The strength of organized labor and the condition of working people in the U.S have varied widely over time. Workers have not only had to contend with a powerful owner class, but have also been divided by racism, sexism, and political ideology. Yet, at times, the movement has grown and been true to its aspirational anthem,”Solidarity Forever.” Our guest speaker, activist sociologist Maynard Seider, has taught and researched labor peoples’ history, most recently for his book on the North Berkshire region in the context of U.S. and global history, The Gritty Berkshires. (Link http://www.thegrittyberkshires.com/ or http://www.thegrittyberkshires.com/index.php/berkshirearticle-2/. He will help us answer the question: Given all the crises we face this Labor Day, what are the opportunities, and the reasons to hope, for a significant improvement in the lives of working people?
