In the wake of the 2011 uprisings from Tahrir Square to Zuccotti Park, pundits declared that “the revolution will be tweeted.” Very online leftists calling for a new general strike over Twitter every few months aside, this techno-utopian faith in the unprecedented movement-building powers of new information and communication technologies like social media has given way, in many corners, to pessimism.
My union is VERY risk adverse, mostly due to our NYS Taylor Law which prohibits public employees from striking and levies significant $ fines. However, our current leadership also equates all social media communication with risk of legal implications, even for job actions well short of striking. We have many younger members eager to use the social media tools you describe. What is your take on this dilemma?
Sounds like you should work with other rank-and-filers in transforming your union — connect with Labor Notes to get help with this? https://labornotes.org/about
My union is VERY risk adverse, mostly due to our NYS Taylor Law which prohibits public employees from striking and levies significant $ fines. However, our current leadership also equates all social media communication with risk of legal implications, even for job actions well short of striking. We have many younger members eager to use the social media tools you describe. What is your take on this dilemma?
Sounds like you should work with other rank-and-filers in transforming your union — connect with Labor Notes to get help with this? https://labornotes.org/about