Organizing for Change: The Intersections of Social Work and the Labor Movement

Social work and labor organizing share a fundamental commitment to dismantling systemic harm, but their relationship has not always been harmonious. This presentation explores the complex, often underexamined intersections between the labor movement and social work practice, with a focus on how collective action can address the very power structures that harm both clients and workers. Drawing on personal experience, movement history, and current campaigns, the session offers success stories like the “Hands Off, Pants On” worker campaign in Chicago and the influence of ILO Convention 190 in shaping California labor protections. Participants will be invited to consider how organizing principles and labor-aligned policy advocacy can complement social work values and macro efforts, offering strategies to expand beyond crisis response to tackle prevention and structural change.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Describe historical and current intersections between labor organizing and social work, including tensions and shared values.

2. Analyze how international frameworks like ILO Convention 190 and campaigns such as “Hands Off, Pants On” inform social work advocacy and labor policy.

3. Identify strategies for bridging movements and applying collective action models within social work practice to advance systemic change.

Speaker
Ash Wilhelm (they/them) is a Master of Social Work candidate at California State University, East Bay, with a focus on community mental health, structural change, and collective care. Their work is rooted in nearly two decades as a union member of Transport Workers Union Local 556, the Union of Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants, and evolved through years of labor organizing, leadership, and worker-led campaigns. Ash is dedicated to anti-oppressive practice and to bridging movements that fight for both dignity and justice.

As an organizer and facilitator, Ash names the often-overlooked tensions between labor and social work, viewing collective action as a path toward healing that divide. They believe that under capitalism, empowering workers and empowering clients are interconnected acts of care and resistance.

Who Should Attend
This session is designed for social work students, social workers, school social workers, mental health professionals, educators, student support staff, and others interested in culturally responsive practice with youth and families.

Event Details
Date: September 28, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM PST (5-6pm AK)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Students Free | Professional Members $25 | Professional Non-Members $45

Click here to register

This event is hosted by the NASW California Chapter