Tyler (they/he) is a full-time barista, law school graduate, and former Starbucks Workers United organizer.

As an organizing mentor, Tyler provides hands-on practical and strategic support to workers interested in organizing an independent union or taking collective action. They currently mentor workers with Stanford Resident Assistants United Rising and Blue Bottle Independent Union.

Jon (he/him) is a longtime revolutionary political organizer. He joined the labor movement while working at an auto assembly plant in Milwaukee, WI. His memoir, Fighting Times: Organizing on the Front Lines of the Class War, recounts years of active participation in the anti-capitalist class struggle on the factory floor. 

Jon brings decades of practical experience and contributes to ION’s core strategic vision and historical perspective.

Kylah (she/her) is a public defense attorney based in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Kylah has helped create several ION trainings/organizing resources and manages our administrative work. She is part of ION’s organizing mentor team, using her prior experience building a regional coalition of unions in the Starbucks Workers United campaign. 

Heather (she/her) is a movement lawyer and worker leader, based in New York City, where she has represented a range of workers organizations, focusing on the intersection of immigration and labor law. 

Heather provides legal support for independent union drives through ION, and is an essential point of contact for emergent campaigns in New York and beyond.

Arek (any pronouns) started their organizing journey while a student at Reed College. They also helped found an independent union at Camp Winnarainbow. 

Arek is part of ION’s organizing mentor team, supporting workers with building their own independent unions in the West Coast. They currently support resident assistants with navigating the independent union process. 

Janet (they/them) helped organize an independent union, New Seasons Labor Union (NSLU), at a grocery store in 2022. Through NSLU, they've served in nearly every elected role, and they know what it takes to win.

As an organizing mentor, Janet supports workers in building independent unions and taking collective action, drawing on hands-on experience in steward development, member education, and first-contract campaigns.

Juan (he/they) immigrated to the United States from Colombia at the age of 4. He earned his bachelor degree at University of Michigan, where he organized a successful campaign securing minimum wage increases for students and temporary workers. He also spearheaded solidarity efforts among the undergraduate class in support of striking grad student workers.  

Juan is now a 2L at the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law, where he organizes other students to support ION's work.