We are reinvigorated for the year to come after wrapping up our 12th annual Food Worker Summit last month!
65 workers and organizers from 19 groups gathered in Springdale, Arkansas for this annual convening of FCWA members, welcomed by fellow member and our local host: Venceremos. Here’s a quick recap of four days in Arkansas with leaders from across the Alliance:
Pizza and artmaking at Venceremos HQ with the incredible Chicago ACT Collective
Mistica & Opening Plenary: Struggles & Organizing in the South
Peer-to-peer workshops: Building cooperatives and solidarity economies; Lavender Solidarity: Combating the rise of anti-Queer segments of society & our movement; Workers Organizing around Heat; Processing Workers Organizing; Building Cooperatives and Solidarity Economies; Union Organizing; and more!
Action at Tyson Foods! Tyson is headquartered in Springdale, and on Monday, October 16, Venceremos led us in a march on the HQ to demand accountability on three key issues: inhumane line speeds, high rates of worker injury, and potential child labor in Tyson’s supply chain. When we sent a delegation to deliver our letter, we were told by security that we would have to come back after making an appointment. But the messages from Tyson workers, expressed through powerful art, chants, and speeches could not be ignored. And we will be back!
Learn more in press coverage from the action: Republicans continue effort to erode US child labor rules despite teen deaths (The Guardian, 10/20/23); Protestors urge Arkansas’ Tyson to commit to child labor, worker safety protections (Arkansas Advocate, 10/17/23); and Poultry plant workers protest child labor, ask for better working conditions (Arkansas Times, 10/16/23)
Plenary: Power Mapping our Movement; Member-to-Member Discussion on Racial Capitalism
The summit is a highlight for FCWA members and staff every year, and where we build and strengthen so many important relationships across our movement. We are grateful to all the members who made time to attend and lead sessions, to everyone who supported this annual event by donating, and especially to our incredible local hosts Venceremos.
Until next year!