Jenifer Lara describes worker to worker exchange in Mexico

 
 
October 31, 2011

Convention Delegates, International Guests, Strengthen Ties of Labor Solidarity

UE News, Autumn 2011 LXXIII No. 5

Throughout its 75-year history UE has recognized the importance of solidarity between workers in different countries, and this year's convention carried that work even further. Representatives from unions in five other countries – mostly young labor activists – met with UE's own Young Activists in advance of the convention, and joined UE delegates in a "March for Jobs and Workers' Rights" and other convention events.

Tuesday at the convention was devoted to educational workshops, and to international solidarity. At the start of the morning session, two young members of the Resolutions Committee – Barrett Gough, Local 896, and Ali Goguen, Local 255, read the resolution "International Solidarity, : and President John Hovis then recognized International Affairs Director Robin Alexander and international guests. Alexander introduced Kamal Ahamada of France's Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT, General Confederation of Labor), who expressed his organization's solidarity. Meghna Sukumar, another young activist, spoke for the New Trade Union Initiative of India (NTUI), another UE ally who helped members of Local 735 resolve their most recent negotiations with Autoline, an auto parts company based in India.

Jenifer Lara, Local 893, was a participant in the May 2011 UE delegation to Mexico. She expressed her pride in helping UE to "reach out to workers around the world" as we all fight attacks on workers' rights. Antonio Bautista of the FAT helped to host the UE delegation in Nayarit, Mexico in May. He said such exchanges are important because they help workers understand the labor situation in each other's countries, but also "so that our bosses can see that we have friends not only in Mexico but in other countries." He thanked UE for organizing the international meeting of young labor activists.

Kamal Ahamada brings greetings from CGT

Victor Salas, a young leader of the FAT's metal workers division, STIMAHCS, is working in Massachusetts this fall, staying with Peter Knowlton, and surveying fishery and packinghouse workers. He said all he knew about the United States was the Hollywood movie version, but he is now seeing the realities of working-class America. "When I return to Mexico, Hollywood movies can say whatever they want, but I now know the true spirit and greatness of this country is in you, the workers."

FAT national leader Benedicto Martinez then addressed the convention, reminding delegates that UE's fraternal relationship with the FAT is now 19 years old. He said the cooperation of the FAT with UE, and particularly Local 715, in organizing the DMI plant in Mexico City is an important milestone in our alliance. UE has played a central role in the tri-national solidarity alliance (Canada, Mexico and U.S.) defending independent Mexican unions from government attacks of the past two years.

He reported on recent developments in the Mexican government's attack on the electrical workers (SME.) Members of that union have for a year maintained an encampment in the Zocolo, the central square in Mexico City to protest the near-destruction of their union. In the past two weeks a campaign of international phone calls to the government has resulted in new negotiations between the government and SME.

Meanwhile workers across Mexico are threatened by proposed changes to the federal labor laws that would rob workers of the right to strike, job security, and result in more outsourcing. In response, the FAT and other unions are making preparations for solidarity pressure on the government by unions around the world.

Angaza Laughinghouse of Local 150 spoke next on his local's involvement in international solidarity. Local 150 members have traveled to Brazil and South Africa building links with workers in those countries and have been involved in the U.S. and World Social Forums. Recently Local 150 hosted, in Raleigh, a national meeting of Grassroots Global Justice (GGJ), a U.S. coalition of progressive organizations involved in the Social Forum movement. "And we plan to pay another visit to the Mexican consulate," said Laughinghouse, in support of unions. Mexican and Canadian unions have also supported the fight for bargaining rights by Locals 150, 160 and 170.

Disaster Relief in Japan

Following two rounds of workshops, the delegates reconvened in a full session late Tuesday afternoon. President Hovis again called on the Resolutions Committee whose members Barrett Gough and Ali Goguen read the resolution, "Solidarity with Zenroren and the People of Japan." Andrew Dinkelaker, Eastern Region president, introduced a video of UE solidarity activities in the wake of the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan. Robin Alexander then called on Marie Lausch, Local 222, who initiated many of the solidarity actions including the video. Lausch spoke of the emotional impact of the Japanese disaster, and of reading dispatches from Zenroren on the impact it was having on union members, and wanted to take action, including fundraising for Zenroren's relief efforts as well as messages of support. Barrett Gough talked about his trip to Japan at the invitation of Zenkyo, the teacher section of Zenroren, where he also met with teachers from France and Korea.

Kenichi Igarashi of Zenroren then addressed the convention, with Ichiro Saeki providing translation. In the past two years there has been growing solidarity between UE and Zenroren, Igarashi said, including Zenroren delegations visiting Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York City in conjunction with the UN nuclear disarmament conference; and visits to Japan by Marie Lausch and Barrett Gough. He described the economic impact of the March 11 disaster, which has shut down electronics and precision machining plants in the northeast, hurt the fishing industry, and led to cuts in needed public services. He described Zenroren's relief efforts, which sent 10,000 volunteers into the hard-hit areas. He invited UE Young Activists to a big youth rally in October in Tokyo, and presented Bruce Klipple with a gift from Zenroren to UE.

The resolutions on International Solidarity and Solidarity with Zenroren were unanimously approved by the delegates.

Young Activists Build International Links

UE Young Activists got a two-day head start on the UE Convention, and on building solidarity with unionists from other countries. On Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23 and 24, two dozen young members and leaders from UE met with 13 young labor activists from five other countries in an event billed as the Young Activist International Convergence. Several members of UE's General Executive Board and some UE organizers also participated.

Participants from labor groups in other countries included four young activists from Mexico's FAT, three from the CSN in Quebec, three from Japan's Zenroren, and one each from the NTUI of India and the CGT of France. Friday's all-day session included three workshops as well as small discussion groups, all led by young activists. They taught each other about the political and economic situation in each of their countries as well as major current labor struggles. The third round of discussions was on the role of young labor activists in the 21st century.

The Friday events were preceded by a social gathering on Thursday evening, which included short videos on activities of UE and the other unions. On Saturday morning many of the young activists participated in a workshop on collage making, led by UE Cartoonist Gary Huck, and later in the day the international young activists attended meetings of each of UE's three regions and made brief presentations.

The overall facilitators of the convergence were Antwon Gibson, Local 610 and Heather Jorgensen, Local 893. Evaluations of the event by the participants were universally positive; what people seemed to enjoy most was learning about the labor situation in other countries directly from activists of their own age, and the opportunities for intense small group interaction.