Solidarity Betrayed
How Unions Enable Sexual Harassment--and How They Can Do Better
New Release
Solidarity Betrayed
Solidarity Betrayed is a "tough love" letter to the labor movement. It confronts the ways labor unions have responded to allegations of sexual harassment, blending research, history, and personal testimony. Through the voices of survivors, the history of women in organized labor, and critical analysis of law and culture, the book explores why harassment has often been ignored and the complex pressures facing unions. Readers will find honest discussions of problematic leadership, in-depth analyses of intersecting cultural and institutional factors, and inspiring examples of unions working toward real change. This book offers practical ideas and hopeful lessons for making unions more inclusive for everyone.
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Solidarity Betrayed is a clarion call to justice, marrying vivid survivor's stories with the author's incisive legal and cultural critique. This accessible and transformative book urges readers to envision a world rooted in dignity and collective resistance.
Soraya Chemaly, author of Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women's Anger
Praise & Reviews
An important and courageous book that shines an informed light on the failure of certain unions and leaders to respond to sexual harassment and the resulting damage to those victimized and the movement generally.
William A. Herbert, Distinguished Lecturer, Hunter College, City University of New York
Solidarity Betrayed is a courgeous masterwork of reporting and analhysis that gives voice to those who have suffered sexual abuse in the workplace and sheds light on those workers who have managed to redress imbalances of power that keep victims quiet and perpetrators free. It is a must-read for anyone who loves our country's labor movement and dreams of a future without sexual violance at work.
Greg Asbed, Founder, Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Discussion Prompts
Union Responses:
How do various labor unions depicted in the book respond to allegations of sexual harassment? What factors seem to most influence their actions or inaction?
Intersectionality:
Where in the book do intersecting factors like gender, race, or position within the union play the biggest role in shaping outcomes for survivors?
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Survivor Stories:
Which survivor stories resonated most with you? What did you learn from their experiences that challenged or reinforced your prior views?
Leadership & Accountability:
How does the behavior of certain labor leaders contribute to a culture of silence or complicity? Are there examples of positive leadership you found inspiring?
Historical Perspective:
In what ways has the history of women’s involvement in labor unions informed current challenges and opportunities around addressing harassment?
Institutional Barriers:
What barriers within union structures and cultures have allowed sexual harassment to persist? Do these seem unique to unions, or are they more widespread?
Prevention & Change:
Discuss some of the ideas presented for preventing harassment. Which solutions appeared most practical or compelling to you?
Examples of Progress:
What examples of unions “doing it right” stood out to you? What can other unions—and organizations more broadly—learn from these case
Ethics of Solidarity:
How does the book challenge conventional notions of solidarity? members? Is it possible to maintain unity while holding individuals accountable?
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Personal Action:
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After reading, do you feel differently about the responsibilities of members, leaders, or bystanders regarding harassment within organizations? What would you do differently now?
About Ana Avendaño
Ana Avendaño has never accepted the world as it is—she bends it toward justice. Unapologetically committed to workers, especially the marginalized and overlooked, Ana has spent her career dismantling barriers, confronting oppression, and taking on the forces that keep people down.
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Ana pushed the labor movement to break old patterns, leading efforts to shift policy and programs on immigration and driving unions to join forces with worker centers and non-traditional organizations.
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Ana lives with her dog, Chiquitita, in Washington, DC and Brooklyn, NY.