2010 National Conference Agenda

NOTE: This is a working agenda and will be finalized by Tuesday, February 9, 2010. Check back here for periodic updates.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2010

Tabling open 8 am- 8 pm, All activities at UTK

7:30 am Registration begins
8-9 am Breakfast
9-9:30 am Welcome and Introduction
9:30-10:30 am Icebreaker (split into regions)
10:30-11:30 am Collective Liberation: Celebrating Our Victories
11:30 am -12:00 pm History of United Campus Workers and the Progressive Student Alliance at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville
12-3 pm Action with United Campus Workers featuring Larry Cohen, President of the Communication Workers of America (others TBA), then Lunch!
3-3:30 pm Intro to USAS Campaigns: Building and Supporting Strong Campus and Garment Worker Unions
3:30-6:30 pm Campaign strategy sessions (breakout into two different groups)

• Garment worker solidarity
  • Strategic organizing and campaigning
  • Current apparel campaigns- New Era, Nike, Designated Suppliers, etc
  • National messaging
• Campus worker solidarity
  • Strategic organizing and campaigning
  • Budget cuts struggles and national strategy based on local realities
  • National messaging

6:30 pm Dinner and optional people of color caucus

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2010

Tabling open 8 am- 8 pm, All activities at UTK unless noted otherwise

8-9:30 am Breakfast and optional women and trans/genderqueer caucuses
9:30-10 am How to plug into garment and campus worker solidarity campaigns
10-10:15 am Break
10:15-11:30 am Workshops Block 1 (More detailed descriptions of workshops will be up by February 12)

• Media & Dealing with the Press 101
• Solidarity with Haitian Labor Movement
• Public speaking 101
• How to start a group
• Coalition building as a Base-Building Strategy

11:30-11:45 am Break
11:45-1:00 pm Workshops Block 2

• Facilitation: How to Run Meetings and Events
• History of student leadership of anti-sweatshop movement
• Group Building and Structure: Different decision-making methods (consensus, etc)
• Base-Building Tactics
• Union Organizing and Labor Law 101
• Student Organizing in the Context of the Economic Crisis

1:00-2:30 pm Lunch and optional queer caucus
2:30-4:15 pm Southeast Worker Organizing Panel (Participants TBA)
4:15-5:15 pm Workshops Block 3

• Direct Action: Philosophy and Tactics (Part 1 of 2)
• Creative Tactics
• Collective Liberation and Leadership, USAS-Style
• Researching and creating an alternative budget
• History of Labor and Anti-Globalization Movements

5:15-5:30 pm Break
5:30-6:30 pm Workshops Block 4

• Direct Action: Philosophy and Tactics (Part 2 of 2)
• Technology/Social Networking/ New Media
• Dealing with Administrators and Campus Bureaucracy
• Cultural organizing and direct action crafts
• USAS Alumni breakout and strategy session

6:30 pm-8 pm Dinner and optional working class caucus

Separate event site TBA:
8:00-10:00 pm Celebrating Struggles and Victories: Keynote Speakers, Awards, and Celebration
Featuring: SITRAJERZEESH, United Campus Workers, Tim Waters (United Steelworkers Rapid Response Director), local musicians and performers TBA!

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010

Tabling open 9 am to 1:30 pm, All activities at UTK unless noted otherwise

9-10:30 am Breakfast and optional differently abled caucus
10:30-11 am USAS Internal Campaigns: Individual Membership and Affiliation!
11:30-1:30 pm How to Plug into National USAS Organizing and Leadership Structure

• Growth and Sustainability
• Communications and Media
• Collective Liberation
• Political Education

1:30-2 pm Wrap-up: What are our responsibilities as organizers and leaders in the movement?
2 pm Closing, Goodbyes, and Lunch!