Join the National Writers Union

For more information and to join the National Writers Union, go to: www.nwu.org.

From the National Writers Union website:

The National Writers Union UAW Local 1981 is the only labor union that represents freelance writers.

Now, more than ever, with the consolidation of power into the hands of ever-larger corporate entities and with the advent of technologies that facilitate the exploitation of a writer’s work, writers need an organization with the clout and know-how to protect our interests. One that will forge new rules for a new era.

Combining the strength of more than 1,200 members in our 13 chapters with the support of the United Automobile Workers, the NWU works to advance the economic and working conditions of all writers. Our members also directly benefit from the many valuable services the Union offers—including grievance assistance, contract advice, and much more—while actively contributing to a growing movement of professional freelancers who have banded together to assert their collective power.

Monday Readings

The National Writers Union will be hosting a reading and open mic on Monday, March 16, starting at 6:00 p.m. at 2955 E. Broadway in Tucson. 

This month our featured reader will be poet and author Logan Phillips. Logan will discuss the writing of his recently published book Reckon (University of Arizona Press, 2026), including how writers of all genres can leverage the tools of poetry and hybridity. He’ll also present the framework of “cultural worker” and why he finds this a better fit for what he does than “artist” or “writer.” 

Logan Phillips works in poetry and culture, currently serving as Tucson Poet Laureate (2026-2029). He is author of the books Reckon (University of Arizona Press, 2026), Sonoran Strange (University of New Mexico / West End Press, 2015), and the ongoing NoVoGRAFíAS series. Phillips is known for compelling, bilingual readings, and multimedia performance art pieces. Holding collaboration as a core creative practice, he has contributed to a wide range of publishing, music, education and community-centered, land-based projects in the US, Mexico, Colombia and beyond. His books, tour dates and newsletter can be found at Dirtyverbs.com. 

The open mic is for spoken word only, but is open to all forms of spoken word (fiction, essays, poetry, articles, polemics, etc.). So bring something to read!

The event will be held at the UFCW Union Hall at 2955 E. Broadway. This is on the north side of Broadway, immediately west of the large and fancy Chase Bank, which is on the northwest corner of Broadway and Country Club Road. Parking and entry are from the rear.

There will not, unfortunately, be a Zoom option this month. 

Hope to see you there!

Steering Committee

Our elected Steering Committee members are Co-Chairs Keith Bagwell and Barbara Wright; Secretary Alice Whittenburg; and Events Coordinator Greg Evans. The Steering Committee usually meets on the second Monday of each month. Contact us at nwutucson@yahoo.com to confirm the date and location of the next meeting.