Labor and the Immigrant Rights Movement UCLA Labor Center

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Labor and the Immigrant Rights Movement UCLA
Labor Center
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Damon Winter, LAT, 5/1/06
Brian Chang, LAT, 5/1/06
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Immigration History

• America is a land of immigrants.
• More than 100 years ago, immigrants from Europe,
  including Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Russia,
  built some of the first unions.
• Today, most immigrants come from Latin America
  and Asia, and are following the tradition of
  working hard for low wages.

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• The 1990s witnessed the largest influx of
  immigrants during any period in American history.
  
• From 2000-2006, immigration accounted for
  approximately 45 of the change in the U.S.
  population. Immigrants today represent over 12
  of all U.S. residents.
• Immigrants compose an increasingly large share of
  the U.S. labor force and a growing share of
  low-wage workers.
• In 2005, immigrants made up about 15 of the
  U.S. civilian labor force and 20 of low-wage
  workers.
• About 22 million, or 68 percent, of the
  foreign-born were in the U.S. labor force in
  2005.
• Between 2000 and 2004 immigrant workers
  constituted nearly half of the net increase in
  the U.S. labor force.

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Robert Gauthier, LA Times 5/1/2006
Region of Birth of Employed Foreign-Born Workers
in 2005 Mexico and Central America- 37 Asia-
26 Europe- 12 Caribbean- 9 South America-
7 Other Areas- 8 U.S Census Bureau,
2005
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• 90 of new immigrants work in the private sector
  for wages and salaries.
• 28 of new immigrants work in the construction
  and manufacturing industries.
• Another 25 are employed in the
  leisure/hospitality and other services
  industries.

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• Of the 17.7 million foreign-born wage and salary
  workers in the United States, 1 in 10 are members
  of unions.
• The number of foreign-born union members has
  increased since 1996, while the number of
  native-born union members has declined since
  1996.

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Robert Gauthier, LA Times 5/1/2006
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AFL-CIOs Historic Decision to Support the Rights
of Immigrant Workers

• On February 16, 2000, the AFL-CIO's executive
  council unanimously called for
• (1) the repeal of employer sanctions
• (2) legalization for the millions undocumented
  immigrants in the US and
• (3) increased workplace protections for
  immigrants.

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• Linda Chavez-Thompson (2000) "Employers often
  knowingly hire workers who are undocumented, and
  then when workers seek to improve working
  conditions, employers manipulate the law to fire
  or intimidate workers. This subverts the intent
  of the law and lowers working standards for all
  workers. The law should criminalize employer
  behavior, not punish workers."

Rick Loomis, LA Times 5/1/06
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AFL-CIO Town Hall

• In 2000 the Labor Movement sponsored a series of
  Town Halls to announce their new policy on
  immigration.
• The Los Angeles Town Hall event drew national
  attention, filling the Sports Arena with 16,000
  immigrants, while thousands rallied outside. This
  historic gathering helped to build a strong
  coalition between labor and immigrant rights
  groups.

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Immigrant Worker OrganizingTime Line in
California

• 1988-1992- The Los Angeles labor movement
  launches the California Immigrant Workers
  Association (CIWA) to build an associate
  membership organization of immigrant workers
  linked to the labor movement.
• June 15, 1990- Justice for Janitors Campaign
  Janitors and supporters beaten in Century City
  during an organizing campaign. SEIU organizing
  campaign ended in a huge victory.
• July 1991- Following a wild cat strike at
  American Racing Equipment, 1200 immigrant workers
  join the International Association of Machinists
  (IAM), and win a contract.

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• 1992- Drywall Strike- Thousands of mostly
  immigrant workers from Mexico launch a massive
  strike among residential construction workers.
  2400 immigrant drywallers join the Carpenters
  Union- one of the largest organizing victories in
  the building trades in recent decades.
• 1994- March Against Prop 187- Over 100,000 people
  march in Downtown Los Angeles against the
  anti-immigrant initiative, the largest immigrant
  rights rally in the country to date.
• 1999- 74,000 home care workers in Los Angeles
  join the union, the largest union victory in
  decades. Most are women, people of color, and
  immigrants. Within 10 years, 200,000 home care
  workers are unionized in California.

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• February 2000- AFL-CIO changes immigration
  policy. Supports a new general amnesty, an end
  to employer sanctions and increased labor
  protections for immigrant workers.
• Oct. 2003- Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride
  organized nationwide bus trips, culminating in
  lobby visits in D.C. and a massive rally in New
  York
• 2006- Largest Immigrant Rights Marches in U.S.
  history held throughout U.S.

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Immigrants and Politics

• The large infusion of immigrants into the
  electoral arena has changed the political
  landscape.
• Eligible immigrants have become citizens and
  registered to vote in record numbers.
• The immigrant vote has resulted in more victories
  for pro-labor, progressive candidates, and helped
  to transform politics throughout the country.
  Communities of color and immigrants
  overwhelmingly support Obama for President in
  2008, providing the margin of victory.

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Immigration Legislation

• The last major piece of immigration reform was in
  1986, providing amnesty for millions and enacting
  employer sanctions.
• For 23 years, there has been no major change in
  immigration law, and 12 million undocumented
  immigrants living in the U.S. today face harsh
  exploitation and abuse at the hands of
  unscrupulous employers.
• Today, a labor and community coalition is again
  demanding Comprehensive Immigration Reform and
  passage of the DREAM Act.

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Labor Movement Support for Immigrant Rights

• Basic Principles include
• Legalization with path to citizenship for hard
  working immigrants.
• An effective and workable visa program for future
  immigrants.
• Keep families together.
• Protection of Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
  and an end to criminalization of immigrants.
• Support the Dream Act, to provide legal status
  for immigrant youth and students.

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