| The 28th Annual Labor Representatives in Health Care Industry - a great meeting of activists! |
In March, 2007, I spoke at a conference of labor representatives in
health care in Chicago. Organized by the Labor Education Program
at University of Illinois in Chicago, the meeting offered workshops
and forums on the cutbacks in health care, the campaigns to fight
the cuts, and the state and national movements to provide universal
health care - the "single-party pay program."
The conference galvanized the members; stories of victories on the
labor front - rarely if ever covered in the mainstream press -
encouraged the rest of us to re-double our efforts and to develop
creative ways to raise these vital issues.
The hospital workers who marched 200 miles from Buffalo to Albany,
NY in the bitter New York winter were especially inspiring. Likewise
the Chicago trade unionists who have fought the Chicago County
Board vote to close essential clinics and programs.
health care in Chicago. Organized by the Labor Education Program
at University of Illinois in Chicago, the meeting offered workshops
and forums on the cutbacks in health care, the campaigns to fight
the cuts, and the state and national movements to provide universal
health care - the "single-party pay program."
The conference galvanized the members; stories of victories on the
labor front - rarely if ever covered in the mainstream press -
encouraged the rest of us to re-double our efforts and to develop
creative ways to raise these vital issues.
The hospital workers who marched 200 miles from Buffalo to Albany,
NY in the bitter New York winter were especially inspiring. Likewise
the Chicago trade unionists who have fought the Chicago County
Board vote to close essential clinics and programs.
Many people stayed late on Monday to hear me talk
about "Art and Social Change." It's no surprise in order
to mobilize large numbers of people in a social
movement, you have to win their hearts. You have to
shake them up, turn them on, lift their spirit, get them
fired up with righteous indignation.
Songs, poems, stories and novels play such an
important roll in bringing the message of social injustice
and the ability of working class people to fight against
that injustice, it's always helpful to remember that every
working man and woman has a story to tell. That story
will be tragic . . . Funny . . . Exciting . . . Memorable. All
that they need is the encouragement to write that story,
or sing it, or chant it, and let the world know about their
life. Because the life of a single worker mirrors the lives
of all of us, and we can all learn from and gain strength
by hearing it told.
about "Art and Social Change." It's no surprise in order
to mobilize large numbers of people in a social
movement, you have to win their hearts. You have to
shake them up, turn them on, lift their spirit, get them
fired up with righteous indignation.
Songs, poems, stories and novels play such an
important roll in bringing the message of social injustice
and the ability of working class people to fight against
that injustice, it's always helpful to remember that every
working man and woman has a story to tell. That story
will be tragic . . . Funny . . . Exciting . . . Memorable. All
that they need is the encouragement to write that story,
or sing it, or chant it, and let the world know about their
life. Because the life of a single worker mirrors the lives
of all of us, and we can all learn from and gain strength
by hearing it told.