UALE Immigration/Globalization Working Group

April 19, 2013, Toronto

Meeting Minutes submitted by Judy Ancel

Attendance: Helen Moss and Judy Ancel, co-chairs; Susan Winning, Don Taylor, Dick Roman, Katherine Sciacchitano, Ruth Needleman, Paul Iverson (for Robin Clark-Bennett), Howard Kling, Michael Childress, Kate Shaughnessy, Mary Bellman, Tess Ewing, Charlie Fanning, Alayne Unterberger, Alma Couverthié, Jane Slaughter, Bruce Nissen, .

Helen Moss chaired the meeting. Action items are in italics.

Brief evaluation of working group’s track at this conference:

• Ruth: Attendance for some of our sessions was small. We shouldn’t abandon the track but should reframe and look for topics useful to broader audience.
• Susan: She was torn because she’s also in the PopEd group. It’s harder to integrate this kind of work. We should focus more on how do you talk about globalization and immigration issues.
• Tess: Interest in immigration and globalization is rising. We should do more demonstration workshops, collaborating with PopEd. Perhaps we should be more selective of what is proposed.
• Mary: Reflecting on several years, some of the topics felt not connected to what she does. We should be more strategic, discuss how to teach about these issues and more strategic about framing issues.
• Judy: We accepted almost all proposals, had no criteria for Canadian proposals and we also welcomed proposals from Solidarity Center – topics may be a stretch for some.
• Katherine: We should use the list serve better.
• We passed around a sign-up sheet for list serve, and 13 signed, most were new
• Kate: She had no background for some of the sessions so it was hard to engage.
• Susan: The mission of the working group includes providing resources for UALE and integrating the issues.
• Ruth: We should be more issue oriented, e.g. how is contingent work being fought and incorporate the national with the global.
• Alayne: In anthropology conference they co-brand plenaries and other events with tags in the program for particular interest/issue groups in the organization
• Helen: The program was very hard to read. The day should be at the top of each page.
• Make sure all this gets followed up on in next year’s program and that report to E-board is done.

Election of Co-chairs for 2013-14

Helen Moss and Mary Bellman were elected co-chairs.

Should the committee be playing any role on CIR or TPP?

• Katherine: on TPP we should work with Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch. They have good material; we could offer to help make it more worker-friendly
• Minnesota has materials, needs to post them on UALE Immig/Glob web site
• Jane: Labor Notes would love to post materials on their website. Remind them.
• Manny: we could do a publication with Labor Notes on the TPP
• Kate: CWA wants more curriculum on these issues and can pay
• Ruth: wants to do a film on labor rights in Colombia to expose what free trade means in reality. It should be short, usable. Could we ask UALE for some seed money for film?
• Katherine: we need a time line. A TPP pamphlet should come first.
• Manny: Could we get Naomi Kline to help with a video.
• Susan proposed a motion to make pamphlet on TPP and video on Colombia a project of the working group and to submit a request for funding to the UALE Board. Passed unanimously. Sub-committee to make a video proposal including: Ruth, Katherine, Mary, Howard and Manny.
• Helen: Immigration reform is a huge opportunity for unions to help immigrants with entire process, including citizenship.
• Judy: We should propose training materials – like a Unions 101 – that could be used
• Resources could include bilingual website, Casa Maryland labor history, brochure for website to help people register, UMass and U of Iowa materials.
• We set up a committee of Helen, Susan, Kate to work on materials for unions to help immigrants take advantage of CIR.
• Several people suggest we analyze the Senate Bill for CIR. We can take different parts, analyze and raise questions. Also share others’ positions. (NELP, lawyers groups) We set up a group to handle this discussion on our list serve: Paul, Helen, Manny, Michael. Send them links.

Emails

* add to list if not already on it

IGWG conference call

11/20/2012

Kent Wong, Kate Conradt, Claudia, Judy Ancel, Ruth Needleman, Tess Ewing, Helen Moss, Howard Kling, Susan Winning, Mary Bellman, Katherine Schiacchitano

Notes: Helen Moss

Kent reported that three plenary sessions are planned for at the 2013 UALE conference:

1. -       An exchange between labor educators in CA and US about immigration issues, labor law and organizing
2. -       A panel about austerity, that would include speakers from Europe and perhaps Brazil
3. -       Innovations in Labor Education

Judy will talk to D’Arcy about the first two plenary sessions to see if he wants us to help/participate in some way.

We decided to submit a track of workshops from our working group. We have six proposals from our group, plus possibly two more that were submitted directly to UALE, and one proposal that was submitted to the popular education work group.

Submitted to IWIG:

Precarious and Dangerous: Work in Colombia under the FTA/Labor Action Plan

Ruth Needleman; Mary Bellman; Carlos Cruz. Sent to the IWIG listserv today, Ruth has a few revisions that she will add and re-send out.

Organizing Models for Migrant Workers in Asia

Tim Ryan, Asia Regional Director, Solidarity Center. Sent to the IWIG list. He plans to bring in additional speakers.

Building Labor Citizenship and Citizen Unions: Models for Advancing Worker Rights and Labor Struggle in Latin America.

Molly McCoy, Americas Regional Director, Solidarity Center. Sent to the IWIG list. She plans to bring in additional speakers.

The Immigrant Youth Movement: The Dream Act, DACA, and Dream University

Speakers: Kent Wong, UCLA, Dan Katz, National Labor College, Judy Ancel, University of Missouri. Sent to the IWIG list today.

China - Advancing the Field of Labor Education in China

Facilitators: Greg Mantsios, CUNY, Kent Wong, UCLA, Elaine Bernard, Harvard

Cathy Feingold, AFL-CIO. Sent to the IWIG list today.

The Trans Pacific Partnership will be submitted by Judy Ancel and Katherine Sciacchitano.

Proposals that were submitted directly to UALE that seem to fit in our track and that we felt were innovative:

Working for the “Worst Company in the World” Canadian, Brazilian and Mozambican Workers Compare. Judith Marshall, USWA.

Retail Workers Organizing: Locally, Nationally and Globally. Sabrina Butt. Judy will contact her to see if they have a global (cross border) perspective on organizing.

There is also a proposal from the popular education group that could fit with our track or the Popular Education group:

A Tool for Transformation and Solidarity: Bilingual Popular Education. Jeannette Huezo and Steve Schnapp. Susan needs to meet with the Popular Education group about the proposals submitted directly to UALE and get back to us about this proposal.

Next meeting: We might need to meet again before the conference, and we want to meet at the conference, as we did last year. Helen will ask Tony about working group time slots at UALE. Note – I checked the tentative agenda and there is time set aside on Friday, 12 – 2 for working group meetings, also Thursday and Friday at 6 pm.

Immigration/Globalization Minutes August 14, 2012

Conference Call 12 pm Central time

Judy Ancel chaired and Helen Moss did the minutes.

Present: Tess Ewing, Kent Wong, Susan Winning, Mary Bellman, Robin Clark-Bennett, Charlie Barrett, Paul Krissel, Manny Ness (Howard Kling and José Soler could not make the call).

I. Reports on existing projects

A. Scope of work of the committee

There was a discussion on the scope of working group activities. Last year the main project that we worked on was coordinating proposals and presenters for the conference. It was a terrific conference with great presenters from our working group, but we want to think about what is a realistic plan for the scope of work? Mostly the conference? More?

Susan mentioned putting curriculum on the website so that other labor educators can bring global issues into their work. Tess noted that there is material on our working group’s website, but we can add more. We wondered if there was a way to see if people were using any of the materials.   Charlie thought we should see if NDLON would be willing to share some of their materials for day laborers. Kent said that the national office of NDLON is located at the downtown center for UCLA, so we should be able to work with them on sharing curriculum. Judy thought it would be great to have them become part of UALE.

Kent suggested that the working group become part of the efforts to educate young workers and students about the Deferred Deportation. 1.4 million people will qualify, not just students, up to age 30. We want to make sure that the young workers and students understand what their rights are under the new rules. It is a great opportunity to reach out to young workers, and our group should take the lead in getting the information out to labor educators who can help in this effort. Paul mentioned that in Oregon Causa has already done a round of forums in different regions of Oregon with parents and students, which has been very well attended and has another round of clinics scheduled to help them with the paperwork. UCLA labor center is doing a big event on August 25 for the National Day of Action, and one is planned in Kansas City. Judy mentioned that there are bilingual radio ads available if you want to work with a local radio station to put the word out, she will send out the link. Kent will send the group links on resources for curriculum, information and materials. He is also asking folks to work with local Central Labor Councils and State feds to do resolutions supporting the efforts to get these students and workers work authorization. It is a great way for labor and immigrants to work together. He will send out a sample resolution.

Kent also reported on the UCLA Labor Center and National Labor College certificate program for Dream Act students, which will start up in January 2013. The program received a lot of good media coverage but also some hostile coverage. The program will be reaching out to faculty nationally seeking participation on a range of activities, for example, mentoring students, or teaching a class. The classes are on-line and are transferable to a 2-year or 4-year college or university.

B. 2013 UALE conference in Toronto

Submission date for proposals is Nov 15, based on the draft brochure. Judy will check in with D’Arcy Martin about the RFP. Several people noted that since the conference is in Canada it is a very exciting opportunity for new ideas and more diversity in participants. We want to make sure we know the format for submitting proposals and not just assume it will be the same. Mary noted that since it is in Canada, we should take advantage of this opportunity and not be overly attached to having the same number of proposals as last year.

We felt there was a need to have two people from this working group on the conference committee, to be the liaison between the two groups. Helen noted she had not been part of either group before, so did not feel comfortable as liaison this year, but wanted to be come up to speed for next year, and will try and make the next call. Judy will copy her, Tess Ewing and Susan Winning (because she is coordinating the Popular Ed group) on the correspondence to D’Arcy.

In the meantime the members of this working group should be thinking about the proposals that they want to make, and when we send out the minutes, we will let the working group know that we will be setting up a conference call in September to discuss proposals. Judy noted that it is a lot of work to sort through the working group proposals and the group decided there should be a separate committee to do this. We can solicit volunteers during the conference call.

C. Suggestions for committee looking for ways to fund non-traditional organizations.

There is a small committee working soliciting suggestions, headed by Guillermo Perez. Robin is also on the committee. Judy told Guillermo we would give him input from the committee by August 17.

After a discussion, we decided that the following ideas would be proposed:

1.Give each workgroup a budget for bringing presenters to the conference. Our group needs a larger budget since by definition we are dealing with organization that are abroad or have a smaller budget.

2.Encourage participation and waive registration fees for local non-traditional groups at conferences.

3.Have a policy of not just inviting someone for one workshop or panel, have them be integral to the conference (and/or coordinating with other organizations for events outside the conference), to make better use of the funds.

4.Have one funded plenary dedicated to Global/immigration issues at all conferences, for the near future.

5.Set up an ongoing outreach committee for non-traditional groups to become part of UALE on an ongoing basis, beyond just doing workshops at conference. (Question whether this was what Steve Schnaap doing already?)

Kent stated that for the conference in Toronto, the Canadian planning group would be doing this outreach to their brothers and sisters there, but that in 2014 the conference will be in LA and there will be lots of opportunities to do outreach. Manny had noted that some potential US presenters from non-traditional groups might have issues with crossing the border to participate.

D. Conference call with Cathy Feingold

Judy is setting up a conference call with Cathy Feingold from the International Affairs Department of the AFL-CIO, to discuss what they are doing, share what we are doing and look for possibilities for collaboration. We are trying to get a date in September. This will be a separate conference call from the Conference planning call, so we will have two working group calls in September.

II. Reports from group

Mary reported on her trip to Colombia with Witness for Peace. Colombian labor groups are experiencing extreme repression including murders, violence and jailing of leaders.   Ruth Needleman also participated in the trip. There is a hunger strike of fired General Motors workers happening currently, and our action could help resolve the situation, she will send information to the group on what we need to do to help. Mary wondered if the working group wanted to have a more formal process for putting together materials to share, she is unclear of the group’s role.

Judy reported that she took part in a delegation to Honduras, where the narco-traffic situation is leading to a rapid militarization of the country, and destabilization. Lots of unions in the country are involved in the resistance.

Respectfully submitted by Helen Moss 8/14/12

I.       Assessing the Role of Immigration and Globalization Working Group II.   UALE 2012 conference Next meeting Sept 30

Minutes Immigration/Globalization working group meeting August 26, 2011 Conference Call 1pm Central Time

I. Call to order, roll call Judy Ancel called the meeting to order at 1:00pm Central Time.

Present: Mary Bellman, Tess Ewing, Howard Kling, co-chairs Judy Ancel and Robin Clark-Bennett. II. Assessing the Role of Immigration and Globalization Working Group

1. How can the working group best serve the needs of labor educators?

· Robin proposed that we more explicitly balance the conference planning role of the working group with other roles, for example: curriculum sharing, compiling information about immigration/globalization initiatives and actions involving unions around the country, discussion of the role of labor education in these topics, policy updates. · Mary recalled that, while conference planning took up most of the group’s time last year, the group was originally created with a broader mission. Tess and Judy agreed that the group has, in the past, focused more on sharing examples of immigration/globalization curriculum.

2. Survey of current UALE list

· Tess suggested that we might consider distributing a survey to the full UALE listserv to determine what people are doing on immigration/globalization and the kinds of needs they would like this working group to prioritize. · Mary agreed, but raised a concern that the survey should have a clear purpose, to craft questions that would bring useful and comparable answers. She suggested a Survey Monkey survey with options to click, as well as open-ended questions, to help focus our results.

· The group agreed to draft a survey with no more than 10 questions. One question, for example, could ask educators which issues related to immigration/globalization are currently the subject of labor/community action in their states, such as: wage theft (Iowa is having a conference on this with Kim Bobo in February), construction of new detention facilities, building trades and states banning PLAs and increased use of immigrant labor, DREAM act, new local and state immigration laws. Another question could ask: is your labor education program doing work around federal immigration reform, local and state laws, trade policy, wage theft, domestic worker organizing, global solidarity, etc. · Judy added that work such as the Cananea trip is an example of an entirely different approach, compared with curriculum development and education. Should our working group be developing more projects like this?

3. · Robin agreed to distribute a first draft of survey questions by next week. Responses to current opportunities and challenges in our states

· Robin gave examples of actions taking place in Iowa: rise in wage theft and organizing around this issue by National People’s Action affiliate and worker centers; struggles over permits to create immigrant detention facilities; presentation at Iowa Federation of Labor conference by filmmaker Luis Argueta who screened the recent documentary “abUSed, the Postville Raid” and other college-based screenings of this film in Iowa. · Judy discussed the film “Locked Out” (about the Rio Tinto struggle) as an example of a recent film that illustrates important lessons about globalization.

· Mary proposed that we create a film list on the UALE website, since this may be a more accessible approach for many labor ed. programs who would like to raise and discuss immigration/globalization issues with participants (could include AbUSed by Luis Argueta who is available for screenings, Locked Out by Joan Sekler This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who is also available for screenings, and the Cananea video). There was general agreement that this would be a great resource, and could be one of the survey questions: films you recommend, relating to immigration and globalization?

III. UALE 2012 conference · Judy reviewed deadlines for the 2012 conference: individual proposals due by Oct 15, Nov 15deadline for working group proposals. E-Board is selecting the plenary topics, so our working group should submit ideas soon.

· Judy suggested we propose a panel about global labor solidarity. The group discussed possible speakers, including: Leo Gerard (USW), John Hovis (UE), Larry Cohen (CWA), Baldemar Velasquez (FLOC). Panelists would discuss questions like: what steps unions are taking to implement global solidarity strategies, how to deal with solidarity in a recession, how to educate and involve members in international work. Judy will draft a proposal and circulate it to those present for feedback before sending it to the UALE Executive Board. · Robin raised the recent abuse of student visa workers in Hershey, PA – there was discussion about whether this could be part of a possible plenary topic. The group also discussed Dan La Botz’s idea of inviting a Dreamer to speak about their movement.

· Tess will send an email on the listserv, soliciting ideas for conference workshops, to stimulate discussion for our next meeting. She will also · Tess will also upload Cananea materials onto the UALE website.

Next meeting: Friday, Sept 30 at 1pm central time.

Respectfully submitted by co-coordinators Robin Clark-Bennett and Judy Ancel, Aug 27, 2011

Minutes Immigration/Globalization Working Group Meeting

5pm Wednesday, March 21 2012

UALE Conference, Pittsburgh

I. Call to order, roll call

Judy Ancel and Robin Clark-Bennett called the meeting to order at 5:00pm.

Present: Steve Schnapp, Tess Ewing, Kent Wong, Cam Duncan, Don Taylor, Susan Winning, Howard Kling, Dan Gilbert, Mary Bellman, Helen Moss, Luis Argueta

II. Reports on existing projects

A. UALE 2012 conference workshop track

Judy reported that at least eight conference workshops and one of the plenaries were developed from proposals generated by the Immigration and Globalization working group. Several participants provided more detailed descriptions of their workshops and encouraged everyone to attend and help spread the word.

B. Conference resolutions: 2011 and 2012

Robin distributed copies of the resolutions proposed by the Immigration and Globalization Working Group and adopted at the 2011 membership meeting, including: Resolution on Future Work on the Cananea Copper Strike by UALE, Resolution to Halt U.S. Funding of Union-Busting and Repression by the Mexican Government, and an untitled resolution that interpretation be considered an integral part of UALE conference planning when non-English speakers are part of the program or participating in the conference. Judy asked whether the Cananea resources had been transferred to the new UALE website, and offered to visit the website to find out.

Robin distributed draft copies of resolutions from the Immigration and Globalization Working Group, to be considered in the 2012 membership meeting: a budget request to fund workshop speakers for the 2013 conference, and a resolution calling for an E-Board committee to investigate ways of facilitating participation in the UALE conferences by worker activists and other allies) who lack the means to pay their way. I/G WG Resolutions, 2012

The group had a lengthy discussion about the second new resolution.

Judy and Robin explained the background – there was some confusion and difficulty in the planning process for this conference, because several speakers invited to conduct Immigration and Globalization workshops were from organizations without much money. The official policy required them to pay full conference registration, in addition to funding their own travel and hotel, even if they were only coming as guest speakers for their sessions. The registration requirement for some guest speakers was waived for this conference, due to confusion about the policy, but the group would like to clarify this for the future. Immigration and Globalization-related speakers were perhaps more likely to have funding challenges, because issues of interest to this working group often involve non-traditional labor movement allies and leaders of global unions with less money. However, because the conference as a whole is enriched by the presence of a diverse pool of speakers, and conference participation may build stronger connections between traditional and non-traditional workers’ organizations, and there are broader financial considerations involved, it may be best if the E-Board considered the issue rather than one working group.

Tess noted that in the past, funding has focused on plenary speakers more than speakers in workshops. Susan agreed that this is a broader organizational, rather than working group issue. Mary felt that the underlying budget questions should be in the hands of people who see the financial “big picture,” but that this issue is also central to the question of how UALE attracts participation by other groups. Steve felt that the resolution should not be limited to encouraging conference attendance by a more diverse pool of labor allies, but also UALE membership and participation. Mary and Tess agreed, and proposed that the resolution be amended to include membership and participation. Don felt that the creation of a committee increased the likelihood that progress might be made on this issue, as opposed to similar previous resolutions that have not yielded results. Steve agreed to work on revising the resolution to reflect the group’s discussion.

The group unanimously voted to recommend the two resolutions, as revised.

C. Robin reported on the results of the online survey Immigration and Globalization Working Group conducted with UALE members in 2011. There were 39 responses. Perhaps most interesting, over 80% of respondents wanted the group to help disseminate case studies of innovative union and community responses to immigration and globalization challenges, followed by over 60% who were interested in curriculum sharing. Film clips were the third most popular priority. [Full results available – contact Robin for more information.]

III. Reports on recent news and labor initiatives

Kent reported on positive developments in the labor movement, in regard to immigration and globalization-related issues. For example, President Trumka recently delivered a powerful address to NDLON, including a statement that the future of the labor movement rests in efforts like theirs. Trumka also delivered a recent statement of support for a Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights. The AFL-CIO is encouraging new union/workers’ center partnerships – Ana Fink is staffing this, and there is a new LIFT fund to strengthen partnerships. Kent proposed that our group could track, promote, and highlight these types of partnerships. The AFL-CIO has embraced the work of the Excluded Workers’ Congress and is changing its approach to China. There is strong new leadership of the Solidarity Center and the AFL-CIO International Affairs Department. The Immigration and Globalization Working Group could play a meaningful role by writing case studies about these kinds of initiatives, and showcasing bilingual materials.

Luis Argueta described his film, abUSed: The Postville Raid, and asked for assistance with a curriculum he is working to develop for use with the film. He would like to finish the curriculum by the end of the summer. Kent noted that he would like to have a film screening in LA, and offered that the Immigration and Globalization Working Group could also compile lists of films and curricula, along with concrete examples of ways in which previous screenings have helped to promote new labor alliances, and disseminate them through state feds and labor ed programs. Tess offered to put a link to a clip from this film on our working group’s resource page, on the UALE website. Steve expressed an interest in working on popular education questions that could accompany the clip.

Cathy Feingold has expressed an interest in joining us via conference call in the next month, since she was unable to attend the conference as she had hoped. She wanted to discuss ways of sharing information and working together. Kent could help on that call – he has met with Cathy, and he also felt she is eager to work with us. Kent felt we should be prepared to propose specific initiatives on that call, and he would be willing to facilitate the process.

DREAM University – Kent reported on a new degree program by the National Labor College that would be open to undocumented students, who now are unable to attend college in states such as Georgia, Missouri, and others. It’s the first major institution opening its doors to undocumented students. It would help if UALE would support this. There will be about 50 students in the first class. They need online support, online lectures…UCLA is assisting with the curriculum, and NLC is making its courses available. Please contact Ken if you have ideas.

IV. Proposals for Working Group Activities in 2012-2013

Susan – film compilation. She is a big fan of clips, and this seems achievable, though she is aware and concerned that we need to encourage people to purchase the full film, to support the filmmakers.

Mary – get back in the habit of sharing curriculum, case studies, descriptions of immigration/globalization related events our programs have hosted

Ruth – more systematic work on globalization and international solidarity initiatives

Judy – pinpoint a couple upcoming events that we want to do more research on, such as Transpacific Partnership, G8, GATS and guestworker programs

Tess - with the new website, we need someone to update lists and web materials

Mary – should we do more delegations, like the Cananea example? Talk to Solidarity Center or Cathy Feingold for ideas?

Ruth – meet with labor educators in other countries

Respectfully submitted by Robin Clark-Bennett June 27, 2012