Fuerza Laboral

What Fuerza Laboral does

Fuerza Laboral (also known as Power of Workers, and originally the United Workers Committee / Comité de Trabajadores Unidos) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workers' rights organization headquartered at 6 Chace's Lane, Central Falls, Rhode Island. The organization operates four interconnected core programs: the Worker-Owned Cooperative Business Incubator, which through the P.O.W.E.R. Network (People Owning Wider Economic Resources) coalition incubates and supports worker-owned cooperatives across sectors including construction, solar, floristry, nursery, birth work, coffee, books, and 3D anatomy; the Ending Wage Theft Campaign, which has recovered millions of dollars in unpaid wages since 2006 through direct action and legislative advocacy; the Popular Education and Leadership Development Program, which runs year-round workshops on worker rights, immigrant rights, and leadership; and the Justice for Immigrants Campaign, which organizes against anti-immigrant policies in coalition with the Immigrant Coalition of Rhode Island. An emerging Construction Finishing Trades Cooperative is being developed in partnership with IUPAT DC 11 Painters' Union as the first unionized worker-owned cooperative of its kind in Rhode Island.

Fuerza Laboral employs a member-led operating model in which workers who directly experience economic and racial injustice lead campaigns, advance through a defined leadership ladder, and represent the organization to legislators and external stakeholders. Programs are delivered free of charge through a physical worker center, community workshops, a twice-monthly Spanish-language radio program reaching over 20,000 regular listeners, and one-on-one mentorship. Funding is derived from foundation grants (including the 2023 Kelly Impact Prize from Social Enterprise Greenhouse), government grants (USDA), institutional loans (Cooperative Fund of the North East, used for the 2023 headquarters purchase), monthly recurring donor tiers ranging from $50 to $1,000, and modest annual membership dues of $27 individual / $33 family. Executive leadership comprises Executive Director Heiny Maldonado and Communications Director David Molina-Hernandez.

The organization's growth strategy combines legislative advocacy, multi-sector cooperative incubation, and institutional capacity-building, evidenced by 2023's felony wage theft law, the 2022 driver's license law for undocumented Rhode Islanders, the 2023 headquarters purchase, and a 2026 Community Organizer hiring signal. Geographic focus is Rhode Island with a broader New England orientation; there is no disclosed use of AI/ML technology, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Fuerza Laboral

Legal name

Fuerza Laboral

Website

https://fuerza-laboral.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Fuerza Laboral is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workers' rights organization in Central Falls, Rhode Island that runs a worker-owned cooperative incubator, an Ending Wage Theft campaign, popular education programs, and a Justice for Immigrants campaign, serving primarily immigrant and low-wage workers across Rhode Island.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workers' Rights Advocacy and Community Organizing Services

NAICS

Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (813930), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workplace & Career Integration for Immigrants (Credentialing, Job Readiness) (EDAAADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ), Labor Relations & Union Management Training (EDABAIAK), Labor & Employment Administration (Workforce Regulation & Programs) (BPAIAAAM), Dislocated Worker & Rapid Response / Reemployment Programs (EDAAAOAF)

Keywords

• Workers' rights advocacy
• Wage theft recovery
• Worker cooperative incubation
• Popular education programs
• Immigrant rights organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Central Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, Fuerza Laboral operates primarily on donations from the public and grants from foundations and government agencies. The organization purchased its headquarters building using a loan from the Cooperative Fund of the North East and a grant from the US Department of Agriculture.
2. Membership Dues: Individual and family annual membership dues fund organizational operations and programs. Individual membership is $27 per year and family membership is $33 per year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fuerza Laboral is a 501c3 nonprofit workers' rights organization that operates four interconnected programs: a Worker-Owned Cooperative Business Incubator that trains workers to form cooperatives in exploitative industries; an Ending Wage Theft Campaign that recovers unpaid wages through direct action and legislative advocacy; a Popular Education & Leadership Development Program that delivers year-round workshops on labor, immigrant rights, and job readiness; and a Justice for Immigrants Campaign that organizes against anti-immigrant policies in coalition with grassroots partners. All services are provided free of charge to workers.

Product overview

Fuerza Laboral/Power of Workers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workers' rights organization based in Central Falls, Rhode Island. The organization operates four interconnected core programs: the Worker-Owned Cooperative Business Incubator (which incubates and supports worker-owned cooperatives through the P.O.W.E.R. Network), the Ending Wage Theft Campaign (which recovers unpaid wages and advocates for stronger worker protections), the Popular Education & Leadership Development Program (which provides workshops on labor rights, immigrant rights, and job readiness skills), and the Justice for Immigrants Campaign (which organizes against anti-immigrant policies). An emerging initiative includes a Construction Finishing Trades Cooperative being developed with IUPAT DC 11 Painters' Union. The organization also provides digital literacy training in collaboration with Microsoft TechSpark and hosts a twice-monthly Spanish-language radio program reaching over 20,000 regular listeners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worker-Owned Cooperative Business Incubator A program that trains and supports workers to build their own cooperative businesses operating with justice and fairness, and assists existing businesses in transitioning to worker-owned cooperatives. Operated as part of the P.O.W.E.R. Network (People Owning Wider Economic Resources) coalition. Targets immigrant workers and people of color in exploitative industries.
• Ending Wage Theft Campaign An ongoing campaign that drastically reduces the incidence of wage theft in Rhode Island through targeted direct actions, exposing subcontracting as a mechanism facilitating wage theft, and passing legislation that increases penalties on employers committing wage theft. Since 2006, has recovered millions of dollars in unpaid wages and represented 60+ individual wage claims ranging from $100 to $30,000.
• Popular Education and Leadership Development Program A year-round schedule of workshops on worker and immigrant rights, leadership development, and job readiness skills including technology access and usage. Includes monthly Basic Workers' Rights Course, Workers' Compensation course, and RI Wage Law 101 course. Generates new membership and develops member leaders through a defined leadership ladder.
• Justice for Immigrants Campaign An ongoing campaign organizing the community to stand up against incidents, policies, practices, and laws that target or dehumanize immigrants. Works in coalition with other grassroots organizations to build collective power. Key achievements include the 2022 Rhode Island driver's license law for undocumented residents and executive orders ending ICE holds.
• Construction Finishing Trades Cooperative A construction finishing trades cooperative (drywall, painting, flooring) being developed in partnership with IUPAT DC 11 Painters' Union, which will be a union signatory. Represents the first construction workers' cooperative in Rhode Island. Targets construction workers facing exploitation through subcontracting and misclassification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Recovered millions of dollars in unpaid wages since 2006
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• P.O.W.E.R. Network (People Owning Wider Economic Resources)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA coalition of public, private, and non-profit partners that incubates worker-owned and -managed cooperatives. Members include Fuerza Laboral, Navigant Credit Union (financial counsel), URI Rhode Island Small Business Development Clinic (legal consultation), City of Central Falls (infrastructural support), and Center for Family Life in Sunset Park (experienced co-op incubator).
• Navigant Credit UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides financial counsel and services as part of the P.O.W.E.R. Network coalition supporting worker-owned cooperative development.
• URI Rhode Island Small Business Development CliniccoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides legal consultation to worker-owned cooperatives being incubated through the P.O.W.E.R. Network.
• City of Central FallscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides infrastructural support to the P.O.W.E.R. Network as a public partner, supporting the development of worker-owned cooperatives in the city.
• Center for Family Life in Sunset ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn experienced incubator for worker cooperatives that serves as a partner in the P.O.W.E.R. Network, sharing expertise in cooperative development.
• RI Building TradesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundbreaking partnership forged during the five-year wage theft legislative campaign. This alliance was instrumental in passing the 2013 Rhode Island wage theft prevention legislation and continues as a key coalition partner.
• IUPAT DC 11 Painters' UnionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to develop a construction finishing trades (drywall, painting, flooring) cooperative that will be a union signatory. This represents the first unionized worker-owned cooperative in Rhode Island's construction industry.
• Microsoft TechSparkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fuerza Laboral to provide free digital and computer literacy training for low-income immigrant Rhode Islanders, improving technology access and job prospects.
• Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuerza Laboral is a graduate of SEG's Nonprofit Innovation Lab and past participant in technical assistance programs. SEG awarded Fuerza Laboral the 2023 Kelly Impact Prize of $20,000.
• Immigrant Coalition of Rhode IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in the Justice for Immigrants Campaign. Fuerza Laboral and the coalition helped pass legislation allowing undocumented Rhode Islanders to obtain driver's licenses (signed June 25, 2022).
• We Are All Arizona (Todos Somos Arizona)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-state coalition of RI-based worker and immigrant rights groups. In 2014, secured gubernatorial candidate commitments for executive orders on driver's licenses and ending ICE holds.
• Rhode Island AFL-CIOflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor federation partnership for joint advocacy, co-hosted events (e.g., Eco-Encuentros with Climate Jobs), and mutual highlighting in media including Boston Globe Op-Ed for Labor Day.
• Mujeres PositivasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producing 'Know Your Rights' community events at Fuerza Laboral's headquarters, focusing on safety and popular education for members.
• Consulate General of Colombia in BostonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized the first Afro-Colombian Art Exhibition in Central Falls, RI (May 30, 2025) at Fuerza Laboral's building, commemorating Día Nacional de la Afrocolombianidad.
• Climate Jobs Institute (CJRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in organizing Eco-Encuentros (environmental job fair) events connecting Rhode Island unions with the community at Fuerza Laboral's building.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Jobs With Justice: National worker rights coalition that supports local labor committees on wage theft, immigrant rights, and coalition building; a broader incumbent operating in adjacent labor-advocacy space.
• AFL-CIO (Rhode Island / national): National labor federation with direct RI affiliate that partners with Fuerza Laboral; comparable in worker-advocacy mission but represents the established union-side incumbent in the same geography.

Emerging players

• Brandworkers: Worker-center organization helping retail and food workers form cooperatives; directly comparable in combining worker-center advocacy with cooperative formation, but at smaller scale.
• ICA Group: Nonprofit consulting and training organization that helps low-wage workers form and sustain worker-owned cooperatives; comparable in cooperative-incubation services but as an enabling consultant.

Direct peers

• Cooperative Development Institute (CDI): Regional cooperative development organization providing incubation, training, and technical assistance to worker cooperatives in the Northeast; comparable in mission and methodology.
• Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) / One Fair Wage: Worker-center model organizing low-wage workers in a specific industry to address wage theft, tipped minimum wage, and worker power; closely aligned in direct-action and legislative tactics.
• National Domestic Workers Alliance: National federation of worker-led organizations organizing domestic and care workers on labor standards and ownership pathways; comparable in member-leader structure and immigrant base.
• Make the Road New York: Multi-issue worker and immigrant rights member-led organization combining direct services, organizing, and policy advocacy; closely comparable member-leader model and immigrant worker base.
• Center for Family Life in Sunset Park: Experienced worker cooperative incubator and Fuerza Laboral's named P.O.W.E.R. Network partner; the most direct operational comparable for the cooperative-incubation model.
• Centro de los Derechos del Migrante (CDM): Worker-center-style organization supporting migrant workers on labor rights, wage recovery, and organizing; directly comparable in member-led advocacy model and immigrant worker focus.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fuerzalaboralri
• Instagraminstagram.com/fuerzalaboralri
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fuerza-laboral

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fuerza Laboral