While the education, advocacy and organizing of labor unions have contributed to significant changes for justice and peace, there are structural limitations that are rooted in constitutional decisions declaring that "a corporation is a person" and "political money spent in elections equals free speech." The rights of working people, their families and communities has been preempted by never-intended constitutional "rights" of corporate entities and big money spent in elections.
Unjust constitutional rights give giant corporations the power and authority that they use against working people and labor unions. And Labor rarely wins against the unlimited money in politics from giant corporate “persons" and the superrich.
These two anti-democratic constitutional doctrines is a significant reason why labor unions have become less powerful compared to corporations and the superrich.
Working people and labor unions need Move to Amend and We the People Amendment (HJR54) to achieve justice and real democracy. We are here to act in solidarity with labor to work for increasing the rights of working people over the rights of corporations and the superrich.
About the Labor Caucus...
Local, regional and a few national unions have endorsed Move to Amend. These endorsements are gained through relationships. Some believe our most impactful way to move forward to connect and collaborate with organized labor is to connect at the grassroots level and move up while others feel it’s best to find contacts within national unions. Both strategies have their places.
The Labor Caucus is the space where we discuss, strategize, plan and report. We support Move to Amend organizers as they build relationships with organized labor and secure organized labor endorsements.
2025 Goals and Objectives
Organized Labor comprises a key--and natural--base of allies in the fight to win a We the People Amendment ending corporate rule over our democracy. Organized labor has played a pivotal role in shaping workplace conditions and protecting the rights of millions of working people worldwide. Historically, the labor movement is our strongest and longest-lived organized force against corporate rule.
Local, regional and a few national unions have endorsed Move to Amend. These endorsements are gained through relationships. Some believe our most impactful way to move forward to connect and collaborate with organized labor is to connect at the grassroots level and move up while others feel it’s best to find contacts within national unions. Both strategies have their places.
The Labor Caucus is the space where we discuss, strategize, plan and report. We support Move to Amend organizers as they build relationships with organized labor and secure organized labor endorsements.
GOAL
Increase solidarity from organized labor for the We the People Amendment
Objectives
Building relationships
Cal public officials with contacts to labor
Focus on medical unions - National Nurses
Robert Reich
Jane McAlevey
Bill McKibben
Review list of original MTA “signatories” for individuals and orgs
Education
Develop/revise resources - adapting the tri fold brochure to labor
Sponsor programs (virtual, interviews)
Attend programs (virtual, in person) - sharing info via chats/tables/speaking
Social media
Action
Attend labor sponsored actions
Invite labor reps to lobby for HJR54
Other specific “asks” (i.e. endorsement, share link(s)
Want to get involved?
If you are a union member, connected in any way to worker organizing, or you are already part of a Move to Amend affiliate and want to get involved with the Labor Caucus please contact Move to Amend Outreach Director, Greg Coleridge at [email protected].
Organized workers are our natural allies; we need you to join the campaign to spread the word and get Labor on board!
Resources
Getting Started:
- Introduction to organized labor for Move to Amend volunteers (readings and resources)
- Engaging organized labor and labor unions (Labor Caucus kick-off webinar 9/2015 - 1 hr 15 min)
- "Move to Amend Reports" podcast interview with Labor Caucus Chair Mike Ferner (9/2015)
- Slide Presentation to Labor Groups
Making the Calls:
Making the Case:
- Top reasons labor supports Move to Amend
- Invitation to Collaborate with Labor
- Talking points: why organized labor and Move to Amend have shared interests
- Expand Human and Worker Rights by Abolishing Corporate Constitutional Rights
- Labor Organizations in Support of MTA
- Corporate Attacks on Working People and Our Communities program with Afifa Khaliq (SEIU) and Mark Milko (Workers United) (Aug 19, 2020) - video
- Making Sense with Move to Amend program with Linda Gillison and Lawrence Abbott, MTA Labor Caucus (Aug. 28, 2020) - video
Securing Support:
- Model resolution for organized labor endorsing "We the People" amendment
- Sample letter for unions to send to state / federal elected officials urging support for "We the People" amendment
Resolutions in Support:
- Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council
- Alameda Labor Council Alameda County, CA
- The St.Paul Regional Labor Federation
Recommended Readings:
