How We Built Our Union’s Member Education Program
UNTA members gathered for a rally on May 1. Photo: UNTA
Earlier this year, a debate broke out among members of our union, the National App Workers Union of Mexico (UNTA), after the union’s social media post condemning the U.S. government’s kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and demanding “the defense of sovereignty, self determination and peace in Latin America.”
Union members had conflicting views about the kidnapping, which led to a discussion on the subject in our next coordinating assembly—a space where we inform, discuss, and reach agreements between union representatives. Members disagreed intensely, but expressed their views with respect and camaraderie.
It made us realize that we needed more spaces like this for face-to-face discussion and analysis within the union, to help us develop a shared politics and grow as trade unionists. Out of these discussions, members decided to create the National Political Council (CPN), a space for debate and training on political, economic, labor, gender, and social issues.
Within this space, our office for training and culture proposed to offer a series of workshops, open to all members, meant to accomplish three things:
- help us think collectively about national and international issues
- strengthen our skills as union members
- generate greater discussion within the day-to-day life of the union.
Members were invited not just to participate, but also to teach alongside a handful of specialists in their fields.
PRIORITY TOPICS
The program is structured around four main pillars:
- the International Labour Organization’s Convention 193, which is the first international labor standard on the platform economy
- understanding and interpreting our union bylaws
- technical skills for running a union
- organizing tactics
These were priorities for our union for a number of reasons. In June of this year, our union took part in discussions on developing the ILO’s Convention 193. This Convention is an important tool to help facilitate improvements to Mexico’s existing labor legislation, so we felt it was important for members to understand it.
The other three pillars are closely intertwined. A member who knows their union statutes can actively participate in the union—and those who take leadership roles in the union should know these statutes well. To avoid misunderstandings between union members and representatives, and to professionalize our internal processes, it’s important for all UNTA members to understand how the union is actually run. And to continue building collective power, it’s crucial for members to see themselves as organizers.
VIRTUAL CONVERSATIONS
Given how large and spread out Mexico is, and the nature of app-based work, we decided to run these trainings virtually. Some members join from their phones while they’re working; others take time away from work to engage with the materials. It shows how committed members are to keep growing and developing their skills.
So that workers can fit these workshops into their lives, they are held every three weeks. We’ve recently finished the first section (on Convention 193) and started on the second (understanding our statutes).
Each training is centered around four guiding questions. For example, in our workshops on union statutes and Convention 193, members have been encouraged to think about possible changes or improvements they’d like to see. At the end of each section, participating locals send the office of training and culture a brief writeup where they respond to these questions.
This approach has encouraged members to participate and discuss amongst themselves, offered valuable feedback for our presenters, and built members’ sense of ownership over the union. Importantly, these workshops are spaces for discussion and political analysis, where a variety of viewpoints are welcomed and not seen as an obstacle.
OPEN TO DISCOMFORT
UNTA takes seriously the idea that members should always be learning and growing. We feel it’s important to have conversations that can be uncomfortable at times, because navigating disagreements makes for a stronger union.
Members are encouraged to listen actively and have an open dialogue. A disagreement doesn’t mean that we’re enemies. Unions are political spaces, where people may not agree on everything, but are fighting together towards shared goals.
Luis Fernando Mora Reyes is the Training and Culture Secretary for National App Workers Union of Mexico (UNTA).
