A review by mkwoods
On the Line: A Story of Class, Solidarity, and Two Women's Epic Fight to Build a Union by Daisy Pitkin

emotional hopeful informative fast-paced

4.0

This was an easy to read, engaging, and informative memoir. I would recommend it to folks who want to learn more about the labor movement, especially folks who wonder why unions are necessary and important today, and folks who work in politics.

The central story of the union in Phoenix is fascinating and frustrating and informative, but I also appreciated all of the history about the labor movement, especially the focus on women. I wish the author had presented a clear overview of the process of forming a union today. I’ve been through it and even I got lost at times, so if you’re unfamiliar look it up before reading. I loved the descriptions of how they tracked data (this is the work I do). The whole moth thing didn’t resonate for me but I’m always down for some fun facts about bugs.

Most of all, I found a lot to relate to in this book. The complicated relationships between privileged white people choosing to do meaningful work because they care and folks who do it for survival, the frustration and betrayal when institutions with toxic cultures fail to live up to their supposed values, the despair and relief of leaving a job you care deeply about and want to be good at but that’s eating you alive. There’s a lot here, and I’m glad I read it.