Labor and immigration

First, check out this intense, fascinating short film by the Capitol Area Immigrant Rights Coalition (CAIR Coalition) about immigrant detention. This is a must see if you don't know much about it.

Immigration detention video (5 min)

Unfortunately, the labor movement has a mixed record on immigration rights. In fact, attitudes about immigration are rumored to be part of the reason the Change to Win group broke away from the AFL-CIO. There is a tendency among some union people and fans of unions to think that Labor should fight for union members, not for working people generally. This tendency fuels and is fueled by xenophobia and isolationism of the worst kind. It is also counterproductive; when unions allow immigrants to be criminalized, they are in too precarious a position to be organized. Relatively stable lives are a prerequisite to organization.

The credibility of unions is not built only on what they can do for their members, but what they do for everyone. If unions appeal only to self-interest, they will lose, because employers can (under the current legal structure) make it very painful to join a union. Unions must foster a broader sense of community and empowerment, one that is willing to sacrifice if need be.

This means fighting for immigrant rights, living wages, health care, etc etc.

The problem is that if unions spend too much on these issues without organizing, they will shrink into irrellevancy.

There must be a two pronged attack;
1. Political
A. fight for people, immigrant rights, living wages, etc.
B. fight for laws that enable union organizing
2. Grassroots
A. Organize the lower level service sectors of the economy; they need it most
B. Organize the expanding tech and professional/service sectors; unions need it most
C. Build community movements; unions must support churches, student activists, immigrant groups, and other allies in their issues if they expect to get support from the community during organization.

Certainly looks easy enough, but the challenge is in the execution. All supports of workers and democracy will be watching Cambiar para Ganar very closely.

P.S. The immigration debate is heating up fast, and the unions are helping to make sure the immigrants' voices are heard.