On 1/25/03, the Mid-Hudson Coalition for Economic Justice held a special meeting with the intent to:
· bring together the largest group of coalition participants possible;
· understand the diverse and complimentary communities represented by coalition participants;
· develop strategies for working together on the mobilization priorities adopted by the Coalition:
1) NY State Farmworker Justice- Spring 2003 Fast & March for Farmworkers
2) Sweat-Free-Schools
3) Ongoing support for local union organizing efforts- new organizing & contract campaigns
· and, to come up with a plan for doing so, with a timeline extending into our Spring season of mobilization.

In attendance:

Laurie Baldwin, UNITE! 189; Ed Felton, CLASP; Ken Franzblau, NYSUT; Wayne Nealis, Tricia Kakalec, FLSNY; Dan Werner, FLSNY; Bob Ringwood, NYSUT; Brian Obach, UUP New Paltz; Emma Kreyche, RMM; Richard Witt, RMM; Miguel Pimentel, CITA; Karen Carpenter, CSEA; Tom Hoffay, Inter-Governmental Office of the NYS Attourney General; Guillermo Perez, CSEA; Rev. Kevan Hitch, New Paltz United Methodist Church; Joe Dubovy; Roger Whitson, CSEA member at Ulster County Community Action Head Start

AGENDA [contents]:

I. Welcome & Introductions; adoption of Ground Rules & Agenda
II. Constituency Group Work
III. Mixed Group Work
Lunch
IV. Campaigns/ Actions Group work (separate attachments)
V. Wrap-up/ Next Steps

I. Welcome/ Introductions

Following a welcome & introductions, the following ground rules were adopted for the meeting:
1) We will follow the agenda & time limits
2) Only one person speaks at a time
3) All decisions will be made by consensus
4) All opinions are valid

II. Constituency Group Work

Exercise:

Participants broke into three groups by constituency- Labor, Religion, Community [it was pointed out that community embraces many constituencies- progressive political &/or activist org's, student org's, issue &/or community based org's, etc.]

Each group was asked to identify three reasons why their constituency group should support each of the three campaigns adopted as the Coalition's priorities.

Results:

The Labor constituency outlined the following:

Reasons for supporting Sweat-Free-Schools efforts:
1) To support Workers' Rights as Human Rights and to condemn the violation of Human Rights.
2) To aid & support organized workers and to recognize responsible employers.
3) To educate students & young people about the labor movement

Reasons for supporting Farmworker Justice efforts:
1) To promote & expand Workers Rights as Human Rights and to educate rank & File union members about the struggles of the most exploited & vulnerable workers.
2) To include in the labor movement workers typically denied traditional labor rights
3) To educate the community- students, faith leaders, progressive community- and to build broad public support for organizing campaigns & the labor movement in general.

Reasons for supporting local union organizing efforts:
1) To organize is to expand and promote humane workplaces
2) To promote & build solidarity across unions at all levels- local, national, international.
3) To educate the public about the labor movement, and to build public & consumer support for the labor movement.

The Faith constituency outlined the following:

Reasons for supporting Sweat-Free-Schools efforts:
1) Noted was the opportunity to make connections between the moral teachings of faith traditions and social justice efforts- particularly through efforts focused on & engaging youth.

Reasons for supporting Farmworker Justice efforts:
1) Noted was the centrality of fasting & marching- from Moses to MLK- in faith traditions.

Reasons for supporting local union organizing efforts:
1) Noted was the fact that the people who are organizing/ seeking justice in the workplace are our congregation members, but that they themselves don't readily relate their faith with their work-lives from an economic justice standpoint.
2) Also noted was the direct relationship between the health of the community- a certain focus of faith communities- and the economic health of the community.

The Faith constituency also outlined the following obstacles & opportunities revealed in organizing faith leaders around issues of economic justice:
[FYI: The number of opportunities required to overwhelm any number of obstacles is 1.]
Opportunities:
1) Scripture as testament to the ultimate right of economic justice.
2) Morality as central to faith traditions.
3) The strength of moral leadership, and the "altruistic appeal" present in peoples recognition that faith leaders are not engaged in economic justice efforts for reasons of self-interest.
Obstacles:
1) The reluctance of many faith leaders to confront the status-quo.
2) The misconstruing of peace as the absence of conflict, rather than a manifestation or result of justice.
3) The separation between spiritual & other realms of life- worldly<>other-worldly.
4) A general ignorance and/or mistrust of unions.
5) Who controls congregations?
*People on opposite sides of an issue can be members of the same congregation; economic power isn't restricted to the workplace; relationships between faith leaders and their congregation members can have a pervasive effect on what leaders/ institutions will or won't support.
6) Faith leaders often approach their congregations with a service perspective, rather than with a determination to share their own inspiration without compromise.
7) Faith leaders are often overwhelmed.

The Community constituency outlined the following:

Reasons for supporting Sweat-Free-Schools efforts:
1) Responsibility to act in support of workers beyond our communities.
2) The centrality of schools as community institutions- opportunity for community-building.
3) Responsibility for the practices of institutions within our communities.

Reasons for supporting Farmworker Justice efforts:
1) Because farmworkers are the people who grow our food!
2) Because farmworkers are- and must be considered- members of our communities.
3) Because a low-wage work force is detrimental to any community in many ways.

Reasons for supporting local union organizing efforts:
1) Raising the standards of workers = building a healthy community.
2) Unions balance the institutional power of corporations at every level.
3) Unions are powerful allies to gain as community partners.
4) Making Unions community organizations is a two-way street.

III. Mixed Group Work

Exercise:

Participants broke into three groups by campaign- Farmworker Justice/ Fast & March, Sweat-Free-Schools, and ongoing support for local unions. An effort was made to have each of the three constituencies represented in each group.

Groups were asked to answer the following questions in relation to the campaign their group was focused on for this exercise:
1) How would you define success for MHCEJ on this particular campaign or action?
2) What would you consider to be the three biggest obstacles MHCEJ will have to overcome in order to achieve success as your group has defined it?
3) What strategies or projects would your group propose that MHCEJ follow in order to overcome the obstacles you've listed?

Results:

The Farmworker Justice group outlined the following:

Elements of success:
1) Statement of and/ or active support from local lawmakers.
2) Participation in Fast & March by all constituencies- labor, religion, community, student…
3) Press coverage educating communities about farmworker issues and informing them of Fast & March.
4) Building the Coalition through the organizing effort.
5) Reaching a defined goal for participation by each of the constituencies.

Obstacles:
1) MHCEJ base is on E. Side of river; March is on W. side.
2) Educating all constituencies to the point of feeling they MUST participate.
3) Creating common ground among constituencies that are at odds on other issues- e.g. trade unionists vs. professionals; Peace movement vs. complacent; etc.

Strategies & Projects:
1) Lobbying/ educating local lawmakers, seeking their ACTIVE participation- Ulster, Green, Sullivan, Orange, Dutchess, & Putnam Counties.
2) Identify volunteers to establish transportation service brining people to & from March.
3) Education campaign carried out in places of worship, schools, meetings of community org's, events, etc.
4) Identifying union members to mobilize fellow members.
5) Press- letters to the editor, press releases, ID local radio & TV outlets, e-mail & leaflet constituencies…
6) Drawing Connections- relating Fast & March to Peace movement, raising worker standards, int'l human rights, changing the local political environment… A victory for one is a victory for all!

The Sweat-Free-Schools group outlined the following:

Elements of success:
1) 4 new school districts adopt "Informed Purchasing" policy, at least one being a larger (urban) district.
2) One Mid-Hudson university campus adopts the policy- probably SUNY New Paltz.

Obstacles:
1) Perceived budget crisis.
2) Pressure from suppliers/ possible loyalty.
3) Anti-liberal bias.
4) Apathy among students.
5) Disbelief. (I think this referred to disbelief in the fact that sweatshop conditions exist.)

Strategies & Projects:
1) Do the math- true financial impact is manageable.
2) Identify allies: school board members, union leaders & members, local politicians, etc.
3) Identify student leaders/ groups who'd support effort.
4) Support form community & faith-based org's.
5) Connect w/ & utilize resources of United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS).
6) ID districts that are deemed winnable.
7) Identify responsible suppliers as ready alternatives.
8) Send letter to District Superintendents introducing policy and asking that the item be placed on the agenda for the next Board meeting.

The Labor group outlined the following:
Elements of success:
1) Building community awareness of the mission of today's unions and of the day-to-day work of unions.
2) Mobilization of community support for union campaigns.

Obstacles:
1) Disconnection between unions and their communities. [Note with 1. & 2: : Often the relationship w/ community is only sought when support is needed for a union effort.]
2) Strategies for seeking community support are often outdated.
3) Lack of bi-lingual organizers & the resulting exclusion of non-English speaking peoples.
4) Fear of/ ignorance of the faith community.

Strategies & Projects:
1) Independent coalition seating all constituencies at the table as equals.
2) Educate community about the mission of today's unions and of the day-to-day work of unions.
3) Connect the themes of workers' struggles & efforts of other constituencies.
4) Involve more workers in community outreach- put "human face" on workers.
5) Establish a Workers' Rights Board.
6) Establish a local Workers' Center.
7) Get more unions on board Coalition.

IV. Campaigns/ Actions Group work

Exercise:

Participants break into three groups based on which of the three campaigns/ actions they intend to make their primary focus. Using the strategies/ projects outlined in the earlier exercise, each group is to identify the strategy/ project group members are willing to work on and as a group develop a timeline for each (or incorporate all the projects into one timeline). Record the assignments and timeline(s) on the flip chart and appoint a spokesperson to report back to the entire group.

Results:

MHCEJ Timeline for Labor-Religion Fast and CITA/JFW March
-Drafted by Emma Kreyche, RMM

by February 14
Ø Mailing list ready for first mailing (Ed)
Ø Leaflets developed/printed/distributed for breaking of fast event, including "save the date" for CITA march (Ed will delegate)

by February 28
Ø Each member organization will secure official sponsorship for the march
Ø Media outreach plan ready (Wayne, RMM)

by March 4
Ø Each member organization will schedule presentation with Miguel for their constituency via email: migueleug@yahoo.com

March 12-14, Labor-Relgion Fast
Ø Breaking of Fast, event at New Paltz United Methodist (Miguel will present)
Ø Each member organization responsible for getting union leaders to March 14 event

by March 14
Ø Sign-up leaflet ready (RMM)
Ø Each member organization makes at least 200 copies of RMM's general march flier and posts/distributes within their constituency along with sign-up

by April 1
Ø Each member organization sends letters to local senators supporting farmworker legislation (RMM will create template)
Ø Reminder out to CEF mailing list and each organization's email lists with march details (RMM)
Ø Each organization secures commitment of marchers:
· 5 people per 5-mile segment for each day in Mid-Hudson (3 segments per day for 4 days) from each member organization, plus…
· each member organization gets 5 other locals/organizations to commit 5 marchers for each 5-mile segment

April 14-18
Ø Last minute reminders for march: emails & phone calls to those signed up to march from each member organization's constituency

April 19-30, "330 Miles Toward Justice" March to Albany

Time Line for Sweat Free Schools Campaign
-Drafted by Bob Ringwood, NYSUT

February
Draft letter sent to UNITE
Initial outreach to school districts and union leaders
Follow up with phone calls
Initial targeting of winnable campaigns in school districts

March
Finalize targeting
Complete follow up calls
Communicate with local constituencies and interest groups including movers and shakers in the community and people of influence (area lawmakers/school board members/faith based leaders) - seek their support of the campaign
Identify supporters
Educate core group/members including union leaders, PTA and student diversity groups

April/May/June
Target school board meetings for presentation on sweat free schools policy, providing enough time for the resolution to be introduced and voted on

Sweat Free Schools Committee of MHCEJ meets throughout the spring and also at monthly meetings to update on the status of the campaign

Goal and Objective: Influence four (4) school districts in the Mid Hudson region to adopt the sweat free school policy, including one large urban school district

Post June
Develop regional report card on school districts that have and have not taken a stand on the sweat free school policy.
Broaden the targets: other school districts, higher education universities, community colleges and municipalities

V. Wrap-up/ Next Steps

Ed Felton:
1) Draft & send meeting report.
2) Draft & send Coalition contact list.
3) Draft & send calendar & task list by campaign w/ help of others.
4) Draft & send resource list by campaign.
5) Obtain & distribute campaign materials- lit & leaflets, etc.
6) Provide Coalition members w/ outreach contacts- general & campaign specific- especially outreach to faith leaders.
7) Follow-up & facilitate communication.
8) Organize monthly meeting.

Emma Kreyche:
1) Draft & send Farmworker Justice- Fast & March- action plan & timeline.
2) Continue sending reports on March mobilization to listserve.

Bob Ringwood:
1) Draft & send Sweat-Free-Schools action plan & timeline.
2) Continue sending reports on Sweat-Free-Schools mobilization to listserve.

Karen Carpenter:
1) Draft & send action plan for ongoing support for local union campaigns.

Notes:
Keep your eyes open for the calendar & task list, and the resource list. There will be many tasks identified that people will have to commit to. I have and can obtain more Sweat-Free-Schools literature, video's, etc., and Farmworker Justice literature, leaflets, etc.

In the immediate, we have an abundance of fast brochures. The brochure includes a commitment form. Remember that participation is the priority. Many people cannot fast for the entire 40 hours and we don't want to exclude them. Fasting is symbolic- people can commit to fast for any period of time within the 40 hours. Prominent people will fast for the duration of the fast; that combined with sheer numbers of participants will send a powerful message. This is the 8th annual fast, and it was an important piece of the campaign that brought NY State farmworkers up to the federal minimum-wage a few years ago.
I've reserved a portion of our slim treasury specifically for postage. If you want brochures, just ask!

Thanks to Bob Ringwood for his help in getting a Sweat-Free-Schools letter out to district superintendents on behalf of the Coalition. Keep your eyes open for a draft of that letter and plan on joining a delegation to a school board meeting sometime in the near future in a district near you.

By the way, donations by check or money order can be made out to Mid Hudson Coalition for Economic Justice, and can be sent to PO Box 302, High Falls, NY 12440.

Enthusiastically,

Edward T Felton
(888) 631-8776