Mike Elk: Labor Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

357 views · Published 13 July 2011 · 6:15 · Indexed 21 October 2026

Channel: The Nation · 2011 · News & Politics

Watch on YouTube

There is plenty of enthusiasm for labor unions in this country—the only problem is that only one in six organizing campaigns results in a contract and many cost the organizers their jobs. How are labor activists to negotiate organization when there are so many practical risks, and often so few tangible rewards associated with the process?

In this conversation with Kevin Gosztola at 2011's Socialism Conference in Chicago, labor activist and In These Times contributing editor Mike Elk comments on the need to invest confidence in the labor organizing movement. According to Elk, organizers need to acknowledge that there are many working solutions rather than one ultimate solution to strengthening the union movement. 

For more videos visit TheNation.com

More from this channel

• 2:26 Ehren Watada's War Against the War

  The Nation

  3,733 views · 8 August 2006

• 1:47 Israel's Dangerous War in Lebanon

  The Nation

  4,675 views · 21 August 2006

• 5:02 500 Miles to Babylon: Trailer

  The Nation

  4,834 views · 8 December 2006

• 6:25 Chavez's Citizen Diplomacy

  The Nation

  3,940 views · 14 December 2006

• 3:52 Mayor John Hickenlooper: "Cities are America's laboratories"

  The Nation

  3,643 views · 13 December 2007

• 4:26 Mayor Manny Diaz: "Not the hot button issues"

  The Nation

  2,608 views · 13 December 2007

• 3:57 Mayor Rocky Anderson: "These disastrous Bush years"

  The Nation

  4,711 views · 13 December 2007

• 5:54 Pegeen Hanrahan: "Use our cities more effectively"

  The Nation

  3,402 views · 5 March 2008