Organizing to Win

At a time when the American labor movement is mobilizing for a major resurgence through new organizing, here, at last, is a book about research on union organizing strategies. Previous studies have focused on factors contributing to union decline, devoting little attention to the organizing process itself. The twenty chapters in this volume dramatically increase understanding of the range and effectiveness of new organizing strategies and their potential contribution to the revitalization of the labor movement.The introduction defines the context of the current organizing climate. Major sections of the book cover strategic initiatives in union organizing, overcoming barriers to worker support for unions, community-based organizing, building membership and public support for organizing, and organizing initiatives by industry or by sector. Individual chapters focus on topics such as organizing outside the NLRB process, the role of clergy, local labor councils, and rank-and-file volunteer organizers.

"A useful volume. . . . The book . . . provides an unusually comprehensive treatment of union organizing tactics and their results. . . . The breadth and variety of environments and methodologies covered make this book perhaps the best single source for insights into the art and science of union organizing from the union's perspective."—Choice, "Organizing to Win is a good example of the new co-operation between labour an academics."—Michael Kazin, Times Literary Supplement, "At a time when the American labor movement is mobilizing for a major resurgence through new organizing, Organizing to Win will prove to be a much needed and appreciated book, showcasing research on union organizing strategies. . . . The twenty chapters in Organizing to Win dramatically increase our understanding of the range and effectiveness of new organizing strategies and their potential contribution to the revitalization of the labor movement. . . . Organizing to Win is a much needed contribution to contemporary labor/management studies and highly recommended for student reading lists and union officers charged with organizational responsibilities in today's highly competitive labor/management, global marketplace oriented environment."—The Midwest Book Review, "Organizing to Win dramatically increases our understanding of the range and effectiveness of new organizing strategies and their potential contribution to the revitalization of the labor movement."—The Bookwatch, "The book succeeds in beginning to build a more substantial body of research on effective union structures and strategies for organizing. It should be especially useful to trade unionists."—Adrienne E. Eaton, Rutgers University, Industrial and Labor Relations Review. January, 2000.

Kate Bronfenbrenner is Director of Labor Education Research for the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University. SHELDON FRIEDMAN is an economist with the AFL-CIO. Richard W. Hurd is Professor and Director, the Labor Studies Program, New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University. Rudolph A. Oswald is former Director of Economic Research for the AFL-CIO. RONALD L. SEEBER is Associate Professor and Associate Dean, New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University.