FLOC Midwestern Supporters Meet to Build the Movement
About 25 representatives from different FLOC Support Committees in the Midwest
gathered on July 15 to build networks and activities to support the movement.
Some of the issues discussed at the workshop included:
* Current issues in the FLOC movement. Baldemar Velasquez shared a
visions of where FLOC is going in North Carolina (which has "right-to-work" laws
designed to neutralize workers' collective voice), Mexico, immigrant rights,
financial needs (where member dues are based on low-wage seasonal workers), and
the coming Convention on Sept. 30. He also emphasized how supporters
have always made a critical difference in the FLOC movement.
* Tthe mission of a FLOC Support Committee. It was agreed that the
purpose of Support Committees is to enable the FLOC movement at a local level.
Supporters also clarified that their role is not to make policy, use FLOC
to promote other causes, or to address their own issues. To fulfill this
mission, it is necessary to maintain constant communications between FLOC and
local supporters, recruit volunteers for the cause, build local networks, inform
and mobilize their local communities in support of FLOC, and raise funds to
expand the capabilities of the movement.
* How to organize local communities. Supporters also
discussed how to organize local communities in support of the FLOC movement,
including setting goals and specific objectives, operational principles for
voluntary groups, supporter structures, planning processes, activities. We also
discussed communications between local and national levels, among support
committees, and at the local level. We also raised the issue of building
effective press relations.
* Immigrant Rights. FLOC's goals for immigrant
rights were discussed, including permanent residency for undocumented
immigrants, family reunification, and full human, civil, due process, and
working rights for all immigrants, as well as the freedom of workers to seek
jobs wherever they available within countries bound by trade agreements. A
working group was organized to plan strategies and actions in support of
immigrant rights.
* FLOC Convention. Supporters also developed plans
for how local committees can help support the FLOC Convention on Sept. 30 in
Toledo. Objectives were set to mobilize supporters and donors to come to the
Convention, to recruit volunteers to help with the preparations and operations
of the Convention, and to raise funds to help cover the costs of the
Convention. Plans also included specific activities to meet these objectives, a
schedule and markers for the process of activities, and discussing
responsibilities at the national and local levels for different activities.
* Organizing a local support committee. Groups from the same city
discussed plans for goals and objectives, activities, schedules, and individual
responsibilities for develop their local support committees.
* The workshop finished by reviewing a To Do list and
an evaluation of the event.
A highlight of the workshop was Baldemar Velasquez and the Aguila Negra band,
who shared some songs of the movement from their coming album (picture).
As Baldemar and others noted continuously throughout the workshop, the successes
of the FLOC movement have always been based on the
collective support of those who believe in justice, have tipped the
balance of power in changing the system for human rights. Support Committees
have always been critical in developing and organizing this popular support.
Thanks to all those who
made this workshop a success in furthering the FLOC movement!
If you would like to join or form a FLOC Support
Committee in your area, please contact Ken Barger at
kbarger@floc.com.