Hannah Srajer, President of the Connecticut Tenants Union, discusses revolutionary approaches to tenant organizing by applying labor models. She highlights the power of collective bargaining, drawing from the success of the Blake Street Tenant Union, which achieved more equitable leases. Srajer emphasizes community resilience in the face of landlord aggression, showcasing the Concord Hills Tenant Union's fight for justice. The podcast also explores the broader impact of grassroots movements in reshaping tenant rights across the nation.
The Connecticut Tenants Union employs labor organizing strategies to build tenant unions that enable collective bargaining and empower vulnerable communities.
The Blake Street Tenant Union's victory in securing a collectively bargained lease illustrates the effectiveness of organized tenant responses against landlord exploitation.
Hannah Schreier envisions tenant movements leveraging their political power to influence housing policy and advocate for enhanced tenant rights.
Deep dives
Hannah Schreier and the Connecticut Tenants Union
Hannah Schreier leads the Connecticut Tenants Union (CTTU), which employs a robust model for organizing tenants across Connecticut. Drawing inspiration from successful labor union strategies, CTTU emphasizes the formation of tenant unions that utilize structured leadership, democratic decision-making, and collective bargaining. By organizing tenants to recognize their rights and build power, CTTU aims to create a strong frontline against landlords who often exploit vulnerable communities. The union has rapidly gained traction with 15 chapters statewide, demonstrating the efficacy of its grassroots, militant organizing approach.
Collective Bargaining Success: Blake Street Case Study
The Blake Street Tenant Union marked a significant victory by securing Connecticut's first collectively bargained lease in the summer of 2023. After facing substantial rent increases, the union organized a strong response that included collective bargaining efforts, which led to negotiations with their landlord, Ocean Management. When the landlord retaliated with attempted evictions, the union escalated its tactics, demonstrating a united front that resulted in an agreement to collectively bargain terms for stable and equitable living conditions. This case exemplifies how organized tenants can effectively challenge and negotiate with landlords, proving the potential for systemic change.
In a separate case at Concord Hills, the union faced the challenge of organizing tenants who had recently experienced displacement due to a fire and subsequent neglect from multiple landlords. Through proactive engagement and agitation, CTTU led a campaign that demanded better living conditions and accountability from both the city and the landlord. Despite initial setbacks, the union successfully negotiated improved temporary housing conditions for displaced families and established a framework to hold the landlord accountable for necessary repairs. This campaign reinforced the importance of relentless organizing and community solidarity in tenant advocacy.
Building Political Power through Tenant Organizing
Hannah Schreier articulated a vision where organized tenant movements can translate their power into political influence, especially in local and state governance. The Connecticut Tenants Union actively engages its members to advocate for legislative changes that protect tenant rights, such as Just Cause eviction laws. By mobilizing large groups of tenants during political lobbying efforts, CTTU demonstrates to elected officials that they represent a significant voting bloc that demands accountability. This grassroots organizing underscores the potential for tenants to claim their rightful place in conversations about housing policy and social justice.
Expanding the Tenant Union Movement Nationally
The CTTU model aims to replicate its successes nationally, recognizing that corporate landlords operate beyond state boundaries. By forming strategic partnerships with other organizations and building connections across regions, CTTU facilitates a coordinated approach to tenant organizing against shared corporate interests. With successful training initiatives that extend across multiple states, the union empowers local groups to adopt its methodologies and engage in effective mass mobilization. The overarching goal is to create a formidable network of tenant unions unified in their fight against housing injustices and the exploitation of working-class individuals.
Featuring Hannah Srajer on building tenant unions by applying labor organizing models. The Connecticut Tenants Union is partnered with SEIU 1199NE to organize fighting super majority tenant unions that win collectively bargained leases and wield working class political power. It’s a model that’s spreading nationwide.
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