The Cincinnati FLOC Support Committee holds its 25th anniversary celebration, with Dick Weisenhahn giving his famous impersonation of Rodney Dangerfied
Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO
The Cincinnati FLOC Support Committee holds its 25th anniversary celebration, with Dick Weisenhahn giving his famous impersonation of Rodney Dangerfied
In this section:
The successes of the FLOC movement have always been based on the support of a wide range of organizations and millions of people who believe in justice. This popular support is what makes FLOC as social movement, like the Civil Rights and other movements of justice.
Supporters include many different kinds of organizations. For example, faith groups like the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the National Council of Churches, National Farm Worker Ministry, Interfaith Worker Justice network, and Agricultural Missions have taken moral stands in support of FLOC by endorsing boycotts, initiating national dialogues donating funds, and raising volunteers for FLOC campaigns. Many local, national, and international labor groups have also stood with FLOC workers in their struggle for working rights, including the AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, National Brotherhood of Teamsters, National Education Association, Sindicato Nacional de Campesinos of Mexico, and Jobs With Justice. Ethnic organizations like Black Workers for Justice, the National Coalition for Dignity and Residency, and the National Council of La Raza have promoted the labor and civil rights of FLOC's immigrant workers.
Millions of individuals across the country have made a critical difference for justice by joining FLOC boycotts, volunteering to help at FLOC events like mass rallies and conventions, and donating what they can to help support FLOC campaigns.
Local FLOC Support Committees have formed to promote the FLOC cause in their own communities. These local groups have been critical in informing their communities about FLOC issues, in gaining endorsements from their churches, unions, and other community groups, recruiting volunteers to help at FLOC events, and raising funds to support FLOC staff and activities.
Together with all their different activities, FLOC supporters have tipped the scales of power for justice. The system is generally structured to benefit a few at the expense of the many dispossessed and marginalized like farmworkers. However, the economic and political power of the corporate rich is useless, for example, when millions of people refuse to buy boycotted items or when for every migrant worker on a picket line or in a march there is also a member of the clergy, a student, a teacher, and a Latino. The poverty of migrant workers and their union is not a barrier in the struggle for justice when local support groups collectively raise thousands of dollars to help cover gas for organizers who drive hundreds of miles a day to meet with field workers.
It is our supporters like you who over the years have made a critical difference that has enabled the FLOC victories. Thank you!
So what can you do to help support the FLOC movement?
If you understand the issues and goals of the FLOC movement, you can know better how to contribute your time, efforts, skills, networks, and resources. You can also know better how to help others understand these issues and goals. There are several ways you can develop and maintain your understanding:
Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO
ATTN: Beatriz Maya
1221 Broadway Street
Toledo, Ohio 43609
419-243-3456x3
FLOC is severely underfunded and understaffed. You can help extend our capabilities by volunteering to help with the many efforts and tasks that need to be done. For more information, go to Get Involved.
Midwestern supporters discuss how their local groups can support the FLOC Convention at a workshop in Toledo. These groups raised $2,000 and 75 volunteers, which made an important difference in making the Convention possible.
Individuals can do a lot. Groups of individuals can always do a lot more! When time, efforts, skills, networks, and resources are pooled, they can make a more coordinated and effective impact. Over the years, local FLOC Support Committees have always made a critical difference to the FLOC movement. They have informed their own communities about the FLOC cause, and have persuaded their churches, unions, schools, and other local organizations to take a stand for justice. They have recruited volunteers for FLOC events, like the 75 people who helped at the recent convention, and have raised funds to enable FLOC activities, like the $2,000 they raised to help cover the costs of the convention.
To learn more about how you can be involved in local FLOC support activities, please contact us at:
Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO
ATTN: Beatriz Maya
1221 Broadway Street
Toledo, Ohio 43609
419-243-3456x3
Keep Informed
To make sure you are up to date with the FLOC movement, sign up for the FLOC listserv! Go to:
Listserv SignUp
Get Involved
How can you be actively involved in the the FLOC movement? To learn more, go to:
Get Involved
Help Raise Resources to Support the FLOC Movement
There are many ways to raise resources to help the FLOC movement in the struggle for justice... all of which you can do! To learn more, go to:
Fundraising for FLOC
Thank You!
Thank you for your support! It has always been the commitments and efforts of our supporters that have made our victories possible. As we continue the struggle for justice, we know we can count on you as face new challenges and victories together.
© FLOC 2007