New Deal author speaks to local Labor Council

LYNN – The author of a newly released book entitled “A New New Deal: How Regional Activism Will Reshape the American Labor Movement” spoke in Lynn last week as part of a national promotion tour.Amy Dean, former head of the South Bay Labor Council in San Jose, Calif., addressed the North Shore Labor Council at its 112 Exchange St. headquarters.Union leaders and community activists attended to hear Dean offer solutions to rebuilding power for working families in America, said Rosa Blumenfeld, a spokesman for the labor council.”The book offers a bold new plan to revitalize American labor activism and build a sense of common purpose between labor and community organizations,” she said, noting that the audience included members of Lynn Neighbor to Neighbor, ECCO, Mass Senior Action Council and representatives from individual local unions that are part of the North Shore Labor Council, such as IUE-CWA Local 201 which is the primary union for most manufacturing workers at the General Electric River Works.”If labor is to renew its fortunes in America and once again become a social engine for reform and change that it once was, it has to become as much a community-based organization as a workplace-based one,” said Dean. “In order to address the needs of working families, we must become powerful players in the decisions that are made at the local level that affect us, union member or not.”Dean recommended developing independent research capacity and engaging in aggressive political action. “What we share and try to bring to the labor movement is a commitment to building local power for working people,” said Jeffrey Crosby, president of the North Shore Labor Council. “We were very fortunate to have Amy Dean share her best practices with us. It helps us forge a new vision for the future of our city and region.”