Local 11 Labour Movement

Words: 1788
Pages: 8

As mentioned previously, undocumented immigrants across the United States are denied basic labor protections in all fields of work, especially in manual labor. They are taken advantage of because for many, the fear of losing their job or deportation, is far greater than their need for the perpetrator to be brought to justice. For them, making sure they have a solid income to provide for their family and themselves is of the utmost importance and they are willing to make any sacrifice to make sure their family is safe and have a roof over their head. This is evident in the beginnings of the labor movement in Los Angeles, where there was largely a latino immigrant workforce, yet a significant portion of them not participating in the protests. …show more content…
The laws in this country do not protect migrant workers when they speak against injustice, especially in the workplace where they endure low wages and extensive workloads. Local 11 wanted to change this unfortunate reality, but knew that it would be a very challenging task to get workers to talk with union members. As a result of this, they initiated home visits where workers could freely communicate what they felt and gain the confidence to mobilize others. This was an important strategy to the movement because by Local 11 going into the communities of the people they were trying to organize, individuals could share their stories of exploitation and resistance and connect with one another on a deeper level. They learned of shared experiences and were able to uplift one another by speaking of the justice they deserved. Eventually, the hotel workers were able to surpass their fears, and mobilize support from their co-workers and communities as well as, “pressure the public and even the police to recognize worker’s humanity” (Wong, …show more content…
They are unable to freely move through spaces without the fear of what the government may do to them. In this current political climate there has been discriminatory legislation made towards immigrants under the guise of homeland security. Guestworker programs were created to monitor the individuals who come into the country, who otherwise would have had to sneak across the border to get in. This was introduced to civilians as an ideal arrangement because the “perfect visibility and legibility would mean that mundane migrant workers could be brought out ‘from the shadows’, while ‘terrorists’ could be identified and pursued” (Genova, 448). However, this simply allows exploitation as the government knows the exact whereabouts of every individual who come to work here and can simply deport them when they see it fit or necessary. In 2006, during the height of immigrants’ rights protest, new legislation was being proposed that would expand local police power over detention centers, deportation, and create new guestworker schemes. The stricter legislation was being done because “we live in an age where terrorists are challenging our borders” and we “simply cannot allow people to pour into the United States undetected, undocumented, and unchecked’ (Obama, 2006a). While the sentiment behind the idea is reasonable, it also introduces an anti-immigrant notion in American society. It allows for