Tag: immigrant rights
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On a mission to organize immigrant workers
Read more: On a mission to organize immigrant workersLaunched in 1989, the California Immigrant Workers Association (CIWA) supported a number of break-through union campaigns with immigrant workers. David Sickler, regional director for the AFL-CIO, conceived of CIWA as a way to funnel support for the many organizing drives that developed in the wake of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. CIWA staff provided […]
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Pueblo, Unete! Vigil, March, and Mass for Immigrant Rights
Read more: Pueblo, Unete! Vigil, March, and Mass for Immigrant RightsIn the fall of 1993, conservative political operatives began circulating plans for an anti-immigrant California ballot proposition, what would become Proposition 187. Advocates of immigrant- and worker-rights raised alarms immediately, and mounted a vigorous opposition campaign. Voters approved Prop. 187 in 1994, but it was struck down by a federal judge. The fight against the […]
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“They embraced their cause 24 hours a day”
Read more: “They embraced their cause 24 hours a day”Three main ingredients account for the success of the drywallers strike. First, the determination of the strikers. They were not doing “strike duty”. They embraced their cause 24 hours a day and everything else became secondary to the strike. Additionally, the strikers were aware that they were being oppressed not only as workers but also […]
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APALA Founding Convention
Read more: APALA Founding ConventionThe founding convention of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) held in Washington D.C. in May of 1992. The organization’s first president, Kent Wong, had proposed the idea of establishing a national organization of AAPI trade unionists years earlier to AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland with working as a staff attorney for the SEIU in […]
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Stop the Cooperation between the Police and the INS
Read more: Stop the Cooperation between the Police and the INSA flyer announcing a protest rally and march organized by the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) in the fall of 1990. Formed in the wake of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, CHIRLA drew together organizations and activists from many communities to demand inclusion for immigrants. Reflecting growing progressive coalition […]
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“Trabajador Inmigrante” Conoce Tus Derechos! | Immigrant Worker: Know Your Rights!
Read more: “Trabajador Inmigrante” Conoce Tus Derechos! | Immigrant Worker: Know Your Rights!The Justice for Janitors campaign frequently used street theater to enliven their demonstrations and dramatize their cause. Among their most recognizable characters was a luchador named Mop Man, who (in comics and performances) defended janitors against abuses by the boss. In this flyer, Mop Man explains that employers may not require workers to present immigration paperwork, and […]
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Unions review impact of immigration reform
Read more: Unions review impact of immigration reformThe AFL-CIO published this information for unions and workers in the wake of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986. The law created a process for many undocumented residents to regularize their status, and the pamphlet highlights organized labor’s role in helping “undocumented workers attain legal status and prevent discrimination by employers.” In […]
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CODIL General Assembly
Read more: CODIL General AssemblyAfter years of fighting deportation sweeps in Los Angeles, activists associated with the Centro de Acción Social Autónomo (CASA) formed special committee to address workplace raids by the INS and to advocate for the rights of undocumented workers generally. The Comité Obrero en Defensa de los Indocumentados en Lucha (CODIL, or in English the Workers […]
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Claiming the right to full union membership
Read more: Claiming the right to full union membershipIn 1978 members of HERE Local 11 launched a campaign to unseat long-time union leader Andrew “Scotty” Allan. United Workers of Local 11 ran a multiracial slate of men and women committed to greater member participation in the 20,000 member union. Their candidate for the office of secretary-treasurer was Daniel Ruiz, a resident immigrant and […]
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Bert Corona explains the mission of CASA
Read more: Bert Corona explains the mission of CASAActivities of the Brotherhood of Immigrant Workers, C.A.S.A The purpose of the General Brotherhood of Immigrant Workers is to represent the real life interests of immigrant workers and their families. In so doing it has to fight for the real life interests of all of the workers since workers are in reality inseparable. This is […]