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After decades of agitating from the inside, Joe Uehlein concluded that there had to be a movement that could act beyond the constraints of conventional labor rights and environmentalism.Joe held two top positions at the AFL-CIO: secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO’s Industrial Division, and director of the AFL-CIO’s Center for Strategic Campaigns. He left the AFL-CIO in 2005 to pursue work on climate change and founded the Labor Network for Sustainability, a force in building cooperation among labor, environmental, and climate movements. Standing on the frontlines of climate justice and the class war requires transforming organized labor to include a durable vision of ecological integrity and transforming environmentalism to embrace working-class solidarity. For Joe, art has also been vital in the struggle for labor and climate. With a guitar in hand, his powerful words have inspired audiences across the globe. While sometimes sharing the stage with musicians such as Tom Morello and Pete Seeger, Joe’s songs have become anthems for elevating the plight of the worker and demanding a healthy environment for future generations.
Three Roads is the distillation of Joe’s dynamic strategy of “building bridges and pushing the envelope” to simultaneously unify and challenge the divergent forces that must come together to protect both workers and our shared planet. Joe’s captivating storytelling, passionate voice, and unique life story provides lessons, guidance and ammunition for a new generation of activists attempting to navigate the dual crisis of rising sea levels and the increasing disparity between the rich and the poor.
Three Roads is for everyone who desires coming together and creating a just and sustainable future for all.
List of contents
Introduction: Listen to the Voices of the Future
Chapter 1: Hold the Line
Chapter 2: Peace, Love, and Understanding
Chapter 3: Working Stiff
Chapter 4: Groundwork: Songs for Working People
Chapter 5: Ravenswood
Chapter 6: A New Hope
Chapter 7: There are No Jobs on a Dead Plant
Chapter 8: Can’t Giddyup by Sayin’ Whoa!
Chapter 9: Creating a Labor Climate Movement
Chapter 10: Winning Labor for Climate and Climate for Labor
Chapter 11: Pass It On
About the author
Joseph B. Uehlein is the founder of the Labor Network for Sustainability, which supports climate and labor initiatives. Uehlein had a long career in labor union organization, holding numerous positions, most notably secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO's Industrial Union Department and former director of the AFL-CIO Center for Strategic Campaigns. Uehlein is also a professional musician with nearly fifty years of experience and has played in concerts around the world. He lives in Takoma Park, Maryland.
Si Kahn is singer-songwriter, activist, author, and founder of Grassroots Leadership.
