Dale Hathaway's history of the FAT is essential reading for anyone interested in unions and labour solidarity in Mexico. Organising in face of massive employer and government opposition and repression, the Authentic Labour Front represents an important development for workers and democratic forces within Mexico. Now, at last, there is a history of the political and philosophical origins of this remarkable insurgent worker and community movement. Dr. Elaine Bernard, Executive Director, Harvard University Trade Union Program A case study of how democracy - in workplaces and international structures--is the greatest source of power for labour movement activists. The dwindling membership of the labour movement in advanced capitalist countries is threatened by job competition against Mexico and other poor countries, where people earn pennies a day and environmental laws don't exist. But by supporting and learning from organisers like those associated with Mexico's independent labour federation FAT (the Authentic Labour Front), workers can find ways to win concessions from multinational corporations.