UE Research & Education Fund

A unique way to support both global solidarity
& justice for U.S. workers
 

International union leaders show support for rights of North Carolina workers

In 1994 the UE greatly expanded its international program.  At the same time, we set up a new non-profit corporation -- the UE Research and Education Fund -- permitting receipt of foundation funding and tax deductible contributions.  Such funding provided early support for the workers’ centers in Mexico that were established by the Frente Auténtico del Trabajo (FAT), and it continues to support worker to worker exchanges, cultural projects, and other cross-border work which appears throughout this site.  Since then, it has sponsored two dynamic projects to help bring justice to workers here in the United States.
 

Fighting for bargaining rights for North Carolina public workers

UE & ZENROREN leader with Worker Justice newsletter at U.S. Social Forum

Many people don’t know that it is illegal for public sector workers in North Carolina to bargain with their employers – on the state, county and municipal levels. The International Worker Justice campaign combines community organizing with the creative use of international law to challenge that grave injustice. Read more about the successful ILO case and other accomplishments and challenges!
 

Warehouse Workers - from exploitation to justice

Warehouse Workers calling for justice

Meanwhile, building on the victory of UE Local 1110 at Republic Windows and Doors, workers in Chicago’s huge logistics industry decided to form a new workers’ center..  Warehouse Workers for Justice (WWJ) has accomplished an amazing amount in a short period of time: challenging discrimination and other legal violations by major employers, educating workers on their rights, building alliances in the community and with logistics workers in other cities, and doing the groundwork to win policy changes that improve conditions for warehouse workers and the quality of life in Chicago communities.
 

We are pleased to thank the following foundations for their support of this important work:

We want to thank our many individual contributors and the following foundations for their recent support and for helping to make this work possible:

•   Ben and Jerry's Foundation
•   Canaday Family Foundation
•   CCHD - Diocese of Joliet
•   Common Counsel Foundation
•   Communitas Charitable Trust
•   General Service Foundation
•   Mertz Gilmore Foundation
•   Public Welfare Foundation
•   Resist
•   Southern Partners Fund
•   Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock
•   Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation