"They are the Experts:" a Workers' Agenda for Social Change in Mexico's Maquiladoras‪.‬

Abstract. This study explores theories of globalization and new social movements through the examination of an empirical case of the organizing efforts of maquiladora workers on the Mexico-U.S. border. The article is divided largely into two parts: a theoretical overview that introduces key notions surrounding globalization and new social movements, and an empirical research report that describes movement activities of a community organizing group called the Comite Fronterizo de Obreras (CFO, Border Committee of Working Women). The study demonstrates how grassroots organizing follows an internal logic based on the experiences of factory workers within the context of globalization that often goes unnoticed by scholars who rarely focus on the micro-experiences of the shop floor. The findings from the study demonstrate the relevance of models of globalization, flesh out theoretical accounts of new social movements, and illustrate consequences and limitations of grassroots organizations. Resume. This study explores theories of globalization and new social movements through the examination of an empirical case of the organizing efforts of maquiladora workers on the Mexico-U.S. border. The article is divided largely into two parts: a theoretical overview that introduces key notions surrounding globalization and new social movements, and an empirical research report that describes movement activities of a community organizing group called the Comite Fronterizo de Obreras (CFO, Border Committee of Working Women). The study demonstrates how grassroots organizing follows an internal logic based on the experiences of factory workers within the context of globalization that often goes unnoticed by scholars who rarely focus on the micro-experiences of the shop floor. The findings from the study demonstrate the relevance of models of globalization, flesh out theoretical accounts of new social movements, and illustrate consequences and limitations of grassroots organizations. The growth and influence of Mexico's maquiladoras--factories that import component parts, assemble them into finished products, and export them under favourable tariff schedules--have generated a robust range of books and articles across academic disciplines. This range of research has examined both the general evolution of the industry as a principal development strategy for Mexico and the specific topics of gender dynamics, labour rights, health consequences, and economic impacts, among others (e.g., Cooney 2001; Cravey 1998; Fernandez-Kelly 1983; Kopniak 1995; Pena 1987, 1997; Salzinger 2003; Sklair 1989; Tiano 1994). Despite the breadth and depth of the research into maquiladoras, scholars have not paid much attention to the strategies and practices of ordinary workers struggling to improve their well-being within the factory setting.