Lane Windham
@lanewindham.bsky.social
Activist, writer, historian, labor and working-class issues. Author of Knocking on Labor's Door: Union Organizing in the 1970s and the Roots of a New Economic Divide
Nice story on the 1892 Homestead steel strike, featuring new USW President Roxanne Brown. @steelworkers.bsky.social www.npr.org/2026/06/27/n...
The strike that reshaped the labor movement
What can a steelworkers strike from 1892 tell us about today's economy? NPR's Don Gonyea visits Homestead, Pennsylvania where one of America's most important labor fights unfolded.
npr.org
Really good history of LA labor movement... ICE Raids at World Cup Games? A Los Angeles Union Says, No Way! prospect.org/2026/06/09/i...
ICE Raids at World Cup Games? A Los Angeles Union Says, No Way! - The American Prospect
The L.A. local of hotel and restaurant workers settles a contract dispute, but reserves the right to strike if ICE appears at Friday’s kickoff.
prospect.org
SUCH an important victory for workers, because these LYFT and Uber drivers didn't let the broken labor law stop them! prospect.org/2026/05/26/i...
In Massachusetts Today, Uber and Lyft Drivers Went Union - The American Prospect
Under a recently enacted state law, independent contractors can bargain collectively—and now, they will.
prospect.org
As workers have been on the frontlines at #NoKings rallies, organizing in Minnesota and more, a recent bump in union membership "heralds real hope" The Kalmanovitz's Associate Director weighs in on what this means for the future of labor organizing for In These Times.
Five Things the New BLS Union Membership Statistics Don’t Tell You
Union membership is slightly on the rise—but the hope for U.S. labor’s future is far brighter than the numbers alone suggest.
inthesetimes.com
“America’s labor movement has been going through a transition over the last decade that is far more layered and nuanced — and that holds more potential for future growth — than the BLS annual membership survey reveals.” New leaders & organizational forms having an impact— @lanewindham.bsky.social
In These Times@inthesetimes.com · 6mo ago"The union membership statistics do nothing to demonstrate the new forms of worker justice organizing that have blossomed in the 21st century." @lanewindham.bsky.social lays out five things the numbers miss. inthesetimes.com/article/unio...
"The union membership statistics do nothing to demonstrate the new forms of worker justice organizing that have blossomed in the 21st century." @lanewindham.bsky.social lays out five things the numbers miss. inthesetimes.com/article/unio...
Five Things the New BLS Union Membership Statistics Don’t Tell You
Union membership is slightly on the rise—but the hope for U.S. labor’s future is far brighter than the numbers alone suggest.
inthesetimes.com
Pledge to stop buying Starbucks and find a mass picket event near you: www.nocontractnocoffee.org
No Contract, No Coffee | Starbucks Workers United
Starbucks baristas brewing change. Join the movement for fair contracts, better wages, and worker protections.
nocontractnocoffee.org
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history. Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
So proud of this class whose hosts include @unitehere.org, @opeiu.org, @jwj.org, @labwc.bsky.social, @powerswitchaction.org, @ncstateaflcio.bsky.social, @aflcio.org
@weleadlabor.bsky.social · 11mo agoWILL Empower is pleased to welcome its eighth class of the WILL Empower Apprenticeship Program that identifies, develops and convenes a new generation of women, non-binary and trans staff members for the worker justice movement. ▶️🖱️(www.willempower.org/2025/09/25/w... )
I'm attending Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO's event, “We Are All DC: A National March” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/mobilize/eve...
We Are All DC: A National March · Mobilize
DC communities are powerful, connected, and under attack. Federal troops, out-of-state National Guard, and Trump controlled police are harassing, surveilling, and detaining Black and Brown residents...
mobilize.us
Nominations EXTENDED to SEPTEMBER 1st for the WILL Empower Edna Berger Young Courageous Leader Award - $15,000! ✨Do you know a young courageous leader (age 30/under) committed to worker, racial, and gender justice? 🔥Nominate here by 9/1: go.rutgers.edu/sf3j15y3
Now that Trump Admin is purging museums of ideas that contradict its world view, hurry to see the National Archives excellent Power and Light, Russell Lee's 1946 coal survey. Part of the settlement to the 7-week miners' strike was this survey. Glad I saw this treasure before it is disappeared.
Worth sharing for the reference list alone (a lot of bangers on that list!). But this is a real question and the examination here by @lanewindham.bsky.social is a great read. Personally I believe organizing around working people's solidarity and life improvement is always a better option.
Kalmanovitz Initiative@georgetownkilwp.bsky.social · last yr.Now available on Portside! "Is the purpose of organizing to increase union membership, or is it to rebuild a working-class movement that can effectively make life better for the vast majority of working people?" @lanewindham.bsky.social for New Labor Forum portside.org/2025-05-28/c...
Yes, lots of new leaders, and many are women
Dave Kamper@dskamper.bsky.social · last yr.94. @lanewindham.bsky.social's Knocking on Labor's Door is great on 1970s organizing. One can argue that the split between young workers and labor leaders largely persisted until the last few years. I wrote about some of that here:
Now available on Portside! "Is the purpose of organizing to increase union membership, or is it to rebuild a working-class movement that can effectively make life better for the vast majority of working people?" @lanewindham.bsky.social for New Labor Forum portside.org/2025-05-28/c...
Could Sisyphus Have Tried Harder? Reflections on the Sweeney Administration’s Efforts at Mass Organizing, Thirty Years Later
When I came to the AFL-CIO in 1998, not long after John Sweeney was elected president, the enthusiasm and hope around organizing was contagious. I’d spent much of my twenties as a union organizer in t...
portside.org
"Who will stand for us?" asked @dropkickmurphys.com at @unite4vets.bsky.social rally. America's working class is asking that question, loud and clear.
From Lane Windham, here's an unsparing look back at the period 20 years ago, when the leadership of the AFL-CIO really did try to recommit to organizing the unorganized and rebuild the labor movement as a movement. And failed to do so. portside.org/2025-05-28/c...
My latest piece. I reflect on what we can learn today from the Sweeney era hopes and failures. Is boosting union density the ultimate organizing goal? journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Could Sisyphus Have Tried Harder? Reflections on the Sweeney Administration’s Efforts at Mass Organizing, Thirty Years Later - Lane Windham, 2025
journals.sagepub.com
BREAKING: The Department of Health and Human Services has fired every single worker in its program that helps low-income Americans pay their energy bills. thehill.com/policy/energ...
thehill.com
Amazon weaponizing AI to fight workers' union: prospect.org/labor/2025-0...
Amazon Uses Arsenal of AI Weapons Against Workers
A study of a union election at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, shows that the company weaponizes its algorithmic surveillance tools to prevent organizing.
prospect.org
Zoom Book Talk: Labor Historian Debbie Goldman will be discussing her new book 'Disconnected' with CWA Area Director Pat Telesco and @lanewindham.bsky.social. 2/26 4.00PM EST. RSVP here: bit.ly/cwaqa
Zoom Book Talk!📖 On 2/26 at 4:00 PM, Labor Historian Debbie Goldman, @cwaunion.bsky.social Area Director Pat Telesco and KI Associate Director @lanewindham.bsky.social Windham will discuss call center workers, AI, and the lessons labor can learn from history! #LaborSpring 👉http://bit.ly/cwaqa
20 years after split: SEIU rejoins AFL-CIO... this is good for working people... www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/b...
SEIU Joins Forces With AFL-CIO Ahead of New Trump Era
A marriage between the service employees union and the A.F.L.-C.I.O. could better equip organized labor to deal with a less-friendly administration.
nytimes.com
Our Associate Director @lanewindham.bsky.social joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the changing landscape of labor leadership and the importance of empowering women in the movement. awf.labortools.com/listen/follo...
Following election results, labor looks to regroup and unify members
The America’s Work Force Union Podcast is the nation’s premier daily labor program. Lane Windham from the Kalmanovitz Initiative joined us on today’s show.
awf.labortools.com
I feel like the election was fundamentally about the kinds of working-class issues I've been fighting for, and mostly losing, my entire adult life. Sounds like Randi Weingarten is also thinking something similar prospect.org/labor/2024-1...
Why Workers Deserted a Neoliberal Democratic Party
Herewith, a union leader’s suggestions on why they left and how to win them back.
prospect.org
