Laura Carlsen | April 23, 2008

Americas Program, Center for International Policy (CIP)
americas.irc-online.org

On April 22, Presidents George W. Bush, Felipe Calderón, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper concluded a trilateral summit in New Orleans. The summit marked the fourth meeting of the North American Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), which has drawn fire in all three countries since its proceedings are not open to public participation or congressional oversight and working groups are made up only of government and large business representatives. The leaders’ Joint Statement and press conference targeted the U.S. electoral process by responding directly to Democrats’ recent criticisms of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the proposed Colombia Free Trade Agreement. The three leaders reiterated their unconditional support for NAFTA and the SPP, urged passage of the Colombia FTA, and argued for passage of the Plan Mexico aid package.

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article in La Opinion... La AFL-CIO y la alianza laboral Enlace forjan un acuerdo de apoyo mutuo para ayudar a los trabajadores de ambos países

Róger Lindo | 2008-04-19

Partnership Aims to Improve Conditions for Low Wage Workers in the US and Mexico

(Press Release, Washington, April 17) - - The AFL-CIO and Enlace, a network of US and Mexico-based worker rights groups, have entered into an important new partnership agreement to promote and advance social and economic justice in both nations. 

Enlace, which means “link” in Spanish, is a network of 21 worker centers, unions and organizing groups in the U.S. and in Mexico representing approximately 300,000 low wage workers.  The network uses an integrated approach to organizing, which involves creating unique campaign strategies while developing systems that strengthen organizations internally.  Enlace and the AFL-CIO share a common goal: building the base of low-wage workers to bring balance to the struggle between the rich and working poor. 

The new partnership agreement is dedicated to strengthening the ability of the AFL-CIO and Enlace to work together to promote and enforce workplace rights.  Initially, the initiative will focus on three general areas:  international campaigns; education and training; and building bridges among worker centers and unions.  Binational work, especially strengthening solidarity among worker advocates in the United States and in Mexico, is a unique element of this partnership. 

“We look forward to working together to curb global corporate abuse of workers and their families,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.

This partnership agreement is the result of an AFL-CIO Executive Council resolution, which provides a mechanism for establishing formal ties between AFL-CIO local bodies and worker centers and their networks.  The AFL-CIO has entered into similar agreements with the National Day Laborer Organizing Network and Interfaith Worker Justice. 

The agreement does not require that Enlace members become union members of a union, but provides an organized venue for joint binational work. 

Media Contact: Lauren Mendoza (202) 637-5018

Field Organizer Job Description
The field organizer is responsible for maintaining and developing relationships with allies and member organizations to support Enlace’s campaigns and programs.

Responsibilities include:
• Recruit new allies in California, other parts of the U.S., and other countries for Enlace’s campaigns (current priority is the Seafood Workers Justice Campaign)
• Assist with strategy implementation and research for Seafood Workers Justice Campaign
• Maintain relationships with existing allies in Los Angeles
• Participate in the development of international campaigns involving low-wage workers and immigrants
• Assist with communications and in creating and editing action alerts, e-newsletters, brochures, power point presentations, training manuals, and other materials as needed
• Help with fundraising, including grantwriting, reports, donor drives, and grassroots events
• Provide translation and interpretation (Spanish/English) when necessary

Requirements:
• Strong commitment to social and economic justice
• Activist experience
• Bilingual in Spanish and English, both written and oral (other languages a plus: Korean, Chinese, Japanese)
• Excellent writing and communications skills
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to travel for a few days at a time
• Minimum 2-year commitment

Compensation and application process:
Competitive salary commensurate with experience and benefits.  Please send a cover letter and resume (one document) to Joann Lo, Co-Executive Director, at .  Please apply by May 30, 2008.

Enlace is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited category. We strongly encourage women, people of color, and all qualified persons to apply for this position.

by Peter Cervantes-Gautschi | December 4, 2007

published by the Americas Program, Center for International Policy (CIP), americas.irc-online.org

Life began to get hard for most Americans beginning in the late 1990s due to increased family debt. During the same period, life got a lot harder for most Mexicans for the same reason. The same financial institutions created and profited from much of the family debt in both countries.

According to census reports, 70% of the government unauthorized immigrants in the United States are from Mexico. Most legally unauthorized Mexican immigrants in the United States are economic refugees from the 1995 devastation of Mexico’s economy.

While it is popular among U.S. presidential candidates these days to blame Mexican corruption for our huge undocumented immigrant population, corruption in the United States played a far larger role in compelling millions of Mexicans to cross our southern border with or without legal authorization. U.S. corruption came in the form of politicians implementing and enforcing foreign policies that yielded unprecedented profits for their well-heeled campaign contributors in the financial services industry. They probably didn’t break U.S. law to accomplish this, but they did force Mexico to break its own laws to implement their program.

Led by Wall Street heavies Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Citi, Fidelity, Chase, and others, these finance industry leaders got Congress to permit financial institutions to increase family debt in the United States by enacting legislation friendly to mega-banks (financial holding companies) while thwarting consumer-friendly legislation. The same U.S.-based financial services leaders played a leading role in increasing family debt to unmanageable levels in Mexico in the mid to late 1990s through their influence of the U.S. Congress.
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"A rousing true story of solidarity, perseverance and triumph.” – Variety

Buy Made in L.A. from Enlace! 
A film by Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar. In Spanish and English with bilingual subtitles!

Made in L.A. follows the remarkable story of three Latina immigrants working in garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from trendy clothing retailer Forever 21. Compelling, humorous, and deeply human, Made in L.A. is a story about immigration, the power of unity and the courage it takes to raise your voice. Featured in the film is Lupe Hernandez, an Enlace coach. Enlace co-director Joann Lo also appears in the documentary as the lead organizer of the Boycott Forever 21 Campaign. 

The DVD of Made in L.A. is only $20. A portion of the sales goes to Enlace to support our work!  Buy a copy of Made in L.A. for the holidays!

Watch the trailer!

September 3, 2007… From Domestic Workers United...

New York, NY – Following the release of the Nanny Diaries, this Labor
Day, immigrant nannies, housekeepers and elderly caregivers across the
country are announcing the formation of the National Domestic Workers
Alliance, representing thousands of workers and 4 cities across the
country including New York City, Los Angeles, Washington DC and San
Francisco.  The alliance includes a number of groups from New York,
and announced plans to come to New York in the spring to support the
demands of New York domestic workers for recognition and labor
standards.

Listen to David Bacon interview fired Hanjin worker Rosa Cesena Ramirez, SINTTIM leader Teresa Castillo, and Enlace co-director Joann Lo about the Seafood Workers Justice Campaign.

Click Here to Listen

Joann Lo of Enlace, a cross-border worker support group, explains environmental and worker rights issues around the Han Jin squid processing plant in Baja California and announces visit of two workers to Portland who were fired for attempts to organize workers.

Click Here to Listen

Por Murielle Coppin
El Otro Periodismo y la Otra Campaña en Baja California

9 de noviembre de 2006

Después de varias visitas el mes pasado en Baja California Sur, el Delegado Zero y la Otra Campaña dejaron La Paz para emprender un largo viaje a la parte norte de esta península poco poblada, famosa en los folletos por sus buenas facilidades turísticas, su rico clima, sus playas maravillosas y campos de golf – sí en medio del desierto. 

Debit cards for immigrants

By Erika Hayasaki Times Staff Writer

February 20, 2007
Workers without Social Security numbers can use the program to deposit paychecks, make purchases and send money home.

From the Monthly Review

Worker Centers Increasingly Are Forging Alliances with Unions
by Tiffany Ten Eyck 1-05-07

This August, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), a network of over 140 worker centers that organize mostly immigrant day laborers, entered into an agreement that would allow worker centers to apply for membership with local and state federations of the AFL-CIO. The agreement could signal a new chapter in the way organized labor relates to low-wage and immigrant workers.