Following the success of the repeal Senate Bill 5 movement of 2011, students and others previously not familiar with the labor movement became aware of the importance of organized labor to progressive causes. Nate Hall, an FCYDems member who serves as a policy analyst for the Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters (IKORCC), is one such student.

Nate started working on behalf of progressive causes while still a student, at Ohio University in Athens. He started by working on Obama’s successful 2008 campaign and then later served as the College Democrats President for Ohio University until he worked as campaign manager for the successful race of Nick Barborak for the 5th Ohio House District. Beginning in January of 2013 Nate worked as a Legislative Aide for Representative Barborak. This gave him an understanding of the legislative process until he left the legislature to help run another Democratic House race in the difficult 2014-election cycle. This shift allowed Nate to stumble upon an opportunity to assist the labor movement as a staff member with IKORCC. Labor has been the back bone of the Democratic Party for one-hundred years, and will be for the next one-hundred years,” said Nate. As a policy analyst for IKORCC he has great concerns with continued restrictions on workers rights, and possible changes to unemployment compensation, championed in the Ohio Legislature, which will negatively impact those in construction and other labor workers who might be in-between work sites.

Conversely, Nate sees hope in advancing the ideals of collective bargaining, specifically it’s ability to bring wages up for all workers, however he still remains concerned with the continued movement of so called “Right to Work” legislation, reminiscence of the 2011 S.B. 5 fight, “It’s important for the Democratic Party to be vigilant against future efforts to constrict organized labor.”

IKORCC continues to be active in outreach to communities not traditionally represented in the Carpenters Union, such as women and the growing Latino population in the field. FCYDems are excited to have a member on the front lines of the future of the labor movement in Nate Hall.

By: Dimitri McDaniel