October 2003

In the early morning light outside the Labor Temple on September 23rd, none of us knew what to expect — though we had our hopes. As riders of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride (IWFR) Seattle bus, we sensed we were embarking on a big, big journey. When family members, friends and allies wished us well, we knew we were embarking on something much larger than the sum of our individual contributions. Our bus driver pointed us toward the sun, Francisco strummed his guitar, songs burst forth among strangers and the warm world expanded.

From the beginning, there was something different about the Seattle bus. We became known among the 18 buses

nationwide as the most diverse bus with riders from 22 countries speaking 14 different languages. We’d later discover that each of the 17 other buses was different in its own right, but when convened in Washington, D.C., we were one powerful force. This became the metaphor for our burgeoning local and national coalitions; preserving our diversity while building a strong, coherent mandate for immigration reform that lifts us all together.

For labor, this meant sharing the decision-making, resources and spotlight. In Seattle, it meant learning why some immigrant groups have distrusted unions. It meant that we began to build new bridges into communities with whom previous relations had been strained or non-existent. It also meant reconcentrating on our relationship with the African-American community because the notion of freedom riding sharpened the feelings of how blacks in Seattle and the United States are still far from the fulfillment of promises made long ago.

We had four themes: A Clear Path to Citizenship, Family Reunification, Rights on the Job, and Civil Rights/Civil Liberties. The messages of our themes and the urgency to reform a broken immigration system were driven home by the riders’ courage as they told their painful stories of discrimination, injustice and dehumanization.

Mako talked of being interned in a concentration camp as a little Japanese girl of six during World War II. Richard described what it means to be an African-American male in a society that routinely imprisons black males, destroying families and whole communities. Ahmed told of being a Somali refugee and having to fight the United States’ illegal attempts to deport him back to almost certain death. Surjit revealed the ironies of emigrating to the U.S. from India, being drafted to Viet Nam six months later, and yet never truly being accepted enough to hold a job commensurate with his education or training. Manuel (not his real name) confessed to being held captive nearly as a slave to unscrupulous employers who took advantage of his having no documents simply because he came across from Mexico to find a decent life for his family. Mukhtar confided about emigrating from Indonesia and of not being able to see his children or other family members for years. And Maria, fired twice for organizing a janitor’s union at her workplace in Bellevue, declared she’d never give up.

As the riders told their stories, the individual injustices became collective injustices. All 52 riders became collectively engaged in struggle as they realized how universal and linked their struggles and solutions were. Their courage, hope and passion inspired everyone around to open up. Families put us up in their homes in places like Omaha where we spent the evening excitedly exchanging our stories and souls. Riders brought members of the U.S. Congress to tears in Washington, D.C. with the truth about our unjust laws. And a crowd of over 120,000 in Queens, NY responded wildly when they heard the truths of their own lives described by riders onstage.

But despite all the wrenching truth-telling, immigrants testified consistently and joyously that we are all here to claim the dream and promise that America holds out as a nation. They believe in American ideals, in the Statue of Liberty, and in the Constitution. Most of all, they believe in the power of coalition to right the wrongs of immigration policy in the United States. Immigrant Worker Freedom Riders expect to win.

Against the backdrop of recent backlashes, scapegoating and restricting of civil rights, expecting success is a reinvigorating experience. The unexpected renewal of faith in coalition-building and in the rank and file gives hope for real progress in immigration reform. The wonder of the Freedom Rides is that the Freedom Riders lived and breathed coalition struggle every day for 13 days. They understand the perils and the power of coalition. They ratify that struggling in isolation hurts and cedes power, but that struggling in community makes our hearts soar and our power expand. – Steve Williamson

KCLC Board Election Update
Last month the Council elected officers and trustees for three year terms. At this month’s delegates meeting the trade sections of the Council elected Board representatives. Four additional diversity-earmarked at-large positions will be up for election at the December 17th delegates meeting. We would like to congratulate our new and returning Board members and encourage any delegates interested in one of the at-large positions to contact your local and ask to be nominated.

President: Nancy Young
Vice President: Sergio Salinas
Executive Secretary: Steve Williamson
Trustee: Jessica Bonebright
Trustee: James Davis
Trustee: Herman Gilman
Trustee: Motter Snell
Aircraft Trades: Ron McGaha
Automotive Trades: Edd Kuehn
Building Trades: Peter Coates
Communications & Printing Trades: Elizabethe Brown
Entertainment Trades: Joan Kalhorn
Food & Allied Service Trades: Sharon McCann
Industrial Trades: Emily Van Bronkhorst
Maritime Trades: Dave Freiboth
Metal Trades: James McGee
Miscellaneous Trades: Dave Westberg
Transportation Trades: Lance Norton

Worker Center honored by Governor Locke
The King County Reemployment Support Center, which is one of the valuable programs operated by the Worker Center, was honored this month with a Governor’s Award for a Best Practice in Workforce Development in Washington State in recognition of their work with the Airport Security Screener Project. The project helped many screeners employed at Sea-Tac Airport keep their jobs after the Transportation Security Administration took over the security screening at our nation’s airports. It also focused on serving dislocated security screeners who weren’t retained.

Conference ideas? Pass ‘em on!
The Pacific Northwest Labor History Association is beginning to plan their 2004 annual conference, which will be held in Eugene, Oregon in May of next year. The Association is accepting proposals for panels, presentations and workshops related to their conference theme of exploring and analyzing the reform tradition in the Pacific Northwest. Contact Bob Bussell to share ideas or for more information at (541) 346-5054 or lerc@darkwing.uoregon.edu.

Upcoming Events
October 25th and November 1st, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
KCLC Labor-Neighbor outreach continues and your help is needed! Join other union members as we visit our labor brothers and sisters to talk about several key issues and races on this year’s election ballot and work on voter registration for the 2004 election. The day will begin at the Seattle Labor Temple with orientation and refreshments. To sign up, contact Political Organizer Karen Deal at (206) 441-3473 or karenkclc@earthlink.net.

Wednesday, November 5th, 7:00 p.m.
Attend a special sneak preview of the partially-completed documentary “Verona: The story of the Everett Massacre” at the Historic Everett Theater, 2911 Colby Avenue in Everett. The screening will be followed by a discussion with local historians and filmmaker Dennis Ohio. This film documents the November 5, 1916 killing of seven IWW members by police forces. Tickets are $20 and benefit the Everett Women’s Film Festival, Operation Shortfall and the completion of the documentary by Holy Toledo Pictures. Call (425) 258-6766 for tickets.

Wednesday, November 19th, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
The King County Labor Agency invites you to the 22nd Annual Meet the Winners holiday assistance fundraiser. Join us in Hall One of the Seattle Labor Temple to meet local elected officials and support the Labor Agency’s holiday outreach effort — admission is only $15 and includes the usual delightful assortment of refreshments. There will also be collection bins for non-perishable food items.

Wednesday, December 10th, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Seattle is taking part in an international day of action to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which calls upon all nations to protect the basic rights of all people. This includes the right to organize unions. The National Labor Relations Board was set up to protect workers’ right to organize. Now the NLRB throws obstacles in the path of workers who try to organize. Join us on December 10th at 11:30 a.m. for a mass rally at the Jackson Federal Building, Second and Marion in Downtown Seattle, to send the message that the laws must change to defend the human rights of workers and protect our right to organize a union!