This is just another attempt at political pandering to rally the masses and gain some type off leverage with government in order for special interest groups and social organizations to fill their coffers. The people on the streets doing the protesting may get a bone thrown at them for this but it will be the upper echelon of these Unions and special interest organizations that reap the full benefits, both political and monetary.
I have to admit though, I agree with this notion of exploitation, these so called immigrants are being exploited by the corporations and also by these Unions and special interest groups who profess to be looking out for their best interests. The difference is at least these immigrants are being paid by the corporations for their efforts.
Its the same old song.
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The We Are America Coalition Joins Hotel Workers in Holding the Largest Civil Disobedience in the History of Los AngelesOn September 28, 2006 the We Are America Coalition along with UNITE HERE, immigrant workers, religious leaders, community members, students, and immigrant rights leaders will march and hundreds will risk arrest to demand an end to the exploitation of immigrant workers. The march and civil disobedience will take place on the Century Corridor near the Los Angeles International Airport, an area with over a dozen hotels that employ thousands of immigrant workers. The protest will shut down Century Blvd. For several hours during rush hour traffic in the largest act of non-violent civil disobedience on record in the history of Los Angeles.Hat Tip: (Steve Frank)
Millions of immigrant workers in the service sector in the United States earn poverty wages without access to affordable health care. “We know that once immigrants are able to obtain legal documents to remain in this country, the exploitation of immigrant workers by their employers continues,” said Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. “Millions of immigrant workers are living in extreme poverty. This is reprehensible and needs to change.”
Patty Simmons, a food server at the LAX Hilton and an immigrant from Peru explains how despite working two full time jobs she struggles to make ends meet. “I spent three months separated from my husband and baby when we became homeless because we couldn't afford to pay rent. Now I work 18 hours a day and we live in one bedroom in a friend's apartment.”
We Are America and UNITE HERE's press conference to announce this historic action comes on the heals of an announcement by House Republicans that they will not support the Senate Reid-Kennedy amnesty bill and will pass a new legislative package to strengthen border security.
The immigrant rights groups will continue to focus efforts on legalization and to defend immigrants from legislative attacks but will expand their campaign to also address issues of discrimination and exploitation that immigrant workers face while in this country. “Congress is focused on passing legislation that does nothing to address the issues of discrimination and exploitation immigrants face in this country. We can not allow corporations to exploit immigrant workers for their own profit while hard working immigrants don't have enough money to feed their children, pay the rent, or access to healthcare,” said Angelica Salas, Executive Director of the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.