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A Tribute to CLR Founder, Trim Bissell

June 14, 2003

To CLR friends and supporters,

On the one year anniversary of the death of Trim Bissell, CLR's founder, we wanted to share some thoughts offered to us by his close friend in the struggle, Chuck Kauffman. Most of you on this CLR list knew Trim through his action alerts, writings and organizing talents and I know will honor his memory in this remembrance.

In Solidarity,
Severina Rivera
Director

Remembering Trim
By Chuck Kauffman

On June 15, 2002, the movement lost a great leader, and I lost a great friend.

Fathers Day, June 15, will mark the one-year anniversary of the death of Campaign for Labor Rights' "father" and founder, Trim Bissell. Trim was an indefatigable warrior for peace and justice. Trim founded CLR with the help of the Nicaragua Network in 1995 and it quickly became recognized as the "organizing department of the anti-sweatshop movement." CLR became an independent organization in 1998.

Trim's vision that Campaign for Labor Rights would follow the solidarity model, responding to the needs and requests of struggling workers, made CLR a unique and vibrant force in the anti-sweatshop movement. Trim would be extremely pleased to see that CLR continues to operate with that vision today.

Trim also saw Campaign for Labor Rights as an educational vehicle to reach people at a very basic level - where they only understood that they don't want to contribute to exploitation through their consumer purchases. He knew that by reaching people at that level, CLR could begin to help them develop a critique of capitalism, corporate-driven globalization, and US military aggression as root causes of the exploitation of workers.

When I visited Trim for the final time in early May 2002, he could no longer read or even speak very well. But he could hear and he could understand. He was very excited about the growing anti-war, anti-racism movement, which had just turned out 100,000 people in Washington, DC to support Palestinian rights and peace in the Middle East. Trim died before the truly massive demonstrations on January 18 and February 15, but I wore his jacket to both, so maybe he was there at least a little bit.

During his 20-month battle with a malignant brain tumor, Trim stayed engaged as an advisor to CLR and threw himself into producing sculpture to help ensure the financial security of both CLR and his wife, Ruth Evan, after his death. Besides his prodigious organizing abilities, Trim was also a sculptor and painter whose art is displayed in a number of galleries. This week Trim's wife, Ruth Evan, sent me a painting entitled "Poverty" that Trim painted in 1994. It is one of the most precious gifts I have ever received.

Thanks to Trim's vision, your steadfast solidarity work, and the bravery of workers struggling for life and dignity, CLR has helped achieve many victories for workers in the past eight years. Nike workers in Indonesia, Chentex workers in Nicaragua, PCUN farmerworkers in Oregon, all acknowledged CLR's solidarity efforts as a vital part of their victories. Since his premature death, CLR has continued to work in solidarity with worker struggles throughout the world - and to help them win victories.

Trim decided that he did not want a funeral or memorial service after his death. I think I do him honor by saying that those who would honor his memory make a contribution to Campaign for Labor Rights. If Trim were here he would say, "Cut this sentimental nonsense. There's work to be done and CLR needs money to do it, so just ask for it!" As a long-time friend and comrade, I can think of nothing more appropriate in recognition of Fathers Day and of Trim's contributions to the movement, than to ask you to make a tax-deductible donation to Campaign for Labor Rights. You can make a credit card donation through the Campaign for Labor Rights website or you can mail a check to Campaign for Labor Rights, 1470 Irving Street, NW , Washington, DC 20010.

In solidarity,
Chuck Kaufman
National Co-Coordinator, Nicaragua Network