Rose Bookbinder is one of the founding members of the Pioneer Valley Workers Center (PVWC) in Northampton. There, she serves as co-director. She’s also an organizer for Jobs with Justice, located out of Boston. Before her work with these organizations, Bookbinder was in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley, working with agricultural and day workers.
At the PVWC, Bookbinder says she supports low wage and immigrant workers in their efforts of “organizing and building power.” Most of the individuals she helps are involved in the farming and restaurant industries. As lead organizer for Jobs with Justice, Bookbinder works to support legislative and organizing campaigns that members want to engage in. She’s campaigned for One Fair Wage as well as for better immigration policies.
Her passion for the work she does stems from her personal background in the restaurant business.
“I’ve worked in restaurants, so I’ve also seen first hand the… disrespect that workers face,” Bookbinder said. “Not only from customers but also from the boss. It’s looked at as undignified work.”
As a student at the State University of New York at Purchase, Bookbinder’s passion for worker’s rights also came from engaging with immigrant workers on campus and realizing she could make a change in the mistreatment they received.
She said that “witnessing how powerful of an impact organizing a union had on their lives and their family” gave her courage to carry on in the work she does today.
Full name: Rose Bookbinder Goldstein
Date of birth: 3/8/84
Do you identify with your zodiac sign? I am a Pisces. And, yeah, I believe in our charts. I used to be more familiar with it but I’ve gotten a little too busy with kids and work and life to focus on it as much. But, I appreciate when people think about those things.
Town of residence: I live in Haydenville.
Favorite spot for a good cup of coffee in Haydenville: Well to be honest with you I’m not a big coffee drinker. I wake up with a lot of energy, I think. And so, coffee tends to make me, especially If I’m going to work, pretty jittery. I love to drink tea and I really like to support the Haymarket because they… were the first in the town to raise their wage to $15 an hour for their workers.
Favorite song to dance to: Hm, I don’t really have a favorite song. It kind of just depends on my mood — if I’m wanting to slower dance or do dancing with other people. I guess right now, I really enjoy dancing to salsa music.
Favorite thing about being a mom: It’s just amazing to watch a human that you created develop and I like thinking about how… I can help to create children who are going to be helping to fight to protect our community and our world.
Sweetest childhood memory: I grew up mostly with my mom and she really helped to create a lot of… creative and nature-filled and activist-filled things for me. Both my parents really wanted to expose me to art and culture.
A meal you could eat everyday: I’m ashamed to say it cause I shouldn’t consume so much meat — but, I would say I really just like steak potatoes. Mashed potatoes. But I also really like a burrito — rice and beans and avocado. I can’t pick just one but those would be my two.
What makes you laugh: My friends. Maybe it’s like shared experiences that you reflect on that are funny and you can relive them together and laugh about it.
Something your people would be surprised to know about you: We actually have a very honest work space. They know probably too much about me already… I think some people assume I’m (just) a career organizer but I’ve worked in restaurants for a large portion of my teenager and adult life… And I was a bartender so I think people would be surprised to know that I’m good at making mixed drinks.
What did you want to grow up to be as a child? I think I wanted to be a dancer. And then for a while I think I wanted to do environmental work. I’m not sure I knew what that meant… maybe land conservation.
Funniest thing one of your children has said to you: I think it’s the funniest thing ever when little kids swear. I can’t handle it, it’s just too funny to me and I don’t stop it.
What is your idea of a perfect day? I guess one that’s filled with family and friends. But also, a perfect day would be if we won something for our community.
Favorite season in the Pioneer Valley: Spring and fall. I don’t know, I actually really appreciate all the seasons… I just love the transitions from each season and the different things that brings.
Proudest moment: I think the first time when I was working with food service workers at my college campus who were unionizing… getting to witness that and being involved in it I’d say it was a pretty profound moment for me.
If you could be any song, which one would you be? One that makes people feel happy and dance.
Cringiest moment: I think in my job there’s a lot of times when I have to speak in front of people and I get pretty nervous and sometimes I feel like I kind of ramble. So then I get kind of embarrassed afterwards.
The worst meal you’ve ever eaten: I recently made a cake that was really bad for my daughter’s birthday. It was late at night and I did not do the ingredients in the right order. It was really hard and dense in a way that was just not good.
Last remarks: It’s an honor to be thought of to interview and I appreciate your questions.