How to Work with Unions in Your District
How do you approach unions in your community for help with grassroots events or campaigning? Many feel intimidated in contacting a union and don't understand union hierarchy or what capabilities are available, and many union members have no idea what help bloggers can provide them. In this panel, union members and bloggers will discuss how to create and strengthen the relationship between labor and the Netroots.
Chris Shannon has previously blogged at Steve Gilliard's News Blog, GroupNewsBlog, and FightingLiberals.com. He spent 7 years in the U.S. Special Forces during the 1980's. Chris remembers how the unions used to be the foot soldiers of the Democratic party in Philadelphia when his grandfather was active in the party.
Matt Browner Hamlin is a writer, activist, and organizer who works for the Service Employees International Union. Matt was the Internet Director for Mark Begich's Senate campaign in Alaska and the Deputy Internet Director for Chris Dodd's presidential campaign. He serves on Students for a Free Tibet's international Board of Directors. Matt writes about politics at HoldFastBlog.com and cocktails, bars, and spirits at AJiggerOfBlog.com.
Elana Levin is Director of Communications for the Writers Guild of America, East, a labor union representing professional writers in film, television, digital media and radio.
Previously, Elana was Assistant Director of Communications for New Media for the SEIU affiliate Workers United and before that, UNITE HERE. She ran communications for the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy where she launched the popular DMIBlog.
She is a co-Founder of Organizing 2.0--- a group that leads workshops on online organizing, communications and strategy for grassroots organizers. Elana has done everything from press relations to organizing for unions, community groups and has survived several New York primary elections while keeping some of her personal belongings intact… Some...
She blogs on Daily Kos and FireDogLake & and tweets at twitter.com/Elana_Brooklyn and twitter.com/WGAEast
Blaine Rummel is the Associate Director of Public Affairs at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Most recently, Blaine spearheaded AFSCME’s mobilization and communications campaign for health care reform, which PR News Magazine named a finalist for its 2010 Public Affairs Campaign of the Year award. Blaine is a graduate of Penn State University and the George Washington University.
Eddie Vale is currently a Media Specialist at the AFL-CIO with a focus on the Employee Free Choice Act, Health Care, and the 2009 and 2010 elections. This past election cycle he was Communications Director for Progressive Accountability and NH Press Secretary for John Edwards. He has also done press for Ned Lamont, Eliot Spitzer, John Hall, and Ginny Schrader.
