccustomed to democracy. He traces the evolution of this process, mapping it against changes in work and society.  

Sunday Night at the Movies…#Adjunct version

…which is to say, free viewing and BYOP. Depending on what I find in the vault. I'm thinking double feature. One socially/movement relevant but the other not in the least, just for fun. It's already been a serious day, what with a new #StandwithMaryFaith article on Democracy Chronicles about the fundraiser (donations, no #selfies please).

Whether or not you are going, COCAL XI is coming. With that in mind, movie night kicks off screening Barbara Wolf's 2001 A Simple Matter of Justice video series.

Introduction: Political & Economic History

Introduction: Political & Economic History from Adjunct and Contingent on Vimeo

Surfing #HigherEdMedia: IHE's Daily & CHE's #AcademeToday

… on @WH #HigherEd Summit & other important articles, too many #paywall/ed for most #adjuncts…unfortunately Peter Schmidt's article on adjunct organizing is one of them. Since the article is about municipal endorsements, you can probably find articles in local Boston area, and L.A. press. The good news is that Rich Moser's (already featured on Facebook at A new faculty majority and other pages is not. 

IHE makes this easier by publishing their daily newsletter online as well as a weekly and a monthly—subscribe by email or rss. No pay walls -- and here's a White House Summit story (POTUS meets with 100 college presidents—what's wrong with this picture besides everything?) to sub for the one pay-walled at the Chronicle.  

Organizing: the Arts and Sciences, Rich Moser

 Cross posted from New Unionism, which is about unions setting agendas, rather than just reacting to them. This network unites supporters of four key principles: organizing, workplace democracy, internationalism and creativity.  FAQ»  Join»   

 

Organizing: the Arts and Sciences

Organizing, yes, but for what? Richard Moser presents an intriguing summary of the current state of work and unionism in the U.S.. He argues that unions have tended towards an organizational culture which is resistant to change and unaccustomed to democracy. He traces the evolution of this process, mapping it against changes in work and society. Unions must develop a culture of organizing if they are to renew their influence and reconnect with their members. He then presents some recommendations on organizing, exploring the contradictory but creative tensions that animate union activity. These are the challenges faced by those who want to put the movement back into labor.

Excerpt:

Organizing and the Fate of the US Labor Movement

It’s all about organizing and that’s good news.  Good news because it’s in our hands.  Good news because if we attend to the core mission of organizing we can become the authors of a new labor history—and it is a far, far better thing to be the author of your own world than a critic of the existing one. There are good reasons to believe that we can develop the capacity for renewal if we tap sources now nearly forgotten or largely unknown: the traditions of organizing and the transformative potential organizing still holds for the labor movement. Opportunity knocks, but, even the best of opportunities must be taken.

Organizing should be our top priority.  Why?  It is our most achievable major goal and fundamental to labor’s entire mission.

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