SOA Watch Labor Caucus: SE Michigan Chapter The mission of our yearly delegation to Ft. Benning, Georgia is to educate, inspire and activate union members and community activist to the struggles created by militarism at home and abroad, the need for immigration reform and impacts of failed so called free trade agreements. Those traveling with us will learn about the parallels between SOA violence, U.S. militarization of our police forces and forced migration in the Americas. The weekend is inspirational as we join with others in this international, inter-generational movement at the largest annual anti-militarism gathering in the U.S. We’ll take a stand for human rights and social justice in the Americas, demanding the closure of the SOA/WHINSEC; actions include contacting our Members of Congress and educating others. Our organization is made up of volunteers, most of whom are auto workers and UAW members. We have a monthly meetings. We are open to anyone who wants to work with us to close the SOA and work in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Latin America. Our task is to organize the delegation (recruiting, promoting, communicating), coordinate logistics (transportation, hotel rooms) and convene the annual workshop of the labor caucus (set the agenda, contact speakers, etc.) Ultimately, we are working to suspend operations at the SOA/WHINSEC. The people of Latin America will benefit by the closing of the school (often referred to as the School of Coups or the School of Assassins by those impacted by the school.) The U.S. citizens will benefit also, no longer will our tax dollars support WHINSEC, instead of training soldiers and policy we can develop relationships based on justice. We will work closely with SOA Watch, the national organization that seeks to close the U.S. Army School of the Americas, under whatever name it is called, through vigils and fasts, demonstrations and nonviolent protest, as well as media and legislative work. The SOA Watch Labor Caucus will work to increase labor participation. We will lobby our elected officials and work to increase the number of unions and union members working to close the SOA/WHINSEC (the ultimate union buster) and build solidarity with our union brothers and sisters in Latin America

1. SOA Watch is an independent organization that seeks to close the US Army School of the
Americas, through vigils and fasts, demonstrations and nonviolent protest, as well as
media and legislative work. SOA Watch 5525 Illinois Ave. NW Washington, DC 20011
phone: 202-234-3440 email: info@soaw.org www.soaw.org
SHUT DOWN THE SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS

3. In November of 2012 members of local 140 participated in the yearly bus trip to the
School of Americas(SOA).The School of Americas is a U.S. military training school for
Latin American soldiers and police, located at Fort Benning, Georgia. Union organizers
are among the primary targets of SOA violence. SOA graduates have been directly
responsible for the killing of striking workers and union organizers throughout Latin
America.

4. Until around 1990 Colombian trade unions were among the strongest in Latin America. However the
1980s expansion of par militarism in Colombia saw trade union leaders and members increasingly
targeted for assassination, and as a result Colombia has been the most dangerous country in the world for
trade unionists for several decades.

5. Most of the violence committed against trade unionist has been directed at there leaders of
unions of multinational corporations, reports that US corporations in Colombia have actively
colluded with paramilitaries in order to reduce union activity. Besides acknowledged payments
from multinationals to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) (Doe v. Chiquita
Brands International), "Trade unionists have been particularly targeted by the paramilitaries
3 years." Other sources give figures of around 4000 trade union members killed from the mid-
1980s to 2008

6. Anibal Perez ( left photo center) brought attention to the fact that Drummond Mining an
American Company based in Alabama was illegally dumping pollutants into his local water
system. Drummond Mining has also been implicated in testimony by paramilitary persons in the
death of 3 union organizers. Over 25 union organizers have been killed in Columbia that worked
for the Drummond Corporation since 2000.

7. The CIW’s national Campaign for Fair Food educates consumers on the issue of farm labor
exploitation – its causes and solutions – and forges alliances between farmworkers and
consumers in an effort to enlist the market power of major corporate buyers to help end that
exploitation. Since 2001, farmworkers have partnered with people of faith, students and young
people, and communities all over the country to win respect for workers from some of the
largest corporations in the world.

8. From left to right Contact:Torrey Green-King of UAW local 140 Civil & Human Rights, Jake Ratner of
Just Harvest USA , Jerry King of UAW local 140 Civil & Human Rights, Silvia Perez of Coalition of
Immokalee Workers
A partnership for justice, Just Harvest USA and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), an
internationally recognized farmworker organization based in South Florida. The CIW is at the
forefront of fighting to end decades of stagnant, sub-poverty wages for farmworkers, combating
modern-day slavery cases in the agricultural industry, and demanding that corporate food retailers
use their power to ensure the human rights of farmworkers in their supply chains.
Just Harvest USA 110 S 2nd St Immokalee, Florida 34142 (239) 357-1473 info@justharvestusa.org
www.justharvestusa.orgCIW P.O. Box 603 Immokalee, FL 34143 (239) 657-8311 WWW.ciw-online.org

9. What is the Fair Food Program?
The Program consists of a wage increase supported by the additional penny per pound paid by corporate
purchasers of Florida tomatoes, and a human-rights-based Code of Conduct, involving six main
elements:
A pay increase supported by the “penny per pound” paid by participating buyers, such as Taco Bell,
Whole Foods, and pay for their tomatoes;
Compliance with the Code of Conduct, including zero tolerance for forced labor and sexual assault;
Worker-to-worker education sessions carried out by the CIW on the farms and on company time to
insure workers understand their new rights and responsibilities;
A worker-triggered complaint resolution mechanism (including a 24-hour hotline staffed by the FFSC)
leading to complaint investigation, corrective action plans, and, if necessary, suspension of a farm’s
Participating Grower status, and thereby its ability to sell to Participating Buyers;
Health and safety committees on every farm to give workers a structured voice in the shape of their
work environment. and
Ongoing auditing of the farms to insure compliance with each element of the FFP.

10. Current Fair Food Agreements

11. Of the five largest fast food corporations in the country — McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King, Taco
Bell (Yum! Brands), and Wendy’s — Wendy’s stands alone as the only one who has refused to join
the Fair Food Program and respect the rights and dignity of farmworkers in its supply chain.

12. Tools that drive awareness

13. The Committee recently held a GLOBAL SOLIDARITY & MOBILIZATION and Recruitment Meeting
for the scheduled 2013 SOAVigil and labor caucus taking place November 22 thru 24. During this
meeting SOA Watch National Council and Legislative Working Group Member Theresa Cameranesi,
spoke on the history of SOA Watch and her recent visit to Paraguay in April of this year. Elections
were held after a military Coup that is referred to as the “Monsanto Coup”, had taken Place.
Remember the Monsanto corporation.This corporation, which manufactures landscaping products
like "Round - Up” or “GMO Seeds” is acting as if it was a Sovereign nation.

15. 2013 UAW Friends Of The SOA Labor Caucus