Labor Power and Strategy

March 2nd, 2023

7:00pm

Bookshop West Portal is thrilled to host a lively panel discussion celebrating the release of Labor Power and Strategy on March 2nd at 7:00pm. We are delighted to welcome the editor, Peter Olney, Retired Organizing Director ILWU, along with Fabiana Ochoa, Representative, California Nurses Association, and Carey Dall, ILWU Local 10 and past Organizing Coordinator for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way (Railroad Workers Union).

This event is free to attend and will take place at Bookshop West Portal. No registration is necessary, but early arrival is encouraged to get your seat. 

What would it take to topple Amazon? To change how health care works in America? To break up the media monopolies that have taken hold of our information and imaginations? How is it possible to organize those without hope working on the margins? In Labor Power and Strategy, legendary strategist, historian, and labor organizer John Womack, speaks directly to a new generation, providing rational, radical, experience-based perspectives that help target and run smart, strategic, effective campaigns in the working class.

In this sleek, practical, pocket inspiration, Womack lays out a timely plan for identifying chokepoints and taking advantage of supply chain issues in order to seize and build labor power and solidarity. Interviewed by Peter Olney of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union—Womack’s lively, illuminating thoughts are built upon by ten young labor organizers and educators, whose responses create a rich dialogue and open a space for joyful, achievable change. With stories of triumph that will bring readers to tears this back-pocket primer is an instant classic.

With contributions from Gene Bruskin, Carey Dall, Dan DiMaggio, Katy Fox-Hodess, Bill Fletcher Jr., Jane McAlevey, Jack Metzgar, Joel Ochoa, Melissa Shetler, and Rand Wilson.

PETER OLNEY is the retired Director of Organizing for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). From 2001 until 2004 Olney was the Associate Director of the University of California’s Institute for Labor and Employment (ILE). Olney has a Masters in Business Administration from UCLA. He resides in San Francisco, California. Olney is part of the Building Trades Academy faculty at Michigan State University and trains and teaches building trades organizers. Olney frequently contributes on line to The Stansbury Forum stansburyforum.com