The experience of the AFL-CIO’s community affiliate Working America has shown that working people—union and nonunion—“hold closely to the belief that workers need to have power and a voice,” reports Kenneth Quinnell at Crooks and Liars, based on an interview with Working America’s Executive Director Karen Nussbaum. “….There is strength in numbers and…working families and their allies have numbers they can mobilize to make positive change.”

Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.), a tea party favorite, has steadfastly refused to hold a town hall meeting in Duluth, the largest city in his district. That is, until a group of activist grandmothers shamed him yesterday into promising  to hold a meeting to discuss jobs (see video).