MISSION

Fuerza Laboral builds the power of workers. Our mission is to shift the unequal balance of power in our economy towards labor by building worker capability through education, training, and organizing to become community leaders; take direct action to recover unpaid wages and improve workplace conditions; push for institutional changes that strengthen worker protections; and create a network of worker-owned co-ops toward providing living-wage employment instead of the low-wage, exploitative jobs typically reserved for immigrants and people of color. We believe that workers directly experiencing injustices are the best positioned to craft solutions that end labor abuses and bolster the quality of life in their communities.

WHO WE ARE

Member Leaders

First and foremost, Fuerza Laboral is its members.

Our guiding philosophy is that those who directly experience economic and racial injustice must be leaders in the struggle to gain justice. Immigrant workers are themselves experts in labor exploitation and how systemic oppression operates and are thus in the best position to craft solutions.

Fuerza's members not only participate but also facilitate meetings, lead actions, communicate with media, prepare other workers for actions, make strategic decisions regarding campaigns, and represent our organization to legislators and decision-makers -- that is, they take the lead in every aspect of our organization.

Worker-Owned Cooperatives

As a Worker-Owned Cooperative Incubator, Fuerza Laboral trains and supports workers to build their own cooperative business that operate with justice and fairness. We also assist existing businesses in transitioning to worker-owned co-ops. We link co-ops together in a supportive network to shift the way business is done in our communities. We call it the Solidarity Economy.

We are currently in the process of building a construction finishing trades (drywall, painting, flooring) co-op that will be a union signatory with IUPAT DC 11 Painters’ Union.

The following co-ops are part of the Rhode Island network (click on the icons below for website links):