KC Tenants announces launch of citywide tenant’s union with goal of 10,000 members. Photo documentation May 7th, 2022.
WE ARE A UNION.
Today over 300 tenants and allies rallied with KC Tenants to launch a citywide tenant union, with a strategy to organize 10,000 members by the end of this year.
JOIN: http://kctenants.org/member
Following performances by Center High School Marching Band and The Salvation Choir, tenant leaders from KC Tenants, Midtown Tenant Union, Heart Village Mobile Homes, and the UMKC Tenant Union shared stories of struggle and success through their tenant unions.
After the rally, attendees divided into teams to knock 2,000 doors at Willow Creek Apartments and at The Ethans.
“Does my city feel like my home? When I consider this question the first thing that comes to mind is the darkest parts of this city. But I know that can change. I know that we can change it,” said Phil Washington, a leader with KC Tenants. “Kansas City can be my home and your home. It takes a union.”
“Last summer Jackson County bought the land under my home. They bought the land to build their new jail. I thought I would live out my years at Heart Village. It was my home,” said Urban Schaefer, a leader with Heart Village Mobile Homes and KC Tenants. “When we learned about the County’s plans, I got together with my neighbors, with support from KC Tenants. We formed a union and we won. We’re united and powerful and we won’t stop bitchin 'till we get what we’re owed.”
“UMKC is a real estate company first and a school second. They are one of the leading landowners and gentrifiers in Kansas City. I’m ideal for a UMKC pamphlet, but at the end of the day they treat me like a quick money maker,” said Tylan Olamiju, a leader with the UMKC Tenant Union and KC Tenants. “We unionized and we got UMKC to pay up!”
“Shouldn’t nobody feel the way I felt when I had nowhere to go. A union is our answer to that. A union IS home, it’s knowing your neighbors, it’s telling the truth, it’s fighting back, it’s winning. Every tenant deserves a union,” said Pat Lucas, a leader with KC Tenants and the Midtown Tenant Union.
Today over 300 tenants and allies rallied with KC Tenants to launch a citywide tenant union, with a strategy to organize 10,000 members by the end of this year.
JOIN: http://kctenants.org/member
Following performances by Center High School Marching Band and The Salvation Choir, tenant leaders from KC Tenants, Midtown Tenant Union, Heart Village Mobile Homes, and the UMKC Tenant Union shared stories of struggle and success through their tenant unions.
After the rally, attendees divided into teams to knock 2,000 doors at Willow Creek Apartments and at The Ethans.
“Does my city feel like my home? When I consider this question the first thing that comes to mind is the darkest parts of this city. But I know that can change. I know that we can change it,” said Phil Washington, a leader with KC Tenants. “Kansas City can be my home and your home. It takes a union.”
“Last summer Jackson County bought the land under my home. They bought the land to build their new jail. I thought I would live out my years at Heart Village. It was my home,” said Urban Schaefer, a leader with Heart Village Mobile Homes and KC Tenants. “When we learned about the County’s plans, I got together with my neighbors, with support from KC Tenants. We formed a union and we won. We’re united and powerful and we won’t stop bitchin 'till we get what we’re owed.”
“UMKC is a real estate company first and a school second. They are one of the leading landowners and gentrifiers in Kansas City. I’m ideal for a UMKC pamphlet, but at the end of the day they treat me like a quick money maker,” said Tylan Olamiju, a leader with the UMKC Tenant Union and KC Tenants. “We unionized and we got UMKC to pay up!”
“Shouldn’t nobody feel the way I felt when I had nowhere to go. A union is our answer to that. A union IS home, it’s knowing your neighbors, it’s telling the truth, it’s fighting back, it’s winning. Every tenant deserves a union,” said Pat Lucas, a leader with KC Tenants and the Midtown Tenant Union.
