Saint Joseph Valley Project - A Coalition of Community, Faith and Labor

Q&A on Labor and the U.S. Social Forum

Click here for a PDF copy of this.

What is the U.S. Social Forum and why should organized labor be involved?

The U.S. Social Forum grew out of a worldwide movement - the World Social Forum – that was in part inspired by the 1999 demonstrations against the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle. About 40,000 members of organized labor took part in the now-historic “Battle in Seattle” - one of the first large scale actions against uncontrolled, “free market” globalization. In 2007, 15,000 activists gathered in Atlanta for the first U.S. Social Forum. The Social Forum is a gathering of hundreds of community-based, social justice and social action organizations. These groups share many of labor’s concerns for workers rights, jobs, community renewal, a greener economy and social justice. The Social Forum provides a unique opportunity to come together with like-minded activists and work together towards solutions to the social, economic, labor, human rights and ecological crisis facing us all.

Why Detroit, Cobo Hall, June 22-26?

The national planning committee of the U.S. Social Forum – which includes the AFL-CIO, AFSCME and Jobs With Justice – decided on Detroit since the city and region are highly visible examples of the economic collapse – and the fight back against it! Detroit is a birthplace of the modern labor movement and focus for the civil rights movement and social change. The eyes of the nation are on Detroit and the SE Michigan region as bellwethers for community recovery. Labor’s response to the crisis is crucial.

What happens at a Social Forum and how can labor get involved?

The Social Forum is more than just a conference or event. It’s a way to build opposition to the corporate agenda, and create an alternative vision and direction for our country. Through workshops, presentations, marches, information tents, music and cultural events, labor can tell our stories and hear about other struggles. Labor activists can interact with a new generation of grass-roots activists and help build a more powerful movement to fight for jobs, improved public services, health care for all, an end to foreclosures, a greener environment, social justice and peace.

What can labor do now about the Social Forum?

Already, the Detroit Metro Council AFL-CIO and AFSCME Council 25 and UAW Region 1A have endorsed the USSF and encouraged their officers, members, activists and affiliates to participate. Other unions are actively planning to participate. Unions can get involved by endorsing the social forum and signing up to attend, encouraging and activists to attend and proposing a workshop to engage participants in a struggle the union is involved in.

Registration

Registration for the USSF is now open. Locals and activists should register for the Social Forum and make plans to attend. The window for workshop proposals is open until April 20, so unions/locals should figure out whether to organize a workshop or collaborate with other locals/unions.

Possible Workshops Could Address: Alternatives to job elimination, cutbacks and layoffs, Building a labor movement for the 21st century, Detroit and the Rust Belt - labor-community responses and solutions, Fair trade and global justice versus “free trade,” What does Solidarity in the 21st look like?

Please look at the PDF file (above or click here) for registration and contact information.

This information comes from the SE Michigan Jobs with Justice and the Detroit Labor Committee.