Introduction - 2004 Convention Report
Eighty-eight representatives from 37 organizations from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada join forces in Mexico City to examine strategies for struggles with transnational corporations, to study organizational regeneration, and to develop approaches for improving relations between worker centers and unions.
Enlace means link in Spanish, and that accurately describes what took place at the Enlace convention in Mexico City on February 27-28, 2004.
The linking of tightly focused organizing campaigns with a broad strategic vision; the linking of groups that organize low-wage workers from the United States, Mexico and Canada; and the linking of theory with practice.
These were the themes that brought together the 88 delegates and guests from 37 organizations - day laborers in New York, garment workers in California, meat packers in Washington state and maquila workers, teachers and sanitary workers in Mexico.
It was also an exploration to identify more precisely the common ground and common objectives that gave birth to Enlace in 1998. From its founding, Enlace has placed a high priority on low-income workers examining the structure and dynamics of their own organizations to make them more effective. Over the past two years Enlace has provided leadership training for 16 of its affiliate organizations in seminars that develop supervisory and mentoring skills and methods for planning and carrying out strategic campaigns.
“Six years ago we came together as organizations dedicated to organizing the base of low-wage workers dramatically larger and deeper,” Peter Cervantes-Gautschi, Enlace Executive Director, told the gathering. “The need today is even greater. To meet this challenge, we need to strive for a higher level of solidarity among all those who are committed to organizing the working poor. A basic principle applies: organize low-wage workers and support whoever else is organizing low-wage workers. This principle must supercede borders and affiliations.”