Spivak tells us that it is neither our responsibility nor an effective organizing tactic to speak for the subaltern, or those who are systemically denied a voice. Rather, we must work to create a space in which they can have a voice. There are many creative and worthwhile ways to do this but I will be talking in the post about worker appreciation brunches (1).
What is a worker appreciation brunch? The student labor organization on my campus began these brunches as a means for students to interact with campus workers and for campus workers to interact with each other. It is simply reserving a space every month/2 weeks to host a food-based event funded either through collective contributions of the organization or funds received from the school after agitation. Securing funding from the school administration is not very difficult, as many colleges in the United States wish to use as little resources as possible to help their workers but also wish to be portrayed as worker-friendly. If they do not have to plan or carry out an event but are only asked to provide funding, administrators are usually cooperative. If not, try agitating a specific administrator through petitions, letter deliveries, etc., making sure to highlight the lack of services provided to your campus workers. This pressure on administration is part of the benefit of having these events: even if the administration is cooperative, it makes sure that workers and their rights are always on the agenda. It is important that your organization remains the face of the event, don't get yourselves stuck in a "Worker Appreciation Brunch Sponsored/Made Possible by XXXX College/Corporation" situation.
Orient publicity through the following methods:
-post break room areas (with permission if possible)
-have your group members divide up based on who regularly sees certain workers/departments/etc. Ask your members about comfort level: capitalism builds up as many walls as possible to divide people based on class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, etc. Have more experienced members show how to approach workers during the regular meetings before the event. Try to have at least two of these workshops.
-print out quarter sheets to hand out. Layout is important: express solidarity, emphasize student-worker relationships, etc.
-Ask local IT how to email all the workers about the vent.
Have a separate training workshop that covers how group members should interact with workers at the brunch. Make sure to point out that it is an opportunity for exchange with the workers: this is not the venue for going off on tirades on Marxist theory, etc. Ask the workers about work: that may seems a little obvious, but many people will not want to talk about work. After all, work usually sucks: I know when I've had service jobs I did not like to talk about it. Find ways to open the conversation up to work: i.e. "How's your day been?" "What building do you cover?" "When's your shift over?"
Have people show up an hour early for prep. "An hour?" the hypothetical dissenter asks, "Why do we need to be there so early?" Because something will go wrong. Every time we get too much food, more people than expected show up. Every time we plan during a departments break time, everyone forgot to tell the workers in that department. Plan ahead and have people (often those who would like to forgo social interaction will spring to action)ready to run/bhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifike/drive out to wherever they are needed.
Have the youngest/newest/least experienced members of the organization spear head interactions. If you are older/know the workers facilitate this interaction through introductions, bringing over food, etc.
Does your organization have an event coming up? Does a worker at the event tell you they are so desperate they would go on strike? Agitate! Although I forewarned to avoid theoretical tirades, use these opportunities to talk about solutions to workers' problems. Anecdotes are a useful mechanism in this instance, especially if the example relates to the workers' situation i.e. "Well I heard that when people in Alabama were worried about the new immigration law, they filed a complaint with Nafta." Speak clearly and do not talk down or with arrogance.
Even more important than how you speak is how you listen. Learn what the workers' complaints and problems are: a simple majority or average is not necessarily the most appropriate evaluation. Look them in the eyes, repeat what they say in your head, do whatever you need to to be an active listener. Don't worry if it takes you time to interject your point about the upcoming rally or sit-in: this event is so that workers know their voice is heard.
Helpful feedback/criticism is welcome, bigoted comments are not. Solidarity with all student activist who work to reveal how interconnected our lives as workers and students (and often both) are. Solidarity with all who try to break down walls created by socio-economic class, racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia, and other prejudices created by a patriarchal capitalist system.
