The National Labor Federation (NATLFED) is a network of local community associations, run exclusively by volunteers, that organizes workers excluded from collective bargaining protections by U.S. labor law, specifically under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935. Although the groups affiliated with NATLFED have denied any political affiliation, some former participants say NATLFED is a front for the Provisional Communist Party of the United States, which has, in the past, advocated the armed overthrow of the government. NATLFED consists of several dozen mutual benefit associations and organizers who canvass in working-class neighborhoods and coordinate assistance programs operated by members and volunteers of the associations. According to the groups' literature, these benefit programs provide members with basic emergency food, clothing, medical and dental care, legal advice, child care, and job referrals.
Press accounts of the groups affiliated with NATLFED sometimes praise their social work,<ref name=Bazar>Bazar, Emily. "Migrant workers get refunds on rent charges" Sacramento Bee August 26, 2004</ref>Melendez, Linda. WFWA 'here to win, here to stay'. The Prospector (Yuba Community College). 2003-11-24. sometimes raise concerns about their lack of transparency,Berliner, Uri. "Labor Group: Saga of a Cult". East Hampton Star September 18, 1986. and sometimes condemn the organizations for exploitative treatment of volunteers.Russakoff, Joe. "Doorway to a Cult?" City Paper (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) June 26 – July 3, 1987.
Practices and beliefs
Strata organizing
NATLFED pursues a course of organizing based on the view of current membership leadership, who form Councils, which contend that since few U.S. workers are still employed in large-scale factory operations, new methods are needed to go beyond historic membership organizing tactics issued from the factory gate. Union workers are kept in separate bargaining units and not permitted to exercise time-honored methods of collective action based on community backing and mutual aid. As a result US workers labor for longer hours under more dangerous conditions for less pay and often without health and pension benefits. A new approach is needed. NATLFED organizations direct their efforts toward "unrecognized workers in the United States [who are] so far excluded from the somewhat dubious benefits of the National Labor Relations Act." The Essential Organizer, a manuscript describing the techniques of "systemic organizing", purports to teach participants an approach for unrecognized workers to obtain benefits that are needed and are rightfully theirs in a manner consistent with their best overall interest. At the same time unrecognized workers can materially see the benefits of organization in general as well as how to build their own organizations in particular.The only thing that really makes sense is the local community-based associations that reach unrecognized workers and unite them with current and former union workers, retired workers, local business leaders, professionals and others who share a common concern for the long-term future of our communities.
A 10-year lawsuit brought by members of Western Farm Workers Association residing in state-run migrant camps against the California Office of Migrant Services resulted in a monetary victory for the group of workers who brought suit under the legal guidance and practical organizing participation of Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals to recover illegal rent increases: "Without organization, we could never have gotten money back," said claimant José Rodríguez, a WFWA member in Yuba County and former resident of the Davis Migrant Center in Yolo County. "The State would have taken advantage of us. This is a real victory for farm worker independent organizing efforts."