Southwest Workers Union was launched in May of 1988 in Hondo, Texas. The organization formed on the principles of community-based organizing to empower people of color, workers, the poor, and youth to organize and build power to speak for themselves to achieve dignity and justice. After the first five-year plan, the board of directors of SWU has been a member board composed of community leaders of SWU. Initially, SWU co-founders began organizing classified public school workers, who are stripped of collective bargaining rights by the state of Texas and constituted some of the lowest paid workers, in two districts in San Antonio. Currently SWU organizes in five San Antonio districts, Austin and a district in the border region to bring a voice to the working-class, to fight for dignity in the work place and to achieve a living wage for the workers.
The Hondo Empowerment Committee (HEC) also formed to focus on building leadership in the working-class Mexican/Mexican-American neighborhood to improve conditions for residents in the rural city of Hondo. In 1994, SWU was invited to North Kelly Gardens by residents who were plagued with health problems and concerned by the threat posed from 3 jet-fuel storage tanks situated on Kelly Air Force Base across the street from the community. SWU formed the Committee for Environmental Justice Action (CEJA) as a local of the union in 1994, and exposed the reality of environmental racism in the predominately Mexicana/o community. CEJA works to address the activities of Kelly Air Force Base that have poisoned the shallow groundwater under 60,000 working-class homes and left a toxic imprint on residents and workers burdened with multiple illnesses.
Youth Leadership Organization (YLO) developed in 1997 from children of members who attended meetings and events of SWU. The youth sought out their own space to address community issues and develop leadership skills. The YLO aims to strengthen the integration of youth and children into long-term organizing, intentionally engaging them in social justice issues within their community. SWU has hosted a youth summer internship program every year since. Youth are integrated into the board of directors, staff and core community leaders of the organization. |
