This course helps grasp the fundamentals of labour power and actions, and the essential principles that drive effective organisation and mobilisation.
Labour, Power and Strategies
Essential Principles for Effective Organisation and Mobilisation
Course Description
In this course, we will collectively grasp the fundamentals of labour power and collective actions, and explore essential principles that drive effective organisation and mobilisation through case studies from contemporary labour struggles. This course is designed for activists, NGO workers, and workers’ leaders in Asia with essential skills and knowledge.
- Teaching: 6 Online Sessions, Once Every Two Weeks
- Course Fee: USD$60 (Regular Price) / USD$40 (Students/Workers/Unemployed)
- Class Size: Class Limited to 10 Students
Course Facilitator: Kriangsak Teerakowitkajorn
Kriangsak Teerakowitkajorn is the founder and director of the Just Economy and Labor Institute based in Bangkok. He co-produces and co-hosts the podcast “The Continent of Resistance” for the Asian Labour Review. Kriangsak’s expertise is forged from years of research into labor activism, complemented by extensive training in facilitation and strategic corporate research, creating a unique toolkit for crafting effective labour organising strategies. He has collaborated with labour activists and organisations across Asia, with a commitment to empowering workers and building collective strength within the labour community.
Class Time
- 6pm: Pakistan
- 6:30pm: India/Sri Lanka
- 7pm: Bangladesh
- 7:30pm: Myanmar
- 7:45pm: Nepal
- 8pm: Indonesia/Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam
- 9pm: Hong Kong/Taiwan/China/Philippines/Singapore/Malaysia
- 10pm: Japan/Korea
Class Project
The course project aims to apply the principles and strategies learned to real-world scenarios, and guide students to develop strategic plans to support their chosen campaign.
Biweekly Class Schedule
Session 1 – Sept 18, 2024: Understanding Labour’s Power
Explore meanings of power from theories and its relevance. We discuss various forms of power and their implications for organised labour.
Session 2 – Oct 2, 2024: Unionism and Power
Discuss the historical and contemporary context to understand relationships between forms of labour organisations and how they allow workers to exercise their power.
Session 3 – Oct 16, 2024: Fundamentals of Labour Activism (Part 1)
Define and differentiate between organising, mobilising, and advocacy through interactive exercises and case studies.
Session 4 – Oct 30, 2024: Fundamentals of Labour Activism (Part 2)
Extract valuable lessons and explore the political dimensions of labour mobilisation, the challenges and opportunities inherent in organising across various scales.
Session 5 – Nov 13, 2024: Developing Strategic Thinking
Sharpen our strategic acumen by discussing strategic positions and available options and leaning into frameworks such as group dynamics and intersectionality.
Session 6 – Nov 27, 2024: Case Studies in Strategic Thinking
Glean insights into crafting effective strategies for achieving our objectives, and evaluate impacts of collective actions on labour outcomes from real-world examples.
This course has been filled up, and will no longer accept new registrations.
To contact us: convenor@labourschool.org
