Liz Schwler knows that she has a long summer. Last week, the AFL-CIO president, which includes more than 15 million members, witnessed an organized battle in favor of working on the Trump administration under brighter lighting.
David Herta, The President of the California Service Federation (SEIU) was arrested on June 6 during a demonstration against a raid to enforce immigration and customs (ICE) in the clothing area of Los Angeles. His detention was launched in the alarm bells between unions throughout the country, and shows that organized work will play a major role in the continuous epic due to the Trump immigration campaign.
More protests are to be the end of this week, but it may be the next few months DecisiveAnd whether they are able to successfully return against the President’s policies.
luck She sat with Schuller to discuss her ideas about the arrest of Herthaa, AFL-CIO plans in the long run, and what resembles the leadership of the largest Union of the Labor Union in America under the Trump administration.
“We definitely built for this,” she says. “The labor movement has endured by ascending and landing of all kinds of politicians.”
This interview has been edited and intensified.
What are your thoughts about the arrest of David Hyrta?
We were completely comfortable because he was released and gathered with his family. A lot of pressure was created on the ground. The labor movement met in an amazing way, in just 24 hours, which really spoke in several ways and organized marches in 30 cities across the country.
We know this is more than just one person. This revolves around thousands of workers who are detained and targeted at ice in their workplaces now. And (we know) the effects of societies, and how workers, (workers) who contribute to our economy and do a job on which societies depend, with a cloud of fear.
So we were linking the “David Free” request to request to finish ice raids in the workplace, because it is not coinciding with objective ice claims. (They say that) They are looking for criminals, and they are not workers every day trying to do their job.
What tactics do you use AFL-CIO now at this high moment?
We are always doing what we did, which protests injustice safely. We have been doing this since our beginning. (We) not only stand with the members of the Union and 63 units throughout the Union, but also with civil rights groups and community partners. We appear and talk about all workers when there is injustice.
When ICE enters a workplace or the National Guard is sent, it is designed to enhance this fear so that people do not organize, and they will not talk, and they will not defend their rights. This is really designed for the labor movement: helped to give people this voice and security, to ensure that they have the dignity and respect of the job, and protect them from the damage we see in Los Angeles and many other places.
In addition to protest, what strategies do you publish to combat management policies?
I think what is really unique in the labor movement is that we have a very large toolbox. Organization at the level of society, protests, gatherings, and actions – those are part of this toolbox, but not our only tools.
We publish strategies in the courts, in Congress. Our pension funds that we know can also be used strategically as a pioneer as well. We are the only institution in the country that has a network of local work agencies in every state and every city in this country. We have access to working people and workplaces that we can use to educate, train and stimulate a moment.
We (Knight) will not only go to the store and move after David’s release. This is just the beginning.
Are there any other organization strategies that you publish in particular?
One of the things that struck me is the extent of destabilization when you get a visit from the ice and you are not ready. Thus what we are trying to do is educate people about how to respond and know their rights. It is very simple, but I think it is something that already flies under the radar – this idea is that we have certain rights but we must be protected, and if you are armed with this information, and if you are better ready to put, it gives you more confidence so that you are not afraid.
We have developed this Incredible We have been widely distributed to local leaders, small cities or small societies, as this is what they expect at least. And I think it was really available that people had at least something to prepare them and know where to go if something like that happened.
How do you approach the challenges during the second and long -term Trump administration?
In the first 100 days, their design was to keep us in defense. (There was a new attack every day we made us. Our strategy was short -term, of course, a legal strategy, and mobilization on Earth. (Kanna) they show, practice our voice, reveal the destruction of Doj and clarify the reason for the importance of workers at the level of society, because many people feel that the federal government is very far away.
Leave us Department of people who work for a living Because we said if Elon Musk can stand on his ministry, it is certain that we can bear our section and translate it for workers.
We plan in the long run. We build our muscles. Every month during the Congress vacation, we had businesses at the level of the country, and they were multiplying in size every month. So we are planning a full summer of work that begins to look at this tool box again with our escalation. We are concerned about the idea of constitutional protection on it.
Depending on what is happening in the country, the labor movement is smart and we respond and we can fill work on any specific day, at any specific moment. It will match the temperature on the ground and what we see out of this administration.
This story was originally shown on Fortune.com
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