Race and the Fight for Workers Rights (Room C203) In the last decade, organized labor has experienced a number of dramatic changes. National and international socio-political shifts have produced a new workforce, new institutions and new leaders to contend with. The traditional class-based struggle for the rights of workers has become a more pronounced struggle for racial justice. This workshop will debate whether recent changes in the political landscape have helped to move a racial justice framework within labor struggles.
Moderator - Dorian Warren, School of International & Public Affairs, Columbia University
Saru Jayaraman, Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York
Eduardo Pena Hernandez, United Food and Commercial Workers, Smithfield Justice Campaign
Luisa Blue, Service Employees International Union, Local 512
Notes:
Hernandez:
About Smithfield Justice Campaign:
-Smithfield meat company employs 1,500 workers, a majority people of color, Latino and black
-Uses division and ant-union policies to repress organizing
-Smithfield has employees report fellow undocumented employers; this pits Black workers against Latino workers
-The UFCW realized a multi-racial approach is only option as workers need to be united across lines to avoid racial division and anti-union efforts
Blue:
-Union organizing needs to be dynamic and open to change
-Organizers need to be use local, national approach that is specific while drawing on national strength
-Unions should also be involved in getting racially representative people in public office; i.e. in San Antonio- changed an all-white body to a majority people of color body
-Consolidation is needed in areas of weak unions
Jayaraman:
-Organizing cannot be race blind or mono-racial
-multi-racial organizing is central
With the Restaurant Opportunity Center of New York--> 3 approach
1. workplace justice campaign, combine litigation and organizing to achieve union-like situation; use legal issue as an entry point
2. research and policy, get data to press; and use research to push policy
3. "high road": present positive models for restaurants doing the right thing in labor;
Overall, make multiracial, collective prosperity the central point; connect w/racial justice struggles all over the world
Resources:
If you want more information regarding the Justice at Smithfield Campaign please visit us at www.smithfieldjustice.com .