Insurgent Labor

Insurgent Labor tracks the trials and tribulations of bringing a formerly stagnant labor union into national relevance with an unapologetically left-wing agenda. David Van Deusen charts the rise of the UNITED! ticket to create a progressive and militant labor union. He chronicles the many victories throughout his tenure including expanding union democracy into the rank and file, moving power away from single individuals and into democratic structures, supporting farm workers, supporting Black self-determination, and supporting Black Lives Matter. Van Deusen also managed to include support for the revolutionary efforts in Rojava and Chiapas. The boldest step undertaken by the Vermont AFL-CIO--and marker of years of steady progress in labor organizing and raising of political consciousness in Vermont--was authorizing a call for a general strike in the city of Burlington as a possible response to the January 6 coup attempt. This book should be of interest to anyone, whether they have merely thought of joining a union or are an old union hand. Most importantly, Insurgent Labor offers a blueprint for militant labor's advances in an era of capitalist polycrisis and offers hope for a brighter future based around equality, justice, and true democracy.