DREAM Act Students Want A Chance to Serve the Country They Love
 |
Even though her family came to this country legally and has followed the law, Kosa has been told she would be deported in less than a year. Despite years of hard work and achievement, she cannot become a citizen under current immigration laws.
Testifying today before the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on immigration, Kosa urged senators to pass the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act so students like her, who call themselves Dreamers, can give back to the country they love.
If passed, the DREAM Act would give conditional legal status and eventual citizenship to undocumented students who graduate from U.S. high schools, are of good moral character, arrived in the United States as minors and have been in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill’s enactment. The House passed the DREAM Act last December, but Republicans sidelined the bill in the Senate.
Trumka: Until DREAM Act Is Passed, Stop Deporting Our Future
|
Our elected leaders should act quickly to protect the interests of our nation’s youth and working people by enacting the DREAM Act and by bringing relief to these young people who continue to be jailed and deported, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said.
Trumka commended President Obama for pushing for the DREAM Act and called on the White House to grant deferred action and other measures to DREAM Act-eligible youth—”so we can stop deporting our nation’s future doctors, engineers and teachers.”
Republicans Shatter Hopes and Dreams of Young Immigrants, Block DREAM Act
The U.S. Senate this morning failed to break a Republican filibuster on the DREAM Act. The 55-41 vote fell five votes short of the 60 needed to break the filibuster.
In a statement last night, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said the AFL-CIO “strongly supports the DREAM Act,” and that today’s vote would “clearly show where each senator stands on the aspirations and values of the immigrant community and all working people.”
A yes vote will be a vote for justice and fairness and a no vote will be a disappointing endorsement of injustice and inequality.
The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act would allow children of undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship under a strict set of circumstances and requirements, including that students must either serve in the military for two years or attend college for two years. Trumka called those requirements “a win-win for our security and prosperity.” Read the rest of this entry »
‘Just Say No’ Republicans Sideline DREAM Act in Senate
Just hours after the historic House vote last night to pass the DREAM Act, the Senate voted today 59-40 to table consideration of the bill. This means the bill could come up again during the lame-duck session. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said having a vote now to bring the bill to the floor was “futile” because there were not enough votes to overcome a Republican filibuster against the bill.
If you’re on Twitter, take a minute to retweet this: RT @americasvoice BREAKING: Senate tables #DREAMAct in order to take up House bill. Call ur senators! 866-996-5161 #ri4a
The Senate version of the bill is different from the one passed by the House and the Senate may take the legislation up when it receives the House version as early as Monday.
Join Us in Our ‘Thanks for Health Care’ Rally on Capitol Hill
Tomorrow, more than 1,000 union members will deliver a short and sweet message to the U.S. senators and representatives who had the courage to take the side of working families over big insurance companies and vote for health care reform:
Thank You!
The noon Capitol Hill rally, led by the United Steelworkers (USW) with the support of the AFL-CIO, Utility Workers (UWUA) and SEIU, also will combat the lingering lies spread by Big Business Republicans about the landmark health care reform law that extends coverage to an estimated 32 million uninsured Americans.
The message contrasts with the often vicious and angry rhetoric characterizing the other side of the health care debate.
Speakers are expected to include AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, USW President Leo W. Gerard, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and workers and retirees.
Two Farms Agree to Better Wages, Conditions for Florida Tomato Workers
 |
|
The campaign of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to bring better wages and improved working conditions to Florida’s tomato fields took a big step forward this week.
Whole Foods Market announced that two of the largest organic growers in Florida—Lady Moon Farms and Alderman Farms—have signed agreements to implement the principles of the “penny-per-pound” program to improve wages for tomato harvesters. That means workers on those farms will get 72 cents to 77 cents for every 32-pound bucket of tomatoes they pick, up from 40 cents to 45 cents.
These agreements effectively break a stalemate that began nearly two growing seasons ago when the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange threatened to levy a $100,000 fine on any member who participated in the CIW agreements. At that time, two Florida growers who had been passing on the penny-per-pound increase under a 2007 agreement with Taco Bell agreement ceased doing so.
Although fast-food companies such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway and Yum! all agreed to the CIW principles, no farms in the area dared buck the Growers Exchange until now.
Bipartisan Bill Would Strengthen Guest Worker Rules
Under current law, unscrupulous employers are free to abuse guest worker programs by exploiting workers, driving down standards and, often, displacing U.S. workers. This hurts all workers and gives these employers an unfair competitive advantage over businesses that play by the rules.
Bipartisan legislation introduced yesterday would provide much-needed security and higher standards in two of the programs. The H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act, introduced by Sens. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), would enhance protections within these visa programs.
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney praised the legislation, saying it “makes progress in combating fraud and abuse within the H-1B and L-1 temporary worker programs.”
It’s time for our nation to put an end to employer abuse of these worker programs. Employers should neither be allowed to displace domestic workers nor intimidate guest workers and drive their working standards below those of the domestic labor market.
