The election of the minority labor government is an opportunity for creative unions to form clever alliances with community organisations to increase the influence of both. A blueprint for creating unions-community coalitions is the essence of a timely book having its national launch in Adelaide tonight.

NSW Unions organiser Amanda Tattersall’s book “Power in Coalition; strategies for strong unions and social change” has been published by the prestigious Cornell University.

It’s the first book of its kind, and shows when coalitions are likely to succeed and when they’re likely to fail” SA Unions secretary Janet Giles says.

Ms Giles is not stranger to the idea of powerful unions and community coalitions, as one of the driving forced behind the hugely successful Your Rights at Work campaign she helped crystalise an alliance between unions and grassroots community organisations that delivered three crucial seats at the 2007 federal election to precipitate a change in government.

“It shows that when you get it right, the results can be spectacular” Ms Giles says.

“This book is about creating effective advocacy and powerful voices – and we have a prime opportunity in Australia for unions to re-emerge onto the national stage with more vigour than we’ve seen in years” Ms Giles says.

Author Amanda Tattersall says the current hung parliament is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for unions and community organisations to form powerful alliances to achieve social change.

“In a climate where the rising power of capital has created a hostile environment for unions, characterized by aggressive employers, unfriendly government and declining union membership, unions have had to re-evaluate their roles and objectives. The result has been novel strategies that have re-energised unions’ role as the champion of the worker, through coalitions or alliances with community organizations” Ms Tattersall says.

Media Note: Launch 6pm tonight, Imprints booksellers, 107 Hindley Street City. Amanda Tattersall 0409 321 133 (except 12-2pm when enroute to Adelaide)

Ontario Health Coalition Featured in First Internationally Comparative Study of Coalitions Between Unions and Community Organizations

Amanda Tattersall’s book, “Power in Coalition: Strategies for Strong Unions and Social Change”, now available from Cornell University Press

TORONTO, Sept. 2, 2010 – Amanda Tattersall, an Australian organizer and labor scholar, provides a practical framework for what makes coalitions a key tool for union revitalization and social change in her new book, “Power in Coalition: Strategies for Strong Unions and Social Change”, published by Cornell University Press. As the first internationally comparative study of coalitions as a strategy for unions, community organizations and social change, this book contributes new, practical frameworks and insights that will help guide union and community organizers across the globe. It is now available for purchase online through Cornell University Press at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu and Amazon at www.amazon.com.

The Ontario Health Coalition is featured as the Canadian case study in Tattersall’s internationally comparative research. Other campaigns include public education in Sydney and living wages in Chicago. The lessons are grounded in real experience, creating practical strategies for challenging the political and economic climate.

“We’re honored to have the work of our broadly-based coalition recognized in this international study,” states Natalie Mehra, director of the Ontario Health Coalition. “Over the last 15 years, we have built one of the most diverse labour-community coalitions in Canada that has repeatedly defended the role of public health care. We hope our experiences can help to build coalitions in other jurisdictions and aid in promoting a progressive vision of human development that embraces equity, environmental sustainability, peace and justice.”

Tattersall’s North American book tour will include stops in Toronto and Vancouver during the week of September 6th. For more information, please visit: http://powerincoalition.com/category/newsroom.

“This book arose out of my own experience in coalition building and community organizing,” says Tattersall. “We need strong and successful coalitions to empower the necessary community voice and response to issues such as climate change, health care, urban planning and transport. This book uncovers strategies for how coalitions can be an engine room for civic advocacy and social change, offering people real hope that common working people can be powerful again.”


Tattersall’s experience as both a community organizer and researcher translates into presenting strategies that will work well on the ground. Since writing the book, Tattersall has used its findings to organize, starting the Sydney Alliance, which now has 28 member organizations as partners. The Alliance is following the lessons documented in the book.

For more information, visit http://powerincoalition.com.

Availability
“Power in Coalition: Strategies for Strong Unions and Social Change,” which retails for $21.00 USD, is available for purchase online at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu and www.amazon.com.

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About the Author

Amanda Tattersall is an Australian community organizer and a researcher with an international focus. She is currently the founder and director of the Sydney Alliance, a broad based coalition of unions, community organizations and religious organizations. In addition to having served as the president of the National Union of Students’ New South Wales (NSW) branch, Tattersall also founded Labor for Refugees and co-founded www.getup.org.au – an Australian web-based campaign organization with over 300,000 members. Having worked as a union organizer, Amanda is now an elected official: Deputy Assistant Secretary with Unions NSW, Sydney NSW’s central labor council representing 600,000 workers.

Tattersall completed a PhD on coalition unionism at the University of Sydney featuring case studies of coalitions from Sydney, Chicago and Toronto. She completed her research as a visiting fellow at Cornell University’s Industrial and Labor Relations School, living for two years in the United States and Canada.

Download the Press Release

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First Internationally Comparative Study of Coalitions Between Unions and Community Organizations Published

Amanda Tattersall’s book, “Power in Coalition: Strategies for Strong Unions and Social Change”, now available from Cornell University Press

NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2010 – Amanda Tattersall, an Australian organizer and labor scholar, provides a practical framework for what makes coalitions a key tool for union revitalization and social change in her new book, “Power in Coalition: Strategies for Strong Unions and Social Change”, published by Cornell University Press. As the first internationally comparative study of coalitions as a strategy for unions, community organizations and social change, this book contributes new, practical frameworks and insights that will help guide union and community organizers across the globe. It is now available for purchase online through Cornell University Press at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu and Amazon at www.amazon.com as well as several local U.S. book stores. Those in Australia and New Zealand can purchase the book through Allen & Unwin.

“This book arose out of my own experience in coalition building and community organizing,” says Tattersall. “We need strong and successful coalitions to empower the necessary community voice and response to issues such as climate change, health care, urban planning and transport. This book uncovers strategies for how coalitions can be an engine room for civic advocacy and social change, offering people real hope that working people can be powerful again.”

Three detailed case studies come from long term coalitions in three countries: public education in Sydney, living wages in Chicago and health care in Toronto. The lessons are grounded in real experience, creating practical strategies for challenging the political and economic climate.

Tattersall’s experience as both a community organizer and researcher translates into presenting strategies that will work well on the ground. Since writing the book, Tattersall has used its findings to organize, starting the Sydney Alliance, which now has 28 member organizations as partners. The Alliance is following the lessons documented in the book.

For more information, visit http://powerincoalition.com.

Availability
“Power in Coalition: Strategies for Strong Unions and Social Change,” which retails for $21.00 USD, is available at select U.S. retail locations as well as Allen & Unwin in Australia and New Zealand. It is also available for purchase online at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu and www.amazon.com.

###

About the Author

Amanda Tattersall is an Australian community organizer and a researcher with an international focus. She is currently the founder and director of the Sydney Alliance, a broad based coalition of unions, community organizations and religious organizations. In addition to having served as the president of the National Union of Students’ New South Wales (NSW) branch, Tattersall also founded Labor for Refugees and co-founded www.getup.org.au – an Australian web-based campaign organization with over 300,000 members. Having worked as a union organizer, Amanda is now an elected official: Deputy Assistant Secretary with Unions NSW, Sydney NSW’s central labor council representing 600,000 workers.

Tattersall completed a PhD on coalition unionism at the University of Sydney featuring case studies of coalitions from Sydney, Chicago and Toronto. She completed her research as a visiting fellow at Cornell University’s Industrial and Labor Relations School, living for two years in the United States and Canada.

Download the Press Release