Members from UE locals 1466, 1498, and 1477 gathered on October 25 and 26 in Las Cruces for their sub-regional meeting. In total, around 30 workers met at New Mexico State University, where Local 1498 members work, to discuss UE principles, how to develop new leadership, and how to use their locals’ bylaws and constitution as a way to build power.
Local 1466 steward Jadin Moore said, “Sub-regional was a great experience. I came back reinvigorated about organizing after hearing about the struggle of other workers across New Mexico and the values of UE. It’s exciting to be part of a community of workers who care about building power and fighting for something better.”
Friday was dedicated to on-the-ground organizing. Members descended upon campus to help build turnout for 1498’s upcoming action on November 6 by conducting walkthroughs in every department. Members also made over 120 phone calls at a phonebanking session. This was the first UE sub-regional event with a full day of on-the-ground organizing. It proved to be effective for all locals in attendance. Local 1498 Communications Chair Caroline Klocksiem said, “I loved how practical and effective this [meeting] was, and it was especially helpful regarding strategies for maximizing impact in a public sector local within a strike-prohibited state.”
Saturday opened with shop reports and lessons learned from the past year of organizing. Members then held several trainings throughout the rest of the day. This included a discussion led by UE General President Carl Rosen on core UE principles, a call to action by UE project staff Ryan Calbreath on the Green Locomotive Project, and a training on finding leaders by Western Region President Bryan Martindale.
For many members in attendance, this was their first time engaging with other UE members outside of their own locals. The meeting helped to establish relationships across the southwest labor movement where UE is at the forefront of building power. Garrett Shields, a Local 1466 steward, said, “I had a great time at the sub-regional! It was really good to meet members from other locals, and help support the grad workers at NMSU in negotiating their next contract. And it was awesome meeting some of the UE staff and leadership and learning more about the history of our union. We got a lot of important work done, and I learned a lot about [the Green Locomotive Project]."
Max Pagano, a Local 1466 steward, said that they enjoyed the in-depth conversations about organizing that they got to engage in with Local 1498 members and the hands-on organizing on campus. “I was also really excited to learn from UE General President Carl Rosen and Western Regional President Bryan Martindale about building and structuring leadership in our locals, and to learn more about UE's Green Locomotive Project too. My favorite part, however, was building community and working class solidarity with my fellow workers in New Mexico.”