From October 13 to 22, a delegation of cooperative workers from Mexico’s Frente Autentico del Trabajo (FAT, Authentic Labor Front) was hosted by UE cooperatives in the Northeast. The group included Enrique Lazcano, the elected representative of the FAT’s Social Economy Sector and himself a member of both a beer and a construction co-op; Alma Contreras Torres, the secretary of the housing commission for the statewide union SITEM that is developing a ecologically sustainable 200-unit housing cooperative for members in the state of Nayarit; Isaías García Izquierdo, the general accountant of a 26-year-old credit union in Saltillo and the elected representative of the FAT young activists, and Gabriela Manjarrez, a founding member of the bicycle messenger and repair co-op, Bicicooperativa Urbana, and a silk screen artist in Mexico City.
They were accompanied throughout the trip by Elizabeth Jesdale, president of UE Local 255, secretary of the Northeast Region and a member of UE’s National General Executive Board (GEB) and Robin Alexander, UE’s Director of International Affairs. Adam Trott, shop steward of UE Local 274 at Collective Copies and the staff developer for the Valley Alliance of Worker Cooperatives in Western Massachusetts, and Autumn Martínez, UE Local 255 vice president and UE national trustee, also accompanied us for portions of the trip.
Enrique Lazcano summarized the experience. “We spent ten days of inspiration, brother and sisterhood, and commitment to economic and social transformation: understanding that time, language, and distance are merely barriers imposed by people but are not obstacles for those committed to struggle.”
TWENTY YEARS OF SOLIDARITY
In 1992, UE and the FAT initiated a “Strategic Organizing Alliance” and agreed to work together to oppose the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Since that time, our strategic alliance has made its presence felt, fighting together for the dignity and rights of the working class, breaking down the barriers of distance, borders, language, etc. International solidarity has been brought to bear on a wide range of struggles and specific problems in both countries. Coordinated organizing, training, and educational work has been developed, as well as a constant exchange of delegations between the two organizations.
Among the exchanges to promote international organization, in November 2012 a delegation of representatives from UE cooperatives visited cooperatives of the FAT in Mexico, along with others with which the FAT enjoys relations of solidarity. This initial exchange generated great enthusiasm for the growth and development of the cooperative sector both locally and internationally.
Upon their return, representatives from the UE continued the discussions initiated in Mexico, identifying two priorities. Elizabeth Jesdale says, “We set out to accomplish selected goals: to plan a return delegation from the FAT to visit co-ops here in the United States and to write and pass a resolution at our National Convention. We held monthly conference calls, and were in touch by email as we worked together to achieve these goals. ”
MEXICAN COOPERATIVISTAS TOUR NORTHEAST
The energy flowing from the November 2012 delegation led to the October 2013 return visit of a FAT delegation to UE cooperatives in the Northeast U.S. under the banner “Solidaridad without Borders.” Elizabeth Jesdale described the 10-day tour as “living the dream”: 10 days of inspiration, brother and sisterhood, and commitment to economic and social transformation, understanding that time, language, and distance are merely barriers imposed by people but are not obstacles for those committed to struggle.
The first part of the trip was coordinated by Adam Trott, shop steward of UE Local 274 at Collective Copies and also the staff developer for the Valley Alliance of Worker Cooperatives. In 2008 after 25 years of operation Collective Copies, UE Local 274 founded a new cooperative called the Valley Alliance of Worker Co-ops (VAWC) with four other worker co-ops to build their own support and development structure. Five years later VAWC counts 11 worker co-ops in southern Vermont and western Massachusetts as members, has converted 5 traditional businesses to worker co-ops, co-created curriculum at UMass Amherst on the cooperative model and started their own development fund. "Solidarity and co-operation are values that can be utilized across cooperatives to improve workers' rights and freedom," said Trott. "Members can run their own union and, in the case of worker co-ops, their own businesses, education and development, rooting jobs and wealth for the long term benefit of people, communities and our economy."
The Mexican co-op members were thrilled to be able to meet their counterparts at a bike co-op, Pedal People, and at the U Mass Five Credit Union. Alma Contreras Torres was particularly excited to meet with Philippe Rigollaud of (PV)2, a cooperative that designs and installs solar panels, and was left filled with ideas and new ways of thinking about her own project: “I saw things in a different way and it also made me aware of some of the things we need to do. When I get back I will talk to our team about this, but we will be in touch with Philippe.” She also found the generosity and willingness to share information remarkable: “To support and put their knowledge, ability and capacity at the service of others was not the only offering of cooperation by our sisters and brothers of the UE and by the diverse co-ops that we came to know during our travels through the Northeast of the U.S. I came to admire their practice of solidarity without distinction based on union or cooperative affiliation.”
The group then traveled to Vermont, where they were the featured presenters at a program hosted by Vermont co-ops to celebrate New Economy Week. Jonathan Kissam, a longtime leader of UE and currently a web designer with the cooperative Web Skillet, part of UE Local 203, was instrumental in organizing the program.
New ideas and learning were also bi-national. Jonathan later mused: “The FAT structure, bringing worker co-ops and other forms of co-ops into a democratic structure with unions, seems to offer a useful model to explore (as I understand it, in the FAT the co-ops affiliate with the FAT as co-ops … It allows a way for working-class people who cannot otherwise ‘join’ the labor movement to join together with others in a collective effort to improve their own material conditions. Co-ops, like unions, at their best require their members to be accountable to each other, and have a direct, positive influence on their members’ day-to-day lives. That is what creates the kind of loyalty, to each other and to the institution that is necessary for sustained struggle. And in this moment, the labor movement, the working class, and everyone who cares about social justice is clearly in for a sustained struggle.”
The following morning Evelyn Prim, UE Local 203 chief steward, welcomed us to City Market, the Burlington food co-op whose workers are UE member, with a wonderful breakfast she and co-workers had made for us (she is responsible for prepared foods at the co-op). We also met with the manager and toured the store, something we repeated later in the day at Hunger Mountain, the UE-represented food co-op in Montpelier.
We also had the opportunity to spend some time with Migrant Justice, a farmworker advocacy group, and other allies including the Vermont Workers Center, as well as with farmers’ collectives and cooperatives that are attempting to revive agricultural production in the area.
One of the highpoints of the trip was the demonstration in front of the General Electric plant in Fort Edwards, NY, that was part of the program for the UE Northeast regional council meeting. Alma Contreras Torres was moved by the solidarity shown by a range of different union and community supporters: “It is gratifying to know that we share the ability to be united with others in actions and mutual support, especially in difficult times. It is motivating and inspiring because it demonstrates that although we are of different nationalities and speak different languages we coincide in our belief in unity, cooperation, solidarity, honesty, and the commitment to struggle in defense of our labor rights and for a decent standard of living. And this, sisters and brothers, is a universal language.”
Also part of the council meeting was a workshop on co-ops presented by representatives of UE’s and FAT’s cooperative sectors. Peter Knowlton, president of UE’s Northeast Region, explained: "The presenters used the history (past and recent) of unionized worker-owned, consumer and producer cooperatives to lay the foundation of our discussion about our own experiences in the UE and the FAT. We then discussed ways to strengthen the bond and solidarity between FAT and UE members and member cooperatives...and provide greater union thinking, assistance, and resources to encourage unionized workplaces amongst cooperative enterprises. It was an excellent discussion and, once again, demonstrated the uniqueness and similarity of our unions through the diversity of our work."
For the final part of the trip we were accompanied by and UE Local 255 vice president and UE national trustee, Autumn Martínez. We spent our last day in Boston. We began with a meeting and tour of Equal Exchange, where we saw the roasting process for the coffee we had seen on shelves throughout New England. We concluded with a meeting and public presentation hosted by WORCN, the network of co-ops in the Boston area where we engaged in an interesting exchange.
SOLIDARITY IS INSPIRING
Over the course of ten days we visited many cooperatives and local organizations, participated in educational programs, and supported demonstrations, traveling through various cities throughout the Northeast. In doing so, we strengthened the international relationship of solidarity that began more than twenty years ago.
Although there was a lot packed into a short time, García noted that it was good that we did so, as the intention was to get a panorama. He also noted the beneficial impact: “Now more people within unions are aware of and have shown interest in the cooperative movement. This will help us to continue to grow and consolidate in order to continue to offer services for the benefit of our members.”
Our commitment is to forge ahead, strengthening the Cooperative Sectors in our organizations both locally and internationally, giving continuity to our Strategic Organizing Alliance. As summarized by Gabriela Manjarrez: “This trip left us with many teachings, smiles and solidarity in our hearts. However, our journey is just beginning. We came back with specific tasks and commitments. I only hope that this euphoria doesn't end and that we can achieve even more than what we have proposed.”
RESOLVED TO COOPERATE
At its 73rd Convention which took place in Chicago in August 2013, UE approved a resolution regarding the cooperative sector entitled: “Build Union Co-ops for Economic Justice.”
The resolution references the relationship with the FAT and concludes:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THIS 73rd UE CONVENTION:
- Supports the transition of capitalist business to worker ownership where feasible, and the creation of and support for unionized consumer and producer cooperatives;
- Encourages the development of educational materials to provide locals, members, and other workers the resources, assistance, and ideas to enable the transition of viable and sustainable workplaces from capitalist to worker ownership;
- Establishes a cooperative sector of UE which resembles the solidarity work of the UE public sector meetings and convergences and the model of cooperation demonstrated by UE’s GE conference board;
- Supports the strengthening of UE’s relationship with the FAT’s cooperative sector;
- Encourages the national union, locals, members, other unions, other progressive organizations, and the general public to utilize and promote the products and services of UE and FATcooperatives;
- Invites worker cooperatives, and workers in other cooperative enterprises, to join UE as part of building a strong movement for workers' rights, good jobs and sustainable accountable economic development.
Elizabeth Jesdale spoke of the work ahead: “We will look to the resolution for guidance and, most importantly, look for ways to include a broader section of our UE membership, members who are in co-ops and those who are not. Everyone has something to contribute and to gain. Not everyone can be part of a worker-owned co-op, but there is much to learn and be inspired by this model that we can all use in our shops.” She explained, “We are inspired by the FATs model of a cooperative sector and we are looking for concrete ways to move our work forward and involve more of our UE membership into achieving the goals we are setting for this upcoming year.”
“At the Northeast region meeting we were there to support our sisters and brothers at Local 332, and there was a deep understanding across language and borders that this fight affects all of us. It is this fight against the ravages of capitalism that inspires our work to find new models for doing business and being workers in a way that brings communities together, empowers individuals and restores health and sanity to our planet. Building our cooperative sector in the UE has just begun, the possibilities are endless to create a better world and we look forward to working together with our fellow union members to see what is possible,” she concluded.
