Workshop: What to Do When Your Union Breaks Your Heart

Cartoon by Mary Matthews, drawingdailyusa.com

Many of us are disappointed when our union officers don't listen to members and won't fight the boss. But there's a whole different kind of heartbreak when those officers actively turn against us and exclude us from the union.

This Heartbreak Workshop will offer stories from members of the Caucus of Rank & File Healthcare Employees (CORHE) at CWA 1168, a union of nearly 5,000 hospital workers in Buffalo NY, who have all been targeted with fierce retaliation by their employer and union.

Their goals—for a transparent, democratic, inclusive, and militant union—so threatened the officers that they are now locked in a serious battle for the heart and soul of the union.

Speakers:
1. Patrick Weisansal II - Removed Vice President, CWA 1168, CORHE member
2. Jennifer Hogue - CMA AAMA, Locked Out Area Vice President, Technical, Clinical, Clerical Units, CWA 1168, CORHE member
3. Mary Nowocien LPN - Removed Director of Organizing/Mobilizing-CWA 1168, CORHE member, Teamsters 264
4. Ann Converso - RN, Removed Organizer-CWA 1168, CORHE member, Teamsters 264

This workshop is based on a piece by Labor Notes board member Ellen David Friedman who will also be leading the workshop. Ellen is also the author of the new book Keep Going: A Guide to Organizing When It's Hard.

When: Tuesday, December 8
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time (4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific).
Where: This is an online workshop and will be held via Zoom.

Registration fee
$0 - Free registration
$10 - Suggested registration

We suggest a $10 fee for this event, but you can choose to register for free from the drop down menu below.

If you have questions about the workshop, or you have issues registering or you've registered and didn't receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link, please email Labor Notes Organizer Danielle Smith at danielle[at]labornotes[dot]org.

To register multiple people: send each person this page and have them register through the checkout process.

Accessibility: Zoom's automatic captions will be turned on during the session. Please feel free to contact us with other accessibility needs or questions.