Labor's Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic: Leading in the Time of Crisis

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the NLLI’s first online convening last week. Over 70 alumni of NLLI and related programs came together to explore responses to the crisis. We were collectively heartened by the opportunity to connect, and inspired by how leaders in our network are stepping into this moment. 

We heard about the global, national, state and local implications of the pandemic. Many speakers reflected on the challenge of simultaneously stretching to react to immediate needs and demands, while also developing proactive strategies to amplify the voices of working people. They commented on the personal toll the crisis is taking; the need to build strong and resilient organizations that can support staff and members; and the fight to institutionalize worker protections beyond the crisis itself.
 
Members on the frontlines are being impacted in myriad ways. Some people are working – and they risk exposure to the disease. Many people are not working – they may be more protected from illness, but are facing incredible economic hardship. John Samuelson, President of TWU, reminded us that workers in New York City’s transit system are dying. Lily Eskelsen Garcia, President of NEA, pointed out that teachers are doing the impossible, bringing love, support and learning to their students under unprecedented conditions. “It’s overwhelming,” she said. “But we are not overwhelmed. We are doing the impossible.”
 
The crisis invites us to step into our leadership in more powerful ways. Shawna Bader-Blau, Executive Director of the Solidarity Center, spoke frankly about the challenge of leading an organization with staff and members coping with so much fear, anxiety and overwhelm. “For me, when I feel frustrated or get irritated, my challenge has been to lean into my humanity and not those feelings…To ask more questions of staff and get more information rather than make judgements and be frustrated. And I find that to be really important right now because people are scared.”
 
Small group discussions gave us a chance to connect on a deeper level, and to inspire and be inspired by the courage and fortitude of our peers. This is a defining moment for our movement and our leadership. Let’s lead together with vision. Let’s continue to build stronger and more powerful organizations. And let’s step into movement building with the clarity that this moment requires.
 
See the full line-up of speakers below. And if you missed it, you can watch the video here:

Speakers:

• Dean Alex Colvin (ILR School)
• Shawna Bader-Blau (Solidarity Center)
• Vinny Alvarez (New York Central Labor Council)
• April Sims (Washington State Labor Council)
• Montserrat Garibay (Texas AFL-CIO)
• John Samuelson (Transport Workers Union)
• Richard Lanigan (OPEIU)
• Lily Eskelsen Garcia (National Education Association)
• Erica Smiley (Jobs With Justice)