State of the Unions: Getting The Word Out

By Philip Dine
As an out-of-town labor reporter based in Washington, it's interesting to hear the frequent remark by local residents that “This isn't really a labor town, is it?” In a sense, that's true; one doesn't see giant auto plants or steel mills here (though of course those aren't what they used to be, even in Detroit or Pittsburgh). But in a more profound sense, this is an amazing place to cover labor. Whether it's walking around and bumping into national labor leaders like Rich Trumka or Gerald McEntee, seeing firsthand the intense legislative and political activity that goes on nonstop at the numerous internationals based here, taking in the various trades' sidewalk protests, starting the day with the energetic 'Union City' publication, participating in programs with union officials from around the world at the National Labor College, or hearing a Chinese labor leader talk of feeling like a bug standing in the way of the Chinese economic train at the National Press Club this week, covering labor in Washington is akin to reporting on baseball in Boston. That said, I think there’s an opportunity here for much more aggressive and creative communications strategies by labor. While many unions do a superb job in this area, the local media – and in DC many “local” media have a national reach – could be replete with stories about work, about how the economic malaise is affecting ordinary people, and about the labor movement’s role. With all the trivial material filling the newspapers and the airways, what's more important than the conditions affecting where and how people work?
Dine is the labor reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He’s the author of “State of the Unions: How Labor Can Strengthen the Middle Class, Improve Our Economy and Regain Political Influence,” which he’ll be signing this Saturday at the Silver Spring Borders. The book will also be featured on C-Span Book TV this Sunday, Jan. 20, from 1-2P.