Northland Poster Legacy Blog

Northland did lots of wonderful work for Labor

Notes over the years. For our book on lean

production, Working Smart, Ricardo Levins

Morales drew a dozen cartoons that skewered

bosses’ ‘participation programs’ perfectly. (We’re

giving Working Smart away for just the cost of

shipping; send $5 to 7435 Michigan Ave.,

Detroit, MI 48210, and it’s yours.)

But most famous of all is the Troublemakers

Union t-shirt. The logo of the Troublemakers

and Boat-Rockers Union sports a simple slingshot.

Apparently everyone wants to belong to that union,

because we’ve sold hundreds of them

(order at www.labornotes.org or 313-842-6262

for $15).

We’ll always be grateful to Northland for

creating that enduring image.

As a long time anti-war and union activist, I have purchased many items from Northland Poster. I have your bumper stickers plastered over my truck (together with some from the IWW and Veterans for Peace). I always knew I could get union made quality products from your company. Your pins have been up and down the Las Vegas strip in anti-war demonstrations, at the Nevada Nuclear Test site in anti nuclear demonstrations, on picket lines in front of UHS anti worker hospitals, on picket lines in front Clark County, Nevada government offices which were attempting to screw their workers, and at anti recruiting actions at the Clark County School Board in Las Vegas. Your pins have helped spread the progessive message even in Sin City. You will be missed. Right now, in my office at the union hall, your pins line my wall.

I have known,for close to half my life…and almost all of my adult life…one man…Ricardo Levins Morales. Though he may not know this…he is most likely the single most influential person in the development of my political understanding of any human being I have ever met. He is a brilliant, gentle, and loving soul. He has taught me how to ask the right questions, formulate good answers, and dig into my own relationship to the way that power is and has been in this world. I love Ricardo. I love Northland, and I mourn its passing.

Will miss browsing the Northland catalog! We have many framed posters in our home that give visual voice our politics & opinions. They are always noticed by visitors! Over the years we have given posters as teacher ‘thank-yous’, which still hang in the classroom for yet another generation to read and ponder. Many thanks for being ‘different’!

About 10 years ago I was, at age 52, in the apprenticeship program of a construction trade. As a woman, and as one who has been involved in progressive activity all my life, it was not a good experience. The sexism and racism of the union instructors was overt, frequent, and delivered with glee. I was constantly challenging them about their racism and sexism, and doing what I could to teach them. Some were interested, others just learned to watch their words when I was around.

One bright spot was a Northland Poster on the bulletin board in the hallway, the ABCs of Organizing. I would stand in front of that poster at every break. I would think of the good folks at Northland, think of them as my family, and feel grateful for their presence in this union training center. That poster kept me sane, kept me hopeful, reminded me that I was not as alone in the world as I was in that union.

Thank you, Northland folks, for your sustenance.