Labor and the Labor and the Immigrant Rights Immigrant Rights

Movement Movement UCLA Labor CenterUCLA Labor Center

Brian Chang, LAT, 5/1/06 Damon Winter, LAT, 5/1/06

Immigration HistoryImmigration History America is a land of America is a land of

immigrants. immigrants. More than 100 years ago, More than 100 years ago,

immigrants from Europe, immigrants from Europe, including Ireland, Italy, including Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Russia, built Poland, and Russia, built some of the first unions. some of the first unions.

Today, most immigrants Today, most immigrants come from Latin America come from Latin America and Asia, and are and Asia, and are following the tradition of following the tradition of working hard for low working hard for low wages.wages.

The 1990s witnessed the largest influx of The 1990s witnessed the largest influx of immigrants during any period in American history. immigrants during any period in American history.

From 2000-2006, immigration accounted for From 2000-2006, immigration accounted for approximately 45% of the change in the U.S. approximately 45% of the change in the U.S. population. Immigrants today represent over 12% population. Immigrants today represent over 12% of all U.S. residents.of all U.S. residents.

Immigrants compose an increasingly large share of Immigrants compose an increasingly large share of the U.S. labor force and a growing share of low-the U.S. labor force and a growing share of low-wage workers.wage workers.

In 2005, immigrants made up about 15 % of the In 2005, immigrants made up about 15 % of the U.S. civilian labor force and 20% of low-wage U.S. civilian labor force and 20% of low-wage workers. workers.

About 22 million, or 68 percent, of the foreign-About 22 million, or 68 percent, of the foreign-born were in the U.S. labor force in 2005.born were in the U.S. labor force in 2005.

Between 2000 and 2004 immigrant workers Between 2000 and 2004 immigrant workers constituted nearly half of the net increase in the constituted nearly half of the net increase in the U.S. labor forceU.S. labor force..

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

Robert Gauthier, LA Times 5/1/2006

90% of new 90% of new immigrants work in immigrants work in the private sector the private sector for wages and for wages and salaries.salaries.

28% of new 28% of new immigrants work in immigrants work in the construction and the construction and manufacturing manufacturing industries.industries.

Another 25% are Another 25% are employed in the employed in the leisure/hospitality leisure/hospitality and other services and other services industries.industries.

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.

Robert Gauthier, LA Times 5/1/2006

AFL-CIO’s Historic Decision to AFL-CIO’s Historic Decision to Support the Rights of Immigrant Support the Rights of Immigrant

WorkersWorkersOn February 16, 2000, the AFL-CIO's On February 16, 2000, the AFL-CIO's executive council unanimously called for: executive council unanimously called for:

(1) the repeal of employer sanctions;(1) the repeal of employer sanctions;

(2) legalization for the millions (2) legalization for the millions undocumented immigrants in the US; undocumented immigrants in the US; and and

(3) increased workplace protections for (3) increased workplace protections for immigrantsimmigrants..

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

Rick Loomis, LA Times 5/1/06

AFL-CIO Town HallAFL-CIO Town Hall

In 2000 the Labor Movement In 2000 the Labor Movement sponsored a series of Town Halls to sponsored a series of Town Halls to announce their new policy on announce their new policy on immigration. immigration.

The Los Angeles Town Hall event The Los Angeles Town Hall event drew national attention, filling the drew national attention, filling the Sports Arena with 16,000 immigrants, Sports Arena with 16,000 immigrants, while thousands rallied outside. This while thousands rallied outside. This historic gathering helped to build a historic gathering helped to build a strong coalition between labor and strong coalition between labor and immigrant rights groups.immigrant rights groups.

Immigrant Worker Immigrant Worker OrganizingOrganizing

Time Line in CaliforniaTime Line in California 1988-1992- The Los Angeles labor movement 1988-1992- The Los Angeles labor movement

launches the California Immigrant Workers launches the California Immigrant Workers Association (CIWA) to build an associate Association (CIWA) to build an associate membership organization of immigrant workers membership organization of immigrant workers linked to the labor movement. linked to the labor movement.

June 15, 1990- Justice for Janitors Campaign – June 15, 1990- Justice for Janitors Campaign – Janitors and supporters beaten in Century City Janitors and supporters beaten in Century City during an organizing campaign. SEIU organizing during an organizing campaign. SEIU organizing campaign ended in a huge victory. campaign ended in a huge victory.

July 1991- Following a wild cat strike at American July 1991- Following a wild cat strike at American Racing Equipment, 1200 immigrant workers join Racing Equipment, 1200 immigrant workers join the International Association of Machinists (IAM), the International Association of Machinists (IAM), and win a contract.and win a contract.

1992- Drywall Strike- Thousands of mostly 1992- Drywall Strike- Thousands of mostly immigrant workers from Mexico launch a immigrant workers from Mexico launch a massive strike among residential construction massive strike among residential construction workers. 2400 immigrant drywallers join the workers. 2400 immigrant drywallers join the Carpenters Union- one of the largest organizing Carpenters Union- one of the largest organizing victories in the building trades in recent victories in the building trades in recent decades.decades.

1994- March Against Prop 187- Over 100,000 1994- March Against Prop 187- Over 100,000 people march in Downtown Los Angeles against people march in Downtown Los Angeles against the anti-immigrant initiative, the largest the anti-immigrant initiative, the largest immigrant rights rally in the country to date.immigrant rights rally in the country to date.

1999- 74,000 home care workers in Los Angeles 1999- 74,000 home care workers in Los Angeles join the union, the largest union victory in join the union, the largest union victory in decades. Most are women, people of color, and decades. Most are women, people of color, and immigrants. Within 10 years, 200,000 home immigrants. Within 10 years, 200,000 home care workers are unionized in California.care workers are unionized in California.

February 2000- AFL-CIO changes February 2000- AFL-CIO changes immigration policy. Supports a new immigration policy. Supports a new general amnesty, an end to general amnesty, an end to employer sanctions and increased employer sanctions and increased labor protections for immigrant labor protections for immigrant workers.workers.

Oct. 2003- Immigrant Workers Oct. 2003- Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride organized nationwide Freedom Ride organized nationwide bus trips, culminating in lobby visits bus trips, culminating in lobby visits in D.C. and a massive rally in New in D.C. and a massive rally in New YorkYork

2006- Largest Immigrant Rights 2006- Largest Immigrant Rights Marches in U.S. history held Marches in U.S. history held throughout U.Sthroughout U.S..

Immigrants and Immigrants and PoliticsPolitics

The large infusion of immigrants into the The large infusion of immigrants into the electoral arena has changed the political electoral arena has changed the political landscape.landscape.

Eligible immigrants have become citizens Eligible immigrants have become citizens and registered to vote in record numbers.and registered to vote in record numbers.

The immigrant vote has resulted in more The immigrant vote has resulted in more victories for pro-labor, progressive victories for pro-labor, progressive candidates, and helped to transform politics candidates, and helped to transform politics throughout the country. Communities of throughout the country. Communities of color and immigrants overwhelmingly color and immigrants overwhelmingly support Obama for President in 2008, support Obama for President in 2008, providing the margin of victory.providing the margin of victory.

Immigration LegislationImmigration Legislation The last major piece of immigration The last major piece of immigration

reform was in 1986, providing amnesty reform was in 1986, providing amnesty for millions and enacting employer for millions and enacting employer sanctions.sanctions.

For 23 years, there has been no major For 23 years, there has been no major change in immigration law, and 12 change in immigration law, and 12 million undocumented immigrants living million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. today face harsh exploitation in the U.S. today face harsh exploitation and abuse at the hands of unscrupulous and abuse at the hands of unscrupulous employers.employers.

Today, a labor and community coalition Today, a labor and community coalition is again demanding Comprehensive is again demanding Comprehensive Immigration Reform and passage of the Immigration Reform and passage of the DREAM Act. DREAM Act.

Labor Movement Support Labor Movement Support for Immigrant Rightsfor Immigrant Rights

Basic Principles include:Basic Principles include:

1.1. Legalization with path to citizenship Legalization with path to citizenship for hard working immigrants.for hard working immigrants.

2.2. An effective and workable visa An effective and workable visa program for future immigrants.program for future immigrants.

3.3. Keep families together.Keep families together.

4.4. Protection of Civil Liberties and Civil Protection of Civil Liberties and Civil Rights and an end to criminalization of Rights and an end to criminalization of immigrants.immigrants.

5.5. Support the Dream Act, to provide Support the Dream Act, to provide legal status for immigrant youth and legal status for immigrant youth and students.students.