New Books in Political Science Naomi R. Williams, "A Blueprint for Worker Solidarity: Class Politics and Community in Wisconsin" (U Illinois Press, 2025)
Oct 12, 2025
Naomi R. Williams, Associate Professor of Labor Studies at Rutgers University, explores worker solidarity from Racine, Wisconsin. She shares how her upbringing fueled her passion for labor history and highlights the impact of the 1976 hospital strike, which united diverse workers. Williams discusses the concept of total person unionism, emphasizing the interconnectedness of community needs and labor rights. She also stresses lessons for modern organizing, urging a holistic approach that connects workplace struggles with broader social issues and building solidarity beyond traditional boundaries.
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Small City, Broad Labor Ecology
- Racine had diverse industries and active women in unions, enabling cross-sector organizing.
- Its small size let researchers explore deep connections across generations and sectors.
Entry From A Single Strike
- Naomi R. Williams discovered Racine through a 1976 hospital workers' strike with UAW solidarity.
- A front-page photo of UAW members protecting women strikers opened research access and local archives for her.
William Jenkins' Working-Class Leadership
- William Jenkins rose from shop steward to Central Labor Council president and pushed racial justice within unions.
- He joined NAACP leadership and enlisted unions as organizational members to link economic democracy with racial justice.
