Designed for activists, NGO workers, and workers’ leaders in Asia with essential skills and knowledge, this course offers a rare opportunity to delve into the fundamentals of labor power and its strategic applications.
Labour, Power and Strategies
Essential Principles for Effective Organisation and Mobilisation
Course Description
In this introductory course, we will collectively grasp the fundamentals of labor power and collective actions. Over six engaging sessions, we will explore essential principles that drive effective organization and mobilization within labor contexts.
Key themes include:
- Understanding the foundations of labor power and its manifestations.
- The role of unions as agents of power and their strategic potential.
- Essential organizing, mobilizing, and advocacy principles in labor activism.
- Strategic frameworks for organizing across different scales and movements.
- Workers’ power in global supply chains and strategies for leverage.
- Informal labor organizing as a critical force for worker empowerment
Designed for activists, NGO workers, and workers’ leaders in Asia with essential skills and knowledge, this course offers a rare opportunity to delve into the fundamentals of labor power and its strategic applications. From understanding the historical significance of unions as agents of power to dissecting the dynamics of organized labor in contemporary society, each session offers valuable insights into leveraging collective strength effectively.
Expectations:
- Active participation in discussions and activities related to the course project.
- Application of course concepts and frameworks to the analysis and development of strategic plans.
- Collaboration and constructive feedback during the development and presentation phases of the project.
By actively engaging in the course project, participants will not only deepen their understanding of labor activism but also contribute meaningfully to ongoing efforts to empower workers and advance labor rights.
- Teaching: 6 Biweekly (every two weeks) Online Sessions / 1.5 hour per session
- Course Fee: USD$60 (Regular Price) / USD$40 (Students/Workers/Unemployed)
- Class Size: Class Limited to 10 Students
Course Facilitator
Kriangsak Teerakowitkajorn is the founder and director of the Just Economy and Labor Institute, based in Bangkok. He is a Just Tech Fellow (2024–2026) with the Social Science Research Council in the U.S. Kriangsak co-produces and co-hosts The Continent of Resistance podcast for the Asian Labor Review and co-convenes the Asian Labor School. His expertise is shaped by years of research on labor activism, alongside training in facilitation and strategic corporate research.
Class Time
- 6am: Pakistan
- 6:30am: India/Sri Lanka
- 7am: Bangladesh
- 7:30am: Myanmar
- 7:45am: Nepal
- 8am: Indonesia/Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam
- 9am: Hong Kong/Taiwan/China/Philippines/Singapore/Malaysia
- 10am: Japan/Korea
Biweekly Class Schedule
Session 1 – April 5, 2025: Understanding Labour’s Power
In this first session, we will explore meanings of power from theories and its relevance within labor contexts. We discuss various forms of power and their implications for organized labor.
Session 2 – April 19, 2025: Unionism and Power
Focusing on the nexus between unionism and power, we will discuss the role of unions as agents of power and strategies for leveraging collective strength effectively. Drawing from diverse sectors, we will extract valuable lessons and explore the political dimensions of labor mobilization.
Session 3 – May 3, 2025: Fundamentals of Labour Activism (Part 1)
Grounding the discussion in fundamental concepts, we will define and differentiate between organizing, mobilizing, and advocacy. Through interactive exercises and case studies, we will grasp the essential elements of labor organizing and viewing its potentials and pitfalls in the larger context of social movement organizing.
Session 4 – May 17, 2025: Fundamentals of Labour Activism (Part 2)
This session goes deeper into the challenges and opportunities inherent in organizing across various scales. Moreover, we will hone our strategic thinking by leaning into valuable frameworks such as group dynamics and intersectionality to discuss what inclusive and effective strategies for collective action look like.
Session 5 – May 31, 2025: Strategy and Power in the Global Supply Chains
Together, we will sharpen our strategic acumen by discussing how workers translate power into strategic actions in the context of global supply chains.
Session 6 – June 14, 2025: Power and Informality
The informal economy is highly diverse, with workers operating outside standard labor regulations. Yet, it is within this space that many workers develop creative strategies to assert power. In this concluding session, we discuss critical role of informal organizing as a catalyst for worker empowerment, particularly in contexts where formal structures remain an exception rather than a norm.
To contact us: convenor@labourschool.org
