-day laborers -domestic workers -meatpacking unions -students as allies

-Day Laborers -Domestic Workers

-Meatpacking Unions-Students as Allies

What are day laborers and what do they do?

“Latino immigrant workers are a crucial part of Portland’s urban and rural economies, yet most

have little or no stability in their jobs” (Voz). Another term for day laborers is jornaleros. Thousands migrate through the city every

year. Exposed to unsafe working conditions. Most live under poverty level.

Problems faced by day laborers System encourages abuse Unpredictable employment

Issues with Day Laborers Day laborers can hurt local businesses Some harass women Harder to lease buildings Increased drug activity Sanitation problems Scare off customers

Day-labor sites, pros and cons Permanent day-labor site/center Sites can make wages too high Aiding and abetting illegal activity

Groups for and against Illegal Immigrants The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps The Oregonians for Immigration Reform VOZ: Workers’ Rights Education Project

Day Labor Sites The City of Portland unanimously

approved $200,000 of funding to establish a day labor site in 2007

Domestic Work- A Brief HistoryAccording to DWU, Domestic Work began back in

the time of slavery and has since become the work of the immigrants and minorities.

1450-1860: African slave trade provides labor that builds colonial economy.

1870-1970: Slavery abolished. Domestic work becomes “black women’s work.”

1970-2006: Immigrant women of color provide domestic labor that supports U.S. economy.

http://www.domesticworkersunited.org/media/files/6/homeiswheretheworkis.pdf

History of Exclusion

NLRA in 1935 FLSA in 1938 OSHA in 1970; Civil Rights Laws NYLL (New York Labor Law)

Domestic Workers United We have a dream that one day, all work

will be valued equally. Founded in 2000 is the Domestic Workers

United [DWU].

http://www.domesticworkersunited.org/

Home is Where the Work Is: A survey of New York’s Domestic Workers

http://www.domesticworkersunited.org/media/files/6/homeiswheretheworkis.pdf

99%

foreign-born domestic-born

% of NY workers who are of color

5%

95%

colorwhite

% of women workers in NY

93%

women men

55 60 65 70

DW

Their wages are cheap, but they continue to work in DW

In DW for morethan 6 yrs.Make less than aliving wage

Income Earners

41%

59%

Primaryincomeearnernot

http://www.domesticworkersunited.org/media/files/6/homeiswheretheworkis.pdf

National Domestic Workers Alliance

What is the National Domestic Workers Alliance?

What does the Alliance do? U.S. Social Forum in Atlanta Who is represented at the Forum?

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/07/09/national-alliance-of-domestic-workers-formed-at-social-forum/

International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) What is the International Longshore and Warehouse Union?

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/07/09/national-alliance-of-domestic-workers-formed-at-social-forum/

People Organized to Win Employment Rights (Power)

•What are the goals of POWER?

ILWU President Robert McEllrath and Barack Obama greet each other

Worker Centers Worker Centers- have grown from 5 centers

in 1992 to at 139 in over 80 US cities and 32 states

By Janice Fine, Economic Policy Institute Briefing Paper #159 (December 2005)

•What are Worker Centers?What are Worker Centers?•Who do Worker Centers advocate Who do Worker Centers advocate for?for?•What do Worker Centers achieve?What do Worker Centers achieve?

MLK and Everett in Portland

Domestic Workers- Nannies Lack of minimum wage compensation +

Lack of suitable working conditions + Lack of Health care = CHIRLA

Wages- The Argument Between Employer and Employee

The absence of minimum wage is often claimed to be compensated by room and board.

Gray areas of compensation exist.

Organizations of Domestic Workers Dispersed work locations Long work hours CHIRLA organizes and motivates

workers to exercise their rights

The Politics of CHIRLA Educating domestic laborers

of their unique situation Domestic laborers often

have a strong connection to the family (especially the kids)

The victories of lawsuits in favor of domestic workers have brought credibility to CHIRLA

Court cases are compromised when influential people who employ domestic workers are involved.

Progress! - Domestic Workers were reluctant to excersize

their rights.

- CHIRLA continues to work to educate domestic workers.

- Communication is key.

Immigrant Workers’ Rights Immigrant Workers’ Rights in the Meatpacking in the Meatpacking

IndustryIndustry:

Smithfield PackingTar Heel, NC

“They don’t kill pigs in the plant, they kill

people.”

Racial Segregation

The UFCW:United Food and

Commercial Workers

RICO:Racketeer

Influenced and Corrupt

Organizations

Smithfield Raid

Fighting for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Students against Sweatshops USAS organizes campaigns that seek to

improve wages for campus workers, be it a contract negotiation fight, an organizing drive, a living wage campaign, or any other student-worker campaign.

Student Farm worker Alliance worked to improve wages and working

conditions for people working in tomato fields

Coalition of Immokalee Workers The CIW has been at the forefront of

efforts to improve farm labor conditions, exposing abuses and driving socially responsible purchasing and work practices in the Florida tomato fields.

Conclusion: Change takes action

People mobilizing creates social movement

No human is illegal