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A Collective Bargain: Unions, Organizing, and the Fight for Democracy
From longtime labor organizer Jane McAlevey, a vital call-to-arms in favor of unions, a key force capable of defending our democracy For decades, racism, corporate greed, and a skewed political system have been eating away at the social and political fabric of the United States. Yet as McAlevey reminds us, there is one weapon whose effectiveness has been proven repeatedly throughout U.S. unions. In A Collective Bargain, longtime labor organizer, environmental activist, and political campaigner Jane McAlevey makes the case that unions are a key institution capable of taking effective action against today’s super-rich corporate class. Since the 1930s, when unions flourished under New Deal protections, corporations have waged a stealthy and ruthless war against the labor movement. And they’ve been winning. Until today. Because, as McAlevey shows, unions are making a comeback. Want to reverse the nation’s mounting wealth gap? Put an end to sexual harassment in the workplace? End racial disparities on the job? Negotiate climate justice? Bring back unions. As McAlevey travels from Pennsylvania hospitals, where nurses are building a new kind of patient-centered unionism, to Silicon Valley, where tech workers have turned to old-fashioned collective action, to the battle being waged by America’s teachers, readers have a ringside seat at the struggles that will shape our country—and our future.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2020
200 people are currently reading
4168 people want to read
About the author
Jane F. McAlevey
10 books223 followersJane F. McAlevey is a union and community organizer, educator, author, and scholar. She’s fourth generation union, raised in an activist-union household. She spent the first half of her organizing life working in the community organizing and environmental justice movements and the second half in the union movement.
She has led power structure analyses and strategic planning trainings for a wide range of union and community organizations and has had extensive involvement in globalization and global environmental issues.
She is currently a Senior Policy Fellow at the University of California at Berkeley’s Labor Center, part of the Institute for Labor & Employment Relations.
She has led power structure analyses and strategic planning trainings for a wide range of union and community organizations and has had extensive involvement in globalization and global environmental issues.
She is currently a Senior Policy Fellow at the University of California at Berkeley’s Labor Center, part of the Institute for Labor & Employment Relations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
July 26, 2020
Early in A Collective Bargain, Jane McAlevey describes the effect anti-union propaganda has had on even liberal-leaning voters:
Prior to reading this book, that paragraph would have described me pretty well. Working in a sector where many of our projects have to consider how a union will respond, I’ve pulled my hair out in frustration at things like being unable to let people to enroll in health insurance online because it would eliminate jobs in the mailroom. I didn’t see the good unions did or understand how they leverage the power of their communities to wrestle equality from the inherently unequal power dynamics that exist in labor. And I certainly didn’t recognize how my own perception has been shaped by a long history of intentional union repression. McAlevey’s work opened my eyes to all of this.
A Collective Bargain does two things: first, it walks through the history, structure, and effective tactics of unions; second, it provides blow-by-blow narratives of highly successful union building efforts over the past few years that won remarkable victories even in the face of intense political opposition, hostile courts, and weakening labor laws. Seeing what unions have been able to achieve truly fascinated me. For example, the L.A. teacher’s strike was very minimally about pay: some of their key demands included things like making sure students had outdoor green spaces and wouldn’t be subjected to random drug searches. Nurses went on strike to ensure the nurse to patient ratio was kept at a level that ensured the safety on their patients. Seeing how they achieved it was also illuminating: victories are pulled off only by extreme transparency in strategy and through reaching out, over and over again, to employees – tenants of purer democracy than is often seen these days.
Another thing McAlevey changed my mind about is how crucial unions are even for workers at places like Google, Netflix, and Tesla. Silicon Valley has been a strident anti-union environment since the 1970’s and companies like Amazon are vocally dedicated to quashing any union efforts. (It was also interesting to note that some of the most extreme union-crushing in recent years has been done by wealthy Democrats.) Workers who think they don’t need a union because their skills are in high demand and hard to replace have been repeatedly surprised to find their employer has no hesitation in firing those who push for things like pay transparency, maternity leave, or efforts to combat systematic racism at the company’s highest levels. Tools like AI and even proposals of a universal basic income – both efforts to wipe out the necessity of having to pay a human worker – are, in their own way, anti-union tactics. Unions are about so much more than pay: they’re ensuring you don’t have to rely solely on a magnanimous employer to have an equal seat at the table.
McAlevey is upfront: there are bad unions. Unions, like any other institution, are run by people, and people aren’t always great. There will be ones that are corrupt, that don’t truly advocate for their workers, and who are determined to never let anything change. But with the recognition that such unions can exist, comes the opportunities to put structures in place to ensure they don’t. McAlevey offers clear guidance on how to ensure unions work well, such as requiring that the workers themselves – not just union representatives – are always at the bargaining table and vote on any final contract, and recommending workers interested in unionizing do extensive research on a union before signing up with it, including reaching out to workers at other companies who have already unionized. Just like there are terrible judges in courts, or biased reporters at a newspaper, there can be bad unions – but this doesn’t mean you simply renounce all of them.
I’m writing this review primarily because it’s shocking to me that, at the time I’m posting this on Goodreads, this book has only 122 ratings and 25 reviews. This is an extremely important book for the future of our country – particularly when you’re feeling particularly helpless and unsure of what to do! – and deserves a much wider readership. I openly admit that I’m crafting this essay with the hope my Goodreads friends will read it and then pick up their own copy of A Collective Bargain. If you don’t want to read this entire book, I’d recommend listening to the episode of Ezra Klein’s podcast A Master Class in Organizing, where Klein interviews McAlevey for two hours on organizing and how unions are a crucial institution for achieving real economic and social equality.
McAlevey’s guide is a clear, readable history of unions – the good and the bad – that dispels common myths, provides a blow-by-blow playbook of how to make them work, makes a compelling case for why the union is an institution crucial to the continuation of our democracy, and offers a sense of hope and optimism in a bleak political time. Highly recommended reading.
"Liberal acquaintances of mine say that union members are spoiled, that unions protect incompetent workers, charge too much in dues, and preclude business innovation… Friends who wouldn’t dream of eating nonorganic food, who drive electric vehicles, send money to save Tiber, and marched wearing pink pussy hats complain that the teacher’s union is the reason public schools are deteriorating, or that striking transit workers ruined their commute, or that unions are the reason they can’t get an appointment this decade with their HMO.”
Prior to reading this book, that paragraph would have described me pretty well. Working in a sector where many of our projects have to consider how a union will respond, I’ve pulled my hair out in frustration at things like being unable to let people to enroll in health insurance online because it would eliminate jobs in the mailroom. I didn’t see the good unions did or understand how they leverage the power of their communities to wrestle equality from the inherently unequal power dynamics that exist in labor. And I certainly didn’t recognize how my own perception has been shaped by a long history of intentional union repression. McAlevey’s work opened my eyes to all of this.
A Collective Bargain does two things: first, it walks through the history, structure, and effective tactics of unions; second, it provides blow-by-blow narratives of highly successful union building efforts over the past few years that won remarkable victories even in the face of intense political opposition, hostile courts, and weakening labor laws. Seeing what unions have been able to achieve truly fascinated me. For example, the L.A. teacher’s strike was very minimally about pay: some of their key demands included things like making sure students had outdoor green spaces and wouldn’t be subjected to random drug searches. Nurses went on strike to ensure the nurse to patient ratio was kept at a level that ensured the safety on their patients. Seeing how they achieved it was also illuminating: victories are pulled off only by extreme transparency in strategy and through reaching out, over and over again, to employees – tenants of purer democracy than is often seen these days.
Another thing McAlevey changed my mind about is how crucial unions are even for workers at places like Google, Netflix, and Tesla. Silicon Valley has been a strident anti-union environment since the 1970’s and companies like Amazon are vocally dedicated to quashing any union efforts. (It was also interesting to note that some of the most extreme union-crushing in recent years has been done by wealthy Democrats.) Workers who think they don’t need a union because their skills are in high demand and hard to replace have been repeatedly surprised to find their employer has no hesitation in firing those who push for things like pay transparency, maternity leave, or efforts to combat systematic racism at the company’s highest levels. Tools like AI and even proposals of a universal basic income – both efforts to wipe out the necessity of having to pay a human worker – are, in their own way, anti-union tactics. Unions are about so much more than pay: they’re ensuring you don’t have to rely solely on a magnanimous employer to have an equal seat at the table.
McAlevey is upfront: there are bad unions. Unions, like any other institution, are run by people, and people aren’t always great. There will be ones that are corrupt, that don’t truly advocate for their workers, and who are determined to never let anything change. But with the recognition that such unions can exist, comes the opportunities to put structures in place to ensure they don’t. McAlevey offers clear guidance on how to ensure unions work well, such as requiring that the workers themselves – not just union representatives – are always at the bargaining table and vote on any final contract, and recommending workers interested in unionizing do extensive research on a union before signing up with it, including reaching out to workers at other companies who have already unionized. Just like there are terrible judges in courts, or biased reporters at a newspaper, there can be bad unions – but this doesn’t mean you simply renounce all of them.
I’m writing this review primarily because it’s shocking to me that, at the time I’m posting this on Goodreads, this book has only 122 ratings and 25 reviews. This is an extremely important book for the future of our country – particularly when you’re feeling particularly helpless and unsure of what to do! – and deserves a much wider readership. I openly admit that I’m crafting this essay with the hope my Goodreads friends will read it and then pick up their own copy of A Collective Bargain. If you don’t want to read this entire book, I’d recommend listening to the episode of Ezra Klein’s podcast A Master Class in Organizing, where Klein interviews McAlevey for two hours on organizing and how unions are a crucial institution for achieving real economic and social equality.
McAlevey’s guide is a clear, readable history of unions – the good and the bad – that dispels common myths, provides a blow-by-blow playbook of how to make them work, makes a compelling case for why the union is an institution crucial to the continuation of our democracy, and offers a sense of hope and optimism in a bleak political time. Highly recommended reading.
January 18, 2020
This is an excellent unionist handbook to follow if you’re looking to:
1) Form a union (chapter on Philly nurses) and looking at the mechanics of a union drive, how to navigate highly-funded anti-union consulting firms trying to break worker solidarity
2) Transform a union you’re currently in (chapter on LA teachers)
3) Understand US labor history within an economic development framework and the laws that have purposefully been implemented to stop union growth
4) Understand the organizing model and the supermajority strike
As a union organizer of 16 years in healthcare and in education, I would recommend this book if you’re looking to learn more about any of the above. We can win.
1) Form a union (chapter on Philly nurses) and looking at the mechanics of a union drive, how to navigate highly-funded anti-union consulting firms trying to break worker solidarity
2) Transform a union you’re currently in (chapter on LA teachers)
3) Understand US labor history within an economic development framework and the laws that have purposefully been implemented to stop union growth
4) Understand the organizing model and the supermajority strike
As a union organizer of 16 years in healthcare and in education, I would recommend this book if you’re looking to learn more about any of the above. We can win.
September 8, 2020
never understood the history nor the power that unions had in amerika— when we think about some practical tools to challenge capitalism and it’s hegemony in all aspects of our work, unionizing (if done right) is a serious mechanism we should consider.
thankful for the workers and organizers who keep fighting and pushing for better conditions, even when the powers that be stand in the way. this book gave me immense hope in the power that unions have and how it can seriously be used to better the life for all working people. even now when everything seems so hopeless, our workplaces can truly be a space where we can challenge our bosses, and radicalize our co-workers in the process.
thankful for the workers and organizers who keep fighting and pushing for better conditions, even when the powers that be stand in the way. this book gave me immense hope in the power that unions have and how it can seriously be used to better the life for all working people. even now when everything seems so hopeless, our workplaces can truly be a space where we can challenge our bosses, and radicalize our co-workers in the process.
February 4, 2021
Her first two books were like an absolute bolt of lightning for me. This would be great for someone who considers themselves progressive but maybe doesn't see why unions are relevant anymore or thinks they might be good in the abstract but doesn't see their central importance to political struggles. That said, once we step out of more narrow labour movement strategy and stories into the broader political arena, this was pretty well-covered ground for me and while McAlevey does a good job at synthesizing some arguments, all this has been said elsewhere, and the actual goals of what kind of society she wants to build are unclear; the contradictions of 20th century social democracy and trade unionism are not dealt with pretty much all. That's not to say bad labour practices aren't criticized, because of course they are, but exactly what should be done with the "better" labour movement that is built, what the ultimate economic goals to be advocated for, in a book that has a much wider political scope than her previous two, none of this feels adequately addressed. As always though, she has an incredible talent for telling stories about the labour movement. The L.A. teachers and Pennsylvania nurses' stories are of course riveting.
May 17, 2020
Nothing I’ve read or experienced firsthand has convinced me of the necessity of unions across all industries more than this book. So much of what we’re all fighting for now in the COVID-19 crisis — paycheck security, worker safety protections, affordable health care, a more human-centered response to the pandemic in general — we’d undoubtedly already have if widespread unionization was in place. I grew up in an anti-union family in an anti-union state (SC) in a particularly bad time for unions (80s/90s). It’s taken me a long time to dispel anti-union myths I grew up with and turn down the background noise that said unions were corrupt and outdated, period. I’ve take steps away from all that as an adult, but I feel like this book, in this moment, really pushed me over a line. While we still have some laws that protect unionization, we must invest in unionizing more workers — especially the next generation of workers — to protect people from the chaos of the twenty first century and advance a broad and necessary progressive agenda. I suggest listening to the book. The author reads it, and she does a great job conveying the stakes and the power of unionization.
February 6, 2020
The book is a stark reminder of the importance of strong unions in our society. It made me despair for where we stand now, yet hopeful about what we can achieve.
As a little girl, I wanted to grow up to be a union organizer and lead my people on strike. That never came about, but I truly believe that this will be the century ow women - women in politics and women bringing unions and collective bargaining back to the forefront. I expect to see McAlevey’s book added to Labor History curricula next Fall.
As a little girl, I wanted to grow up to be a union organizer and lead my people on strike. That never came about, but I truly believe that this will be the century ow women - women in politics and women bringing unions and collective bargaining back to the forefront. I expect to see McAlevey’s book added to Labor History curricula next Fall.
August 26, 2025
I'm familiar with Jane McAlevey's work and activism but this is the first book by her that I've read and I was really missing out. What a sharp and straightforward mind, writing in an accesible and engaging way. McAlevey covers the strengths and weaknesses of unions while dispelling myths and signaling why they are vital in a capitalist society. Excellent.
December 10, 2025
Really interesting and insightful book into union organising. The importance of finding leaders and having difficult face to face conversations came through really strong.
It took a little while to get going because the start focuses on history and legal cases in the US. I found the case study chapters a lot more interesting.
Really well written with an excellent focus on women workers. RIP Jane McAlevey!
It took a little while to get going because the start focuses on history and legal cases in the US. I found the case study chapters a lot more interesting.
Really well written with an excellent focus on women workers. RIP Jane McAlevey!
June 14, 2024
Right off the bat I love this. It’s angry and intersectional and doesn’t pull punches. Let’s go. This is definitely an American labor book so I don’t necessarily recommend it if you’re not American but if you are this is a must read! Absolutely excellent book. 4.7 stars
September 13, 2020
This is a great history of US labour wins via union activity and union related US laws (how/why they got put into place, and what they mean for unions and corporations).
My favourite was the chapter about the LA teachers unions and how and why public schools in California were gutted (local governments weren’t allowed to raise taxes to fund public services (due to 1977’s prop 13)) and then how now there’s more money (2012 millionaires tax/prop 30).
The author is against automation and dismisses UBI and talks about human workers competing with AI in a way that made me feel that they believe everyone should work full time in order to have a happy life ... it’s also repeated in the chapter about Silicon Valley where the author talks sarcastically about the idea that there could be a future where people are happily employed and paid well but still have enough time to dedicate to hobbies (?)
There’s also a fun part about how Democrats focus too much on data science and small margins at the cost of actually having good policies and helping to form unions and then support unions and the working class in general. Good book!
My favourite was the chapter about the LA teachers unions and how and why public schools in California were gutted (local governments weren’t allowed to raise taxes to fund public services (due to 1977’s prop 13)) and then how now there’s more money (2012 millionaires tax/prop 30).
The author is against automation and dismisses UBI and talks about human workers competing with AI in a way that made me feel that they believe everyone should work full time in order to have a happy life ... it’s also repeated in the chapter about Silicon Valley where the author talks sarcastically about the idea that there could be a future where people are happily employed and paid well but still have enough time to dedicate to hobbies (?)
There’s also a fun part about how Democrats focus too much on data science and small margins at the cost of actually having good policies and helping to form unions and then support unions and the working class in general. Good book!
July 13, 2025
- inspiring and practical
- explains what the union fees are used for and why they're necessary
- demonstrates what true solidarity looks like
- explains what roles we can all play in unions, how important all our voices are
- history and politics viewed through the lense of labour and unions is fascinating. In hindsight, the link between unions and democracy is obvious, but when it's spelled out so clearly, there's no denying what it means to not have access to it and how it's being destroyed right before our eyes
- the chapters on the strategic defunding of public schools was enlightening and depressing
- the fact that the democratic party neglected such an important and strong voter base is, in hindsight, crazy. we need to get the fuck out from under these oligarchies
- Union busters and corporations are worse than even assumed
- Even though the focus is on the USA I think it's worth reading as multinational companies are attempting to influence Labour laws abroad as well.
- explains what the union fees are used for and why they're necessary
- demonstrates what true solidarity looks like
- explains what roles we can all play in unions, how important all our voices are
- history and politics viewed through the lense of labour and unions is fascinating. In hindsight, the link between unions and democracy is obvious, but when it's spelled out so clearly, there's no denying what it means to not have access to it and how it's being destroyed right before our eyes
- the chapters on the strategic defunding of public schools was enlightening and depressing
- the fact that the democratic party neglected such an important and strong voter base is, in hindsight, crazy. we need to get the fuck out from under these oligarchies
- Union busters and corporations are worse than even assumed
- Even though the focus is on the USA I think it's worth reading as multinational companies are attempting to influence Labour laws abroad as well.
December 11, 2025
This is a wonderful crash course on Union history, how those fights are won and why they are still necessary. I enjoyed the use of specific anecdotes to illustrate the models of organizing tactics McAlevey discusses. I wish I had read it sooner, but it’s good to have the info now. There were a couple places where I wished that there was more details, but perhaps she didn’t want to get too bogged down in specifics. Would still recommend to anyone curious about unions or who thinks they are outdated or unnecessary in our current era.
November 28, 2023
Loved how inspiring and practical this book is, not just in terms of employment but also civic involvement. Would recommend regardless of your proximity to a union.
December 2, 2019
The author who has been a union organizer and a chief negotiator put together a pretty good book that contains a solid collection of union history both past and relatively current. The past history with what political actions that took place meaning the development of the NLRA and individuals exercising their collective power. It also talks about the many things that have harm unions in general with actions like the Taft Hartley act and other actions by both politicians and the business community that think or want to destroy unions. The attempts to destroy unions is not political party specific either as is noted in this book.
It seems to me that this based mostly on service unions but there is a lot of information that is useful if are in a union or thinking about joining unions. There are a couple of examples one dealing with the Teachers Union and their efforts to rebuild their union from the ground up and going through the contract negotiations. The other with a Nurses Union in Philadelphia.
There are a couple parts that myself being from a Building Trades union may have a difference of a opinion and the discussion on voter suppression but putting that aside there should many things to learn from. I received an ARC from Edelweiss for an Honest review.
It seems to me that this based mostly on service unions but there is a lot of information that is useful if are in a union or thinking about joining unions. There are a couple of examples one dealing with the Teachers Union and their efforts to rebuild their union from the ground up and going through the contract negotiations. The other with a Nurses Union in Philadelphia.
There are a couple parts that myself being from a Building Trades union may have a difference of a opinion and the discussion on voter suppression but putting that aside there should many things to learn from. I received an ARC from Edelweiss for an Honest review.
December 20, 2022
A book that every everyman needs to read. The middle class has been committing slow suicide for 30+ years. They need to be a lot more thoughtful than they have been. This book would be part of that process.
Some people would say I’m a pessimist. I so strongly disagree. I’m a realist. No one who needs to read this book will read this book. Every everyman just doesn’t give a shit. Too much work. Too much thought. What’s on TV?
They’ll continue to give clowns all the power. No effort. Just entertainment. Distracted like the crowds in the Roman gladiatorial arenas. Geez, most everyman probably don’t even know who the fucking Romans are.
Everyman: Duhh, like Trojans? Uhh, go USC. Yeah! Go USC!
You caught me. I don’t have a lot of respect for the everyman. [sigh] Romans, here we come.
Some people would say I’m a pessimist. I so strongly disagree. I’m a realist. No one who needs to read this book will read this book. Every everyman just doesn’t give a shit. Too much work. Too much thought. What’s on TV?
They’ll continue to give clowns all the power. No effort. Just entertainment. Distracted like the crowds in the Roman gladiatorial arenas. Geez, most everyman probably don’t even know who the fucking Romans are.
Everyman: Duhh, like Trojans? Uhh, go USC. Yeah! Go USC!
You caught me. I don’t have a lot of respect for the everyman. [sigh] Romans, here we come.
February 29, 2020
Should be essential reading for every American. Explains a brief history of the labor movement since WWI, and ties the rise and fall of unions directly to our present state of unprecedented income inequality. Also gives direct pointers to those trying to unionize their workplace. McAlevey writes with a straightforward and accessible style uncommon among both academic and left literature. No prerequisites needed on this one.
April 19, 2020
So relevant right now. Impressive that McAlevey wrote it on such a tight deadline, although it was tough to read the last chapter on the 2020 US election considering the circumstances. I’m very curious about McAlevey’s take on what unfolded and how we can continue to fight for worker’s rights after this huge failure.
April 25, 2022
Really good read - lots of great information about unionization efforts and good take aways about how to apply union organizing to other parts of our lives and bring back the power of unions in the modern day to build better lives for all
April 13, 2020
Maybe the most important book I've ever read? An excellent, accessible text for folks with little information on the American labor movement and it's contemporary resurgence.
September 19, 2020
I’m writing this from my phone and I’ll go back in and update with some of the specific takeaways (there were many and they were all tactical organizing tips, which I appreciated much.)
This book gave me hope. The author, a lifelong union organizer and negotiator, revisits the role and story of unions in the post-Trump election age, and spoiler alert: they’re still relevant, they still inspire hope, and they’re still raising expectations and living standards of so many workers in the states. If you haven’t read her book Raising Hell and Raising Expectations (ok it might be those two switched, i’m on my phone remember!) please get yourself to it!!! It’s stock full of specific tactics, war stories, and methods to leverage collective action of workers, public perception against greedy employers.
Especially after RBGs recent death (now clarification: I never thought of one single person as a savior of our society. She was a more a singular blockade and now with her passed, it feels like “things are so much worse” but in fact they were already bad), this book gives me a fresh attitude toward the many many ways organizing can improve the lives of our neighbors and community members.
Ok some specifics from memory:
- the LA teacher union from 2012 and onward is so fucking badass. Reed Hasting (Netflix founder and yet another entitled billionaire who thinks he knows “how education system should work”) injects 7million into the LA School Board elections and helps a bunch of anti-public school/pro-charter school people into office. This is objectively bad for the public school teachers who want MORE investment into their classrooms and students. And yet with the power of 34k teachers ready to strike, ready to demand more, they win their demands. ITS SO COOL ahhh!!!
-The story of how nurses unionize in multiple hospital systems in Pennsylvania despite the aggressive union breaking tactics (and people) deployed by the employers
-Silicon Valley and it’s role in union avoidance (think Uber/gig contractors) and how that hurts the living standards of millions of hardworking workers..
Read!
Also I read the chapters out of order because i didn’t want to read the early sad chapter about how republicans can billionaires slowly dismantled pro unionization policies :(
This book gave me hope. The author, a lifelong union organizer and negotiator, revisits the role and story of unions in the post-Trump election age, and spoiler alert: they’re still relevant, they still inspire hope, and they’re still raising expectations and living standards of so many workers in the states. If you haven’t read her book Raising Hell and Raising Expectations (ok it might be those two switched, i’m on my phone remember!) please get yourself to it!!! It’s stock full of specific tactics, war stories, and methods to leverage collective action of workers, public perception against greedy employers.
Especially after RBGs recent death (now clarification: I never thought of one single person as a savior of our society. She was a more a singular blockade and now with her passed, it feels like “things are so much worse” but in fact they were already bad), this book gives me a fresh attitude toward the many many ways organizing can improve the lives of our neighbors and community members.
Ok some specifics from memory:
- the LA teacher union from 2012 and onward is so fucking badass. Reed Hasting (Netflix founder and yet another entitled billionaire who thinks he knows “how education system should work”) injects 7million into the LA School Board elections and helps a bunch of anti-public school/pro-charter school people into office. This is objectively bad for the public school teachers who want MORE investment into their classrooms and students. And yet with the power of 34k teachers ready to strike, ready to demand more, they win their demands. ITS SO COOL ahhh!!!
-The story of how nurses unionize in multiple hospital systems in Pennsylvania despite the aggressive union breaking tactics (and people) deployed by the employers
-Silicon Valley and it’s role in union avoidance (think Uber/gig contractors) and how that hurts the living standards of millions of hardworking workers..
Read!
Also I read the chapters out of order because i didn’t want to read the early sad chapter about how republicans can billionaires slowly dismantled pro unionization policies :(
November 10, 2025
Very insightful read and I definitely would recommend it.
I originally did not plan on finishing this book. McAlavey does not try to mask her views on politics and its key players, and although I can understand many of her opinions, her frequent one-sided comments made the analysis hard to trust at times. It made me wonder if the historical examples she used to support her arguments were cherry-picked. I was also disappointed with the ratio of description vs analysis -- especially in the first half of the book, there were times where I felt McAlevey would applaud/rant about a law or court case without properly explaining its context and what it was about, and I often had to read the Wikipedia article about the topic at hand to fully understand her analysis.
However, the second half of this book more than makes up for my criticisms. McAlevey's experience as a seasoned labor organizer immediately becomes apparent as she walks us through the processes of labor unions from inception to striking to winning contracts. The case studies that she uses in the form of the 2019 LA teachers strike as well as movements she herself helped to organize were especially valuable in depicting what works, what doesn't work, and what unions need to watch out for in order to succeed. Here she is also able to give definite, tangible examples of the value of unions to American workers that, in my opinion, do a much better job at supporting her thesis than the opening of the book did. In addition, many of her comments on emerging trends - the erosion of trust between the Democratic party and the working class, the rise of AI and automation, the weakening of the tech work force, and the stickiness of Trumpism - have become eerily relevant in the five years since the book was published.
If you're struggling through the first couple of chapters like I was, I'd recommend skipping to chapter 4. It gets much better.
I originally did not plan on finishing this book. McAlavey does not try to mask her views on politics and its key players, and although I can understand many of her opinions, her frequent one-sided comments made the analysis hard to trust at times. It made me wonder if the historical examples she used to support her arguments were cherry-picked. I was also disappointed with the ratio of description vs analysis -- especially in the first half of the book, there were times where I felt McAlevey would applaud/rant about a law or court case without properly explaining its context and what it was about, and I often had to read the Wikipedia article about the topic at hand to fully understand her analysis.
However, the second half of this book more than makes up for my criticisms. McAlevey's experience as a seasoned labor organizer immediately becomes apparent as she walks us through the processes of labor unions from inception to striking to winning contracts. The case studies that she uses in the form of the 2019 LA teachers strike as well as movements she herself helped to organize were especially valuable in depicting what works, what doesn't work, and what unions need to watch out for in order to succeed. Here she is also able to give definite, tangible examples of the value of unions to American workers that, in my opinion, do a much better job at supporting her thesis than the opening of the book did. In addition, many of her comments on emerging trends - the erosion of trust between the Democratic party and the working class, the rise of AI and automation, the weakening of the tech work force, and the stickiness of Trumpism - have become eerily relevant in the five years since the book was published.
If you're struggling through the first couple of chapters like I was, I'd recommend skipping to chapter 4. It gets much better.
December 12, 2022
SOLIDARITY IS ALL WE HAVE! And while to say so may seem dramatic, it's true in the face of such unbelievable polarization, disconnect, and misinformation. The myth of the zero sum game and disease of individualism in the US are perpetuated by the people and institutions who benefit from them, and I genuinely believe that to unlearn these ideologies is our only way out. Anyways! This book is INCREDIBLY informative and accessible. I cried multiple times because I was MOVED by the power of solidarity. It's shocking (though it shouldn't be by now) to see the policies against unions explained, and the successes won/injustices faced alike are fuel for anyone to find their union and join it. Not an option? That's okay, this book can help you figure out how to make one!!! RESD THIS! LEARN! BE RADICALIZED! AND REMEMBER THAT THERE IS ENOUGH FOR ALL OF US TO NOT JUST SURVIVE BUT THRIVE IF WE ARE WILLING TO BAND TOGETHER AND TAKE IT FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOLDING IT FROM US!
"Nothing can rebuild a progressive, ground-up electoral base like a strike-ready union. The Koch brothers know this. The democrats don't."
"The point of unions isn't their buildings or bureaucracy; it's the political education, solidarity, and confidence building among the many that comes from people acting collectively, including strikes, for their own betterment."
"Nothing can rebuild a progressive, ground-up electoral base like a strike-ready union. The Koch brothers know this. The democrats don't."
"The point of unions isn't their buildings or bureaucracy; it's the political education, solidarity, and confidence building among the many that comes from people acting collectively, including strikes, for their own betterment."
August 7, 2020
McAlevey makes her overall point well: militant unions and strikes have been (and continue to be) essential to winning victories for all working people.
I thought the in-depth explanation of organizing tactics & structure tests was kind of jarring and less relevant for the average reader in relation to the more broadly historical and political theme of the book - although I found it super interesting as an organizer.
I wish she would make a more direct argument about the strategic path forward for building union power in the US. Which unions are most effective and doing the best work? Should there be an effort to launch a new union or new unions? Should organizers work to reform certain unions? Which industries can be organized? How can the public help unions grow power or support local unions (outside of voting)?
I thought the in-depth explanation of organizing tactics & structure tests was kind of jarring and less relevant for the average reader in relation to the more broadly historical and political theme of the book - although I found it super interesting as an organizer.
I wish she would make a more direct argument about the strategic path forward for building union power in the US. Which unions are most effective and doing the best work? Should there be an effort to launch a new union or new unions? Should organizers work to reform certain unions? Which industries can be organized? How can the public help unions grow power or support local unions (outside of voting)?
November 23, 2024
Audiobook, wish i read the irl book. Thought about emailing Jane McAlevey to tell her how special it was for me to find and listen to a woman talk about unions bc i could only find literature written by men and unfortunately she passed away very recently. As a future lawyer newly interested in unions , her voice is so inspiring and booming in the male dominated field of labor law. This book was informative , emotional, packed with personal insights, and matter of fact in its hope for the future. Rest in peace, thank you. The world is so fucked up, but maybe I can do something about it.
March 30, 2020
This is a fun and quick and very accessible book to read to get your toes wet with the labor movement. The first bunch does a good job explaining why and how unions are important to democracy itself, including nowadays. Chapters 5 and 6 make it very concrete with how-tos of how good organizers approach campaigns, with lessons that can be applied in lots of contexts.
If you're a new organizer or rank-and-file activist or someone who supports unions generally but doesn't know a ton, this is a great resource.
If you're a new organizer or rank-and-file activist or someone who supports unions generally but doesn't know a ton, this is a great resource.
December 30, 2021
I had no idea how powerful unions can be and how integral they are for democracy and pushing back against so much wealth inequality. So grateful for this book, and highly recommend. The story about how a women led strike for teachers in west Virginia led to them being granted all 5 of their demands truly gave me goosebumps.
August 10, 2022
As I expect, it is infuriating and there are some better stories. The story of the nurses show just how laws and money make it difficult to form a Union let alone just have a say in your workplace.
Samuel Alito has always been an anti-American louse. He wrote the Janus decision that tried to break Union membership.
There is a history of presidents, some good that have undermined the American worker and it’s a shame. This author tries to explain it and work through the politics. I learned a lot about some popular politicians that did some lousy things to workers.
Samuel Alito has always been an anti-American louse. He wrote the Janus decision that tried to break Union membership.
There is a history of presidents, some good that have undermined the American worker and it’s a shame. This author tries to explain it and work through the politics. I learned a lot about some popular politicians that did some lousy things to workers.
November 7, 2023
Just finished, great book! Key points: Economic inequality is insane and is deeply connected with the reduction in unions in recent decades, the challenges and process of defending democratic rights is very similar to that of defending unions, strikes are the most important tool for workers rights/unions, and this book is a good instruction manual for how to engage in creating/defending unions
September 20, 2025
Very good, thorough, informative. Ignited that “workers rights must be protected at all costs” dog in me so hard I am having a crisis of HR career conscience, which is good. If you want to feel moved to action in labor organizing, because the book makes a very clear case for why that work is valuable and deserves our attention, this is the read for you.
December 15, 2025
A quick and insightful look at unions/collective bargaining including some history and case studies. It also does a great job at dispelling anti-union propaganda.
This was published in 2020 and so it is still relevant but at the same time there has been enough of a shift between 2020 and 2025 causing a few parts of this book to feel a bit dated. However, now more than ever we need to be thinking about the link between unions and democracy.
This was published in 2020 and so it is still relevant but at the same time there has been enough of a shift between 2020 and 2025 causing a few parts of this book to feel a bit dated. However, now more than ever we need to be thinking about the link between unions and democracy.
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