Beyond DEI: How Forming a Union Can Transform Your Workplace.

Unions have been around for centuries, but for most of today’s workers, they remain a mystery: what exactly is a union, and how do you form one? 

In this workshop, we’ll lay out what unions are and how they work. We'll answer your questions about the process of coming together with your coworkers to form a union,  and talk through common anti-union talking points that you'll hear from every employer. Most importantly, we'll talk about how unions can be a part of equity work, both within your own workplace and more broadly throughout our society. 

Trainers:

Mansi Kathuria (they/she)

I have been a community and labor organizer for seven years. I’ve worked on immigration and city budgeting issues in Chicago, and supported nurses across the country in forming and strengthening their unions. At my last job, I helped lead a successful unionization effort. I’m now living in Oakland getting my Master of Public Policy at the University of California Berkeley, where I am one of the head union stewards for UAW 2865. I am currently working as a research assistant at the UC Berkeley Labor Center. Outside of work, I find joy through cooking, dancing, and trying to cuddle my cat. 

Emma LaBounty (she)

I’m an organizer and trainer who’s helped workers come together to build power at work in higher education, at charter schools, and on electoral campaigns. In addition to my work organizing with the American Federation of Teachers and as a founder of the Campaign Workers Guild, I was a proud member and steward of the Chicago News Guild. Now, I’m in law school in Chicago.

This is a pay-what-you-can workshop with all donations going directly to the expert trainers.