Oct. 2000, Offices of the CFO in Piedras Negras, Coahuila
Gathering Without Borders or Barriers
Julia Quiñones-Gonzalez enjoys a moment of laughter with her partner-husband Oscar Gonzalez in front of workshop attendees in a community building exercise with U.S. allies from Austin, Texas, in October 2000. Julia has been coordinator for the CFO since 1996. This workshop on building solidarity included approximately 21 members of the activist group known as Austin-Tan Cerca de la Frontera (Austin-So Close to the Border) who bring delegations of U.S. residents interested in learning more about the workers' struggles in the Maquiladoras, as well as to support their ongoing education strategies for challenging abusive practices pertaining to wages, worker safety, health and labor rights wherever there are Maquiladoras. The CFO engages in "women's ways of organizing. " As Julia has stated: Our efforts to educate and to organize are based on the strength and determination that flows from every worker, every line, every plant.