THE STRIKE
Building Workers’ Power Today
March 28-29th, 2025
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The UMass Amherst Labor Center is bringing together workers, leaders, and scholars from across the U.S. and around the world to explore the power of strikes and collective action. Join us for this 1.5-day event featuring interactive workshops, activist and research panels, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities as we dive into the dynamics and potential of collective action in the 2020s and beyond
Updates
Opening Keynote by Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants – CWA
A First Look at a Few of the Planned Sessions:
Cross-Border Strikes and Global Solidarity
Dockworkers Strikes
Workers’ Structural Power
Building Rank-and-File Research Teams
A Practical Radical Workshop on Strategic Alignment in 2028
Planning a Strike Exit Strategy
Lessons from Transit Strikes
Museum Workers on Strike
Regional Labor Councils Supporting Strikes
Prison Strikes & Takeovers by Incarcerated Workers
Getting Strike Ready
Illegal Public Sector Strikes
Striking Workers and Unemployment Protections
Unions & orgs represented…
Trader Joes United
Blue Bottle Independent
Chicago Teachers Union
UAW
Massachusetts Nurses Association
Massachusetts Teachers Association
Minnesota AFL-CIO
… and many more!
Registration
Registration is open! Registration will close on March 8, 2025.
Registration tips!
- If you get an error page, look at the top left for “home” tab and navigate there
- If Iris asks you for a code, the code is: TheStrike
- If you are still having trouble, email us for support: strike2025@umass.edu
Event Schedule
Friday, March 28
4:00PM – 6:30PM: Registration
7:00PM: Keynote from Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants & Opening Plenary
Saturday, March 29
8:30AM – 9:30AM: Registration & Breakfast
9:30AM – 11:00AM: Session 1
11:00AM – 11:30AM: Morning Break
11:30AM – 1:00PM: Session 2
1:00PM – 2:00PM: Lunch
2:00PM – 3:30PM: Session 3
3:30PM – 4:00PM: Afternoon Break
4:00PM – 5:30PM: Session 4
5:30PM – 7:00PM: Dinner
7:30PM – 9:00PM: Closing Plenary
FAQ
Registration Fees
Registration opens on January 1, 2025. Thanks to our sponsors, the registration fee is $25, covering all meals. We welcome additional donations from community members who can help offset costs. Students and members of the Five College community attend for free.
Accommodations
We strongly encourage you to stay on-campus at Hotel UMass when possible. Hotel UMass is the only unionized hotel in the area, and it is very convenient to sessions and meals (and includes a continental breakfast). The conference rate is $189.00/room/night + fees.
The deadline to reserve is February 28, 2025, or until space fills. The link below will take you directly to The Strike Hotel UMass reservation page.
Mutual Aid
If you want to attend the conference but need assistance—such as housing, transportation, or other resources—please join our mutual aid group. This platform connects you with other attendees who can offer support to help make your attendance possible.
Tabling
If your organization is interested in having a table at the event, please send us an email at: strike2025@umass.edu.
Accessibility
We aim to have an inclusive, accessible event that enables all workers to fully engage. Please let us know in advance if there are any specific adjustments we need to make to allow you to fully participate in the conference. Contact us at strike2025@umass.edu.
Childcare
We are pleased to offer childcare at the event in collaboration with the Childcare Collective of Western Massachusetts. We recognize the importance of making conferences accessible to parents and caregivers, and we are grateful for the partnership that allows us to provide this service. If you require childcare during the conference, please email us at strike2025@umass.edu.
Sponsors
