During the 2011 Left Forum, organizers from the Excluded Workers congress came together for a dialogue with scholars who study worker organizing and social movements for a big-picture dialogue about historical exclusions, contemporary political-economic transitions and long-term vision. Organizing Upgrade has been publishing the notes from their stimulating dialogue in several sections, beginning with a piece on historical exclusions in April and a piece on the role of policy struggles in our last issue. This final section captures a discussion between the panelists about the relationship between the Excluded Workers Congress and the traditional labor movement.

As a part of its tenth anniversary issue, our favorite allied publication, Left Turn, asked Organizing Upgrade editor, Harmony Goldberg, to write an article reflecting on the development of the U.S. left over the last decade. Harmony points out several key developments: the growth of a stronger trend of left organizers rooted in social movements, the development of a stronger culture of unity and principled struggle and the emergence of more integrative and holistic approaches to left work.

Organizing Upgrade’s Harmony Goldberg interviewed Rickke Mananzala in July 2010.

Harmony Goldberg interviewed James Mumm for Organizing Upgrade in March 2010.

Harmony Goldberg interviewed Cindy Wiesner in February 2010.