United States: Labor Notes Conference, Chicago, May 4-6, 2012

Labor Notes Conference 2012

Labor Notes conferences are the biggest gatherings of grassroots union activists, worker center leaders, and all-around troublemakers out there—and this time we’re in Chicago! Register by March 2 for a big discount. Don’t miss a weekend of inspiration, education, and agitation.

Join thousands of union members, officers, and grassroots labor activists who are on the front lines in our workplaces, our unions, and our communities. Meet troublemakers from around the country and around the world.
More than 100 meetings and workshops include contract campaigns, creative organizing tactics, beating apathy, running for local union office, bargaining over technology, understanding the economy, and reviving the strike.
Organize with others in your union, industry, or campaign. Face-to-face meetings to share tactics and swap notes are the heart of the Labor Notes Conference. Join an existing industry, union, or caucus meeting—or contact us to set one up.

Logistics

  • Schedule: Workshops and meetings begin 1 p.m. Friday, May 4, and end at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 6.
  • Registration: $130. Get $35 off if registered by March 2! Includes Saturday banquet. Some scholarships are available. Sponsor a low-wage, unemployed, or young worker by supporting the scholarship fund.
  • Scholarships: Apply for a scholarship through our online form.
  • Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Near Rosemont CTA train station (blue line).
  • Hotel Booking: Single/Double/Triple/Quad: $115 per night. Book at labornotes.org/conference/hotel or by calling the hotel at 847-671-6350. Mention “Labor Notes Conference” to get our room rate until April 12.
  • Air Travel: Fly in to Chicago O’Hare (ORD). There is a free shuttle to the hotel.
  • Childcare: Available for a donation for children over 1 year. Request by April 13.
  • For more info: Call Labor Notes at 313-842-6262

We'll be there...


Where am I gonna be at on Cinco de Mayo? I will be with my people—union people—in a union town! Chicago! We’ll be networking, planning, building, sharing, learning and most important getting RE-IGNITED for what lies ahead. So what are you are waiting for? Get yourself to Labor Notes! I’ll be there.

Carlos Castillon, President, Communications Workers Local 9588, Colton, California


At the last conference I met so many people who were deeply involved in union work, and I saw what it really meant to be an activist. That was before everything happened here in Wisconsin. At the next conference I’ll be able to let other people know what we really did here, and find out how the Wisconsin uprising appeared from the outside.

Colette Brown, Wisconsin Professional Employees Council, AFT 4848


Struggle is in the air and boy does it smell good! Working people have had enough of “austerity” for the many and excess for the few, but the Occupy battle has just begun. Meet me at the Labor Notes Conference. Together we can plan how we take our economy back and make it work for workers—the 99%.

Pat Fahy, Verizon Striker, Electrical Workers Local 827, New Jersey

Check back often for more information!