It’s that time of year again! Time for Netroots Nation, that is, which opens this Thursday in Pittsburgh.

I’ve already told you that our Chair, Anna Burger, is going to be keynoting this year’s NN, but here’s a more complete writeup of this event:

Building a 21st Century Economy
Saturday, August 15th, 12:00pm - 1:15pm

Description: Shortly after President Obama took office, he remarked, “We need new rules of the road for the 21st century economy, together with the means and willingness to enforce them.” But in today’s world, economic solutions must include more than just bailouts and regulations.

As our leaders push to solve our country’s financial crisis, how can we maintain confidence in the economy while protecting the interests of the middle class? What are some of the pivotal policy decisions that are being made now, and what will a “21st century economy” look like? And how can we as progressives help for progressive change in areas such as health care and workers’ rights?

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, Change to Win Chair Anna Burger and economist Dean Baker will join us in Pittsburgh for a discussion about the economy and how it affects working Americans. The panel will be moderated by Kevin Drum of Mother Jones.

But is there other stuff, you ask? The answer is: a lot! Some of labor’s biggest rock stars (online and off) are going to be there.

Here’s a short list of events of special interest to those who fight for working people:

Bloggers and Blue-Collar Workers Unite: You Have Nothing to Lose but Wall Street Domination
Thursday, August 13, 10:30-11:45AM
Description: This session, moderated by AAM Executive Director Scott Paul, offers ideas and elicits participants’ recommendations on how bloggers can help combat Wall Street’s domination over the interests of working Americans. Panelists:
* Scott Paul, Executive Director, AAM
* Leo Gerard, International President, United Steelworkers (USW)
* Bob Borosage, President, Institute for America’s Future
* Donna Edwards, U.S. Representative (D-MD-4)
* Tula Connell, AFL-CIO
* Marcy Wheeler, blogger, FireDogLake

How to Work With Unions in Your District
Thursday, August 13th, 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Description: How do you approach unions in your community for help with grassroots events or campaigning? Many feel intimidated in contacting a union and don’t understand union hierarchy or what capabilities are available, and many union members have no idea what help bloggers can provide them. In this panel, union members and bloggers will discuss how to create and strengthen the relationship between labor and the Netroots. Panelists:
* Chris Shannon, blogger, FightingLiberals.com
* Matt Browner-Hamlin, SEIU
* Elana Levin, Workers United
* Blaine Rummel, AFSCME
* Eddie Vale, AFL-CIO

Building the Blue-Green Movement Online
Thursday, August 13, 3:00-4:15 PM
Description: Among the priorities of the Obama administration are passing clean energy and workers’ rights legislation. Representatives from the Blue Green Alliance — a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations — will discuss how this unique partnership is working to expand the number and quality of jobs in the clean energy economy. Join us for this panel, which will include union members already working in the clean energy economy, to discuss building an online effort to create good jobs while reducing global warming and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
Panelists:
* Rob Witherell, USW
* Michael Oko, Natural Resources Defense Council
* Rachel Martin, Sierra Club
* Dave Johnson, Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA)
* Michael Whitney, SEIU
* Michael Williams, Blue-Green Alliance

The Secret Plan to Defeat the Right Forever
Thursday, August 13, 4:30PM-5:45PM
Description: Modernizing the nation’s labor law is critical to expanding union membership—which in turn, will ensure conservatives become a permanent minority, as newly-empowered workers actively engage in political action and demand a new way of doing the nation’s business, like creating an economy that rewards Main Street and not just Wall Street. The freedom to form unions and bargain is critical to the progressive movement—when workers have the tools they need to build a better life, they have the power to improve their communities and the solidarity to make progressive political change throughout the nation.

Learn about the critical efforts to protect workers and expand union membership, like the Employee Free Choice Act, and the union movement’s efforts to reform labor law. Find out how the progressive movement has fought for labor law reform and what the next steps are, as well as how you can work together with unions online and in your community to get pro-worker bills passed and support pro-worker candidates.
Panelists:
* Elana Levin, Workers United
* Stewart Acuff, AFL-CIO
* Tanya Tarr, AFSCME
* Jake McIntyre, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC)

Labor Caucus
Saturday, August 15, 1:30-2:45PM
Description: Connect with like-minded folks and talk with others from your community in our identity, issue and regional caucuses.
Discussion Leaders:
* Tula Connell, AFL-CIO
* Michael Whitney, SEIU

See you there!