“Be happy. Be well.” Those are a couple of the last lines of the 1979 movie “Norma Rae” and they were delivered by a union organizer to the title character after they work together to unionize a textile factory in the south. If somehow you are not familiar, “Norma Rae” is based on the true story of a factory worker who risked everything to fight for a decent life for herself, her family and her co-workers by becoming a union organizer. I love that movie and those lines. So much so that if you have ever heard me announce a roller derby bout, you’ll hear them as my sign-off.
I have some experience with unions. I have worked in the non-profit sector almost my entire career including a year at the ACLU of Southern California. I am pro-labor, I am pro-union. So when I heard about the dancers of the Star Garden nightclub in North Hollywood going on strike and their efforts to unionize, I wanted to go picket with them. Unfortunately, I never found time for that opportunity but I followed their progress on their Instagram account (StripperStrikeNoHo) and knew they had officially voted to unionize. They still gotta certify the election and have a long way to go to make this a reality, but they also have to survive and have been having fundraisers to take care of themselves. Continue reading
