I am not ready to no longer be working at DSA. This job is truly the best I have ever had. I sincerely hope the NPC will negotiate with our union to allow those of us facing layoffs to continue to empower members across the country.
This political culture within DSA is demobilizing. Coming from a member of the NPC is even worse. After the chapter knocked 40k doors. This race will have a real impact on conditions there. Short sighted and not strategic.
.
@atldemsoc
electing the first socialist in Georgia!!! The DSA difference in action! An incredible campaign with truly amazing DSA organizers at the helm! It was the honor of a lifetime to be able to work with the chapter to make some history!
I got my start in DSA on the
#BuildPublicRenewables
campaign. I have made some of my best friends working on this fight. Helped send one of them to the state assembly. The last 4 years were so formative for me. I am in awe and so proud of my comrades for this win.
Really wild. In NY both Latimer and Madden (Primarying our comrade
@sarahana
), two candidates receiving truckloads of cash from AIPAC are using almost identical talking points in their races. Consultant copy paste.
I’m a proud member of my Union and grateful for the representation it has provided me and my coworkers through this ordeal. I’m also a proud DSA member. These two things are not mutually exclusive. Our time/labor belongs to every member. We are not a political faction.
Perhaps one of my favorite interactions of the
@sarahana
campaign:
Voter: “They’re going to call her a socialist”
Me: “She is one”
Voter was strong support 🤗
I refuse to believe that we cannot build an organization strong enough to weather this storm and emerge stronger, more vibrant, and larger as a result of good organizing. 🧵
Since joining the DSA Staff Union last July I have been blown away by every single one of my coworkers. Some of the most dedicated comrades I have ever had the honor of working with in DSA. 🧵
We did not water down messaging. Every conversation was an organizing conversation based in the work Sarahana and all of us have been committed to on issues like Public Power / BPRA, NYHA, taxing the rich, and Good Cause Eviction.
I spoke with seniors paying more than 50% of their income on utilities. Young people struggling to find affordable housing or housing at all. The common thread in every conversation was a crisis of affordability and frustration with a majority which has failed to meet the moment.
While working 40-50h a week, we have also now had to organize to save our jobs. The stress of not knowing if we will still have a job in a few weeks IS TOXIC. This isn’t a great work environment. Please consider that these aren’t just political choices. These are people’s lives!
DSA’s work building relationships with labor through ecosoc campaigns will be a historic signifier of climate organizing in the 21st century. I can’t think of anything more significant in moving the needle on what can be done at scale to address the climate crisis.
In my estimation the way DSA fights the right and supports down ballot races in 2024 is by not laying off staff and by supporting chapter organizing to elect socialists to office who are running this cycle. Anything but organizing is a distraction.
The best part of being a staff organizer at DSA is having the honor of working with the best organizers in the country on a daily basis helping to realize your vision for the organization and the campaigns we build together.
In my opinion the largest contributing factor to our win was a massive success at developing a community of organizers for this race who gave their all and then some. I really don’t think many people understand just how dedicated our team was throughout the last 8 months.
Ngl
@mhvdsa
has some of the best organizers in the country. I’m a bit biased but watching a new generation of chapter leaders come out of our campaign to elect
@sarahana
last year has been an incredible thing to witness. The community here is so strong it’s beautiful 🥹
We had 130 unique volunteers participate, knocking over 30k doors. Half of which were members of
@mhvdsa
and many who we hope to recruit in the weeks/months to come.
Every DSA campaign I support is member led! My role as a staff organizer is to be a resource for chapters running class struggle electoral campaigns to provide them the support and training needed to realize their vision, not to make decisions for them!
I don’t think these experiences are limited to electoral strategy. The act of engaging in deep canvassing and long term field campaigns has to be centered in our work in DSA.
Her and her husband both have cancer and can’t afford treatment. She is worried about the climate crisis and the future she is leaving behind for her grandchildren. We told her that this race is about making a beautiful future we can be proud of. About not compromising on that.
I love this job because you the members fucking rock. Endlessly inspired by the potential of our movement. Don’t let anyone rain on the parade and make you feel shitty about DSA. We’re literally changing the world comrades!
Through this assembly race we engaged in the work of building a mass movement. Now we continue to organize. We use the general election to push through and build support for the
#BuildPublicRenewables
Act and so many other priorities we will champion with the power we have built.
I can’t say enough about how many friends were made through this race. And I think underestimating the importance of those bonds is to lose sight of the foundation of trust and solidarity which made this possible.
In so many ways it feels like I am just getting started in this position. The hardest part of facing this is knowing that on the other side of myself and others losing our jobs, members will have fewer resources and staff time that makes a difference every day in their work.
In some very exciting personal news…
Today is my first day as the national electoral campaigns organizer for DSA! 🌹
Can’t wait to work with everyone to elect socialists to office and build a stronger electoral project across the country!
Socialism is the future was a truly impactful experience as a DSA leader. Being able to ground the work of
@mhvdsa
in the context of the incredible work being done by chapters across the country was invaluable.
Expectations are something I cover in the electoral 101’s I do with members. Full credit to comrade Pete who came up with this framing. I think when we debate endorsements they should be contextualized in this way. 🧵
Our endorsement is actually the least powerful material benefit to a candidate/elected. If all we are holding over someone is our endorsement we haven’t ascertained what expectations we have of the people we elect and what it will take to make those expectations reality.
An update from the DSA Union:
I along with 7 other unit members are currently being laid off at the end of May. Our Union filed a grievance because the number of layoffs aren’t economically justified. We are running out of time. We need the NPC to come to the table and negotiate
We laid out a theory of change not just for the district but for NY. These were conversations about class struggle, building power, and a strategy to effect change. In speaking to our organizing work we gave the clearest contrast possible to our opponent.
From day one our union has offered good faith proposals to address our budget deficit and to reduce the impact on chapter organizing. We want to negotiate and resolve this! Doing so is in the interest of DSA!
For months, the DSA union has been negotiating with the NPC to prevent mass layoffs. The NPCs proposed number would hurt DSA's organizing capacity, and is not economically justified by the updated financial data — which in reality has improved greatly since this process started.
Ultimately we spoke to a complacency in Albany which has led to an utter failure to address these issues and pass legislation to improve peoples lives. People are hurting. One voter I will never forget who
@sammymaine
and I canvassed:
@majorityfm
@NomikiKonst
MR, I’ve been a listener for years. With no response to multiple emails to discuss the
@DSAForTheMany
and
@NYWFP
slates and you all covering this when
@Gonzalez4NY
is already running for this seat I have to say I am feeling very frustrated and discouraged
@MattLech
what is this?!
Let the record show that on the last day of session Kevin Cahill did squat to help pass the most significant piece of climate legislation in 3 years. Meanwhile
@sarahana
has been in this fight building the movement to get it across the finish line for 2 years!
There is frankly nothing more demobilizing than national leadership telling members that this org is doomed to be smaller, unable to overcome an organizing challenge, and as a result layoff this many staff.
Union Proud🌹
“As staff, our primary focus is on the work that builds the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the socialist movement. Our unit is made up of DSA members with extensive experience as organizers, elected leaders, and members of the movement.”
Our endorsement is actually the least powerful material benefit to a candidate/elected. If all we are holding over someone is our endorsement we haven’t ascertained what expectations we have of the people we elect and what it will take to make those expectations reality.
I see my friends/comrades less than I used to. I feel farther away from my community at home. But every single day is worth it to be able to do this job. To be in service of the socialist movement. This is the highest honor I have had in my life.
I had so many incredible conversations today knocking doors for
@sarahana
. 10-20 min convos talking about Albany, class struggle, and power. This is more than just an election. This is an exercise in building a mass movement.
As the Electoral Campaigns Organizer on staff I am forever committed to working with all of our members to develop powerful campaigns and chapter organizing that grow DSA, creates leaders, and will lead us out of our budget crisis. 1/3🧵
Many of us made sacrifices to work at DSA. Speaking personally, I stepped back from 4 years of commitments fighting for Public Power in NY, building power with the NY SIO, and building with my home chapter
@mhvdsa
.
Sarahana and I both started our organizing journey in earnest fighting for public power in NY. It was a central issue in her race in 2022. Now, only 2 years into her tenure in Albany she has taken the most significant step in the state to realize a vision for energy democracy.
Excited to share that
@SenatorHinchey
and I are introducing a bill to replace Central Hudson with the publicly-owned and democratically controlled ⚡️Hudson Valley Power Authority⚡️
First DSA win of the night! Congratulations to
@jpforlou
for winning a seat on the Louisville Metro Council! We know JP, the first DSA member to win a seat on the body, will be a champion for Louisville's working class, and fight for reinvestment in green energy and social
Everyone on staff serves you! The members. Our jobs revolve around solving problems on a daily basis to empower you to build DSA in your vision, not ours.
Émilia has been an inspiration as a member of our bargaining committee and has been invaluable as a member of staff at DSA. She will be missed. I know she has so many exciting things ahead of her but this is so very much DSA’s loss.
I've been relatively quiet lately but I have some personal updates I'd like to share! Today was my last day on staff
@DemSocialists
. As some of you know, I was laid off, and took a slightly earlier separation date as I plan to start a new job on Monday.
On Sarahana’s campaign we said repeatedly that the future must be beautiful. Some of our Leadership lack the political imagination to see that possibility in DSA.
he campaign knocked on 25,000+ doors, canvassed 59,000+ voters, made 14,000+ phone calls, and had 15,000+ conversations with Renton voters in the field or on the phone. Over 100 DSA members mobilized for 90% of these canvass attempts and 75% of these phone calls! DSA built this!
This organization is so incredibly important to me. It saved my life. It makes me incredibly sad to see people’s livelihoods disregarded and our work to engage in good faith with leadership through meaningful and constructive proposals ignored.
Ngl I got a little choked up last night at our watch party looking out over a sea of yellow hats and shirts and realizing that we built that. It was powerful seeing what we had done in a year’s time.
If you want in on the action. If you think
@sarahana
is cool (she is). Today is as good as day as any to join DSA and be a part of this movement with us.
We have fun. You will to.
So much is at stake right now. If you are a member of DSA I encourage you to attend this call to get the facts and information about what is happening with regards to layoffs and our grievance with the NPC.
We received an offer to meet with them to discuss the MOU so we’ve asked them to meet with us on Monday 4/29 at 8 PM EST. We would like to invite DSA members to this call. RSVP Here:
I joined DSA in 2019 feeling disillusioned about the future. I set out to find and build a community capable of addressing the climate crisis. As a member of
@mhvdsa
I have met incredible friends and comrades committed to realizing a shared vision of a beautiful future!
The
@DSA_union
staff are crucial to our capacity to organize. Losing them would damage DSA's ability to win! During last year’s Strike Ready campaigns, Émilia's management of our pledge signers list was instrumental as we rallied our members into action.
#StandWithDSAUnion
Personally going to be supporting the candidate who fought to pass the Build Public Renewables Act, organized 7 in district town halls to talk about public power and utility price gouging, and who has (along with incredible staff) ran an incredible constituent services program
Gabi Madden, my former deputy chief of staff, is going to make a helluva Assemblywoman.
Thrilled to be a part of her campaign kickoff yesterday in front of a packed house. Ulster and Dutchess Democrats, please support her on primary day!
📷 by Tania Barricklo / Daily Freeman
Gabi Madden, my former deputy chief of staff, is going to make a helluva Assemblywoman.
Thrilled to be a part of her campaign kickoff yesterday in front of a packed house. Ulster and Dutchess Democrats, please support her on primary day!
📷 by Tania Barricklo / Daily Freeman
The NYS Senate has far more moderate reps in marginal districts than the assembly and they PASSED the
#BuildPublicRenewables
Act! If
@CarlHeastie
is so worried about his moderate members getting re-elected he would pass this bill!
I haven’t met a group of comrades more committed to the socialist movement and DSA than my fellow coworkers.
Management could negotiate in good faith with us TODAY. Doing so is in the interest of DSA and our chapters/members.
Really want to emphasize this point. I want DSA to succeed! It’s why I applied for this job in the first place! I won’t do anything to harm DSA if I have literally ANY BETTER OPTION. All we need is good faith negotiations with our employers. That’s all I’m asking for!
DSA is steadfast in expressing our solidarity with Palestine.
Today’s events are a direct result of Israel’s apartheid regime—a regime that receives billions in funding from the United States.
End the violence. End the Occupation. Free Palestine. 1/5
Our work responds to and is directed by decisions made by national committees, the NPC, and chapters. Our job is to empower DSA members to realize their vision for DSA. No caucus represents the Union.
I’m hosting three electoral workshops as part of this starting with a fan favorite! My Electoral 101! Great opportunity for your chapter to learn about the DSA Difference and key elements of Socialist electoral strategy!
Next Thursday (6/13), we kick off the DSA Summer Organizing Workshops, a series of virtual organizing training sessions for DSA members from the staff organizing team. You can find the full schedule here:
If we accepted that view in any campaign we would lose. In my estimation it is antithetical praxis to building a mass org and antithetical to the spirit of DSA.
#BuildPublicRenewables
had the votes, it had a movement behind it
What we lacked was the power and champions in Albany to make
@CarlHeastie
bring it for a vote!
We change that right here, right now on June 28th by electing a real
#PublicPower
champion and organizer in
@sarahana
The future is ours! Our fight continues!
Join us and make history by electing a true
#PublicPower
and
#BuildPublicRenewables
champion to Albany!
🚪Canvass:
☎️ Phonebank:
I never want to have to organize against another fossil fuel project in my lifetime. It’s high time NY pass the
#BuildPublicRenewables
Act and
#CleanFutures
Act so we can start focusing on solutions instead of the problem.
The DSA is proud to endorse Evan MacKay for MA District 25! An educator and long-time labor activist,
@EvanforCambridg
will fight In the MA House of Representatives to advance tenant protections, repeal regressive tax concessions, and support Cambridge's public transit and
Gold standard of the DSA difference. Even when the odds are against us we fight to reduce harm and hold the moral line. These are hard votes that can carry political costs. We have built significant power in NY but there is much work to be done!
44% of tenants in the Town of Ulster are rent-burdened, but they won't get the good cause protections we passed today because the town—like many others in my district—is unlikely to opt-in. It’s one of the reasons why I voted no. Full statement:
Huge thanks to
@nycRPM
for having me on the show tonight to talk about socialism in the Mid-Hudson Valley, our victory in the 103rd with
@sarahana
, and so much more!
We must emerge stronger as an organization, to continue the work of winning socialism in our lifetimes. The stakes couldn’t be higher for DSA, the working class, and the planet.
You have my commitment to building together, in solidarity, and in community. 3/3
Excited to share that
@SenatorHinchey
and I are introducing a bill to replace Central Hudson with the publicly-owned and democratically controlled ⚡️Hudson Valley Power Authority⚡️
I talked a voter through “Defund the police” today. Lean Cahill -> Strong Sarahana. I feel like anti-electoral people in DSA have spent the least amount of time talking to people outside of the org and our general political orientation.
I strongly encourage our members to invest labor, time, and resources into work that is uplifting, inspiring, and empowering for the members of your local chapter. We cannot let this moment demoralize us. 2/3
I joined DSA like the majority of our members because I was inspired by campaigns we were running and the vision and possibility for a better world that was being fought for.
Wins keep us going, inspire DSA members, and create new leaders. We made history twice in the last two years. BPRA is how Sarahana and I got our start as organizers. With
#BuildPublicRenewables
about to be passed I can’t wait to see what history we write next.
Yesterday I and my
@DemSocialists
colleagues in the New York State legislature voted NO on a Revenue budget bill that abandons workers to protect multi-millionaires and corporations.