Organizing Support

Since becoming a Union City in 1998, the Cleveland AFL-CIO has brought union members and our community together to help provide a voice for working people. The focus has been:

  • Connecting our political program to organizing starting with endorsements and including linking organizing rights to the allocation of public funds and involving elected leaders in organizing campaigns.
  • Provide systematic, strategic work to help workers organize through various tools including card checks and community pressure.
  • Increase public awareness of the importance of allowing workers to organize free of fear and intimidation to improve community standards.

We have accomplished a lot by working together with unions, our community allies like Cleveland Jobs with Justice, elected officials and others.

When we bring together the collective effort of our community, working people can win. Past strategic campaigns include:

  • UFCW Local 880/Peterson Nuts
  • UNITE/Dreison First Contract
  • CWA Local 4340/Ameritech SecurityLink
  •  AFSCME/Cleveland Housing Court
  • SEIU Local 47/Juvenile Court
  • HERE Local 10/Jacobs Field
  • District 925/Head Start Workers
  • HERE Local 10 - Radisson Hotel
  • UFCW Local 880/Reserve Square Grocery Cleveland
  • Building Trades/Various drives
  • District 925/Cleveland State University
  • IATSE/ClevelandTheaters
  • UFCW/Belden Village Mall
  • HERE Local 10/Hyatt Hotel
  • SEIU 47/VGS
  • CWA-NABET/Channel 19/43 & WVIZ/Channel 25

We have shown our support for working people in various ways, including: picketing, community delegations, prayer vigils, marches, rallies, press conferences and legal action, strategic campaigns have helped over 2,600 workers achieve a collective voice through a first contract.

Card Check Recognition Works

Working with the Jobs with Justice Workers Rights Board, working people in Greater Cleveland have been able to gain a voice at work through card check recognitions including:

  • AFSCME- Cleveland Housing Court.
  • HERE Local 10 - Broadway Pub
  • HERE Local 10 - Hyatt Hotel
  • HERE Local 10 - Holiday Inn Express
  • HERE Local 10 - Massimos
  • HERE Local 10 - Radison Hotel
  • SEIU Local 47 - Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court.
  • UNITE - Xerox Corporation

In each of these examples, along with others, once workers were able to voice their support for unionization without fear and intimidation, they choice a collective voice at work.

Resources for Labor Leaders

A Troublemaker's Handbook (Second Edition) is now available from Labor Notes. The book provides real-life advice on how to build power in the workplace, including with the use of community campaigns with the involvement of central labor councils and Jobs with Justice. Clevelander Steve Cagan is featured in this collection of stories and success stories.

A Troublemaker's Handbook gives important advice on how to build a member-to-member network, enforce contract language with job actions, getting your message out to the media, winning good first contracts and training new leaders.

At only $24, A Troublemaker's Handbook is a great buy. It makes a nice gift for activists within your union and should be in every union hall. For only $6 more, both editions (both very different) can be purchased. Looking at how complete this book is, the only problem I have with it is it should be called The Troublemaker's Handbook. You can buy this publication and other resources through Labor Notes at www.labornotes.org.