In order for the labor movement to become more inclusive, more of a movement of working class people than of trade union members only, individual workers must begin to understand and articulate their interests, and be willing to fight for them. If trade union activists are to foster and act upon this kind of class consciousness, we must remember our own political histories, and recall what motivated us to commit our energy to the labor movement. We need to share strategies for convincing others to become involved, and recount the experiences that demonstrate our successes in building unions. In this context, my own experiences and those of my union local illustrate both the difficulties and the possibilities for change in the U.S. labor movement.