Who We Are
The Greater Minnesota Worker Center (GMWC), established in 2013, is a dynamic coalition uniting low-wage workers, community and labor activists, academics, and progressive professionals. Rooted in St. Cloud, Central MN, amid a burgeoning population of over 15,000 recently arrived immigrant and refugee workers, GMWC focuses on catalyzing impactful change by advocating for economic justice, social justice, and immigrant rights. GMWC’s core philosophy centers on the belief that the empowerment of low-wage workers and their families necessitates multifaceted action both within and beyond workplaces. The aim is to secure comprehensive economic advancement, social rights, family-sustaining wages, and dignified lives for these workers through power organizing, leadership development, and policy engagements.
Since its inception, GMWC has been at the forefront of local campaigns dedicated to eradicating poverty wages and enhancing living standards across central Minnesota. GMWC’s leadership is steered by an inter-racial working board of directors, actively engaged in overseeing organizational operations. This board offers strategic leadership in program development and directs the implementation of activities, ensuring the realization of its organizational objectives and the meaningful impact of all endeavors. Together, we are committed to fostering a community where every individual, particularly low-wage workers, and their families, can thrive and achieve equitable economic and social empowerment.
Vision
Greater Minnesota of Worker Center envisions a community of powerful leaders building safe, healthy, and dignified workplaces and communities
Mission
Our mission is to organize and build the power of workers to win safe working conditions, livable wages, and systemic change in Greater Minnesota.
Core Values
These values guide our decisions and our work with the community:
Workers – Workers are at the center of all we do. We ask ourselves, if we aren’t doing it to organize workers, why are we doing it?
Organize – Unwavering commitment to organizing workers. We take every opportunity to organize, organize, organize.
Respect – We will not stop until all workers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. We tell bosses “respect us or expect us.”
Knowledge – We share our knowledge about workers’ rights and how to build power and take collective action to achieve our common goals.
Ethical Standards – We expect integrity, communicate openly and honestly, build trust, and hold each other in loving accountability.
Reliability – Workers can count on us to do what we say we are going to do–and we expect the same reliability from workers and community leaders.
Solidarity – We believe in the power of multiracial solidarity to change lives. Bosses will always try to divide and conquer us, but we know we are stronger together and united.
Join Our Mission
Become a Catalyst for Change
Explore our story and discover how we empower workers through multiracial solidarity and collective action. Learn more about our values, our vision, and how you can contribute to creating a fair and just workplace for everyone.