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by David Van Deusen (Author), Kim Kelly (Foreword by), Steve Early (Introduction by)
Insurgent Labor tracks the trials and tribulations of
bringing a formerly stagnant labor council into national relevance with
an unapologetically left-wing agenda.
David Van Deusen charts the
rise of the UNITED! slate to create a progressive and militant labor
organization. He chronicles the many victories throughout his tenure
including expanding union democracy into the rank and file, moving power
away from single individuals and into democratic structures, supporting
farm workers, supporting Black self-determination, and providing
solidarity with the Revolution in Rojava.
The boldest step
undertaken by the Vermont AFL-CIO--and marker of years of steady progress
in labor organizing and raising of political consciousness in
Vermont--was authorizing a call for a general strike throughout Vermont
as a possible response to the November 2020 coup threat by then US
President Donald Trump.
This book should be of interest to
anyone, whether they have merely thought of joining a union or are an
old union hand. Most importantly, Insurgent Labor offers a
blueprint for militant labor's advances in an era of capitalist
polycrisis and offers hope for a brighter future based around equality,
justice, and true democracy.
