Immigrants and Labor Immigrants and Labor Organizing: Organizing: Perspectives from the USAPerspectives from the USA

Ruth Milkman, Ruth Milkman, UCLAUCLAThompsons Thompsons Lecture Lecture Cardiff UniversityCardiff University18 March 200718 March 2007

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background Contrasts between Past and Contrasts between Past and

PresentPresent New Immigrant Unionization New Immigrant Unionization Other Organizational FormsOther Organizational Forms Labor and Future U.S. Labor and Future U.S.

Immigration Policy/PoliticsImmigration Policy/Politics

Immigrants and Immigrants and Unions: Unions: Historical BackgroundHistorical Background U.S. always a nation of immigrantsU.S. always a nation of immigrants Labor movement has and had a strong Labor movement has and had a strong

immigrant component - in both immigrant component - in both membership and leadership from the membership and leadership from the outsetoutset

The greatest U.S. union upsurge (1935-55) The greatest U.S. union upsurge (1935-55) was in the era of immigration restriction was in the era of immigration restriction (1924-65), but 2nd-generation immigrants (1924-65), but 2nd-generation immigrants were key to 1930/40s union growth, and were key to 1930/40s union growth, and were its main beneficiarieswere its main beneficiaries

European Immigrants European Immigrants and Unions in the 20and Unions in the 20thth CenturyCentury

2nd-generation immigrants led the CIO2nd-generation immigrants led the CIO For them, unionism was a vehicle for For them, unionism was a vehicle for

collective social mobility and collective social mobility and assimilationassimilation

By the end of WWII, Jews, Italians, Slavs By the end of WWII, Jews, Italians, Slavs and other “ethnics” had become “white” and other “ethnics” had become “white” “American” and “middle class”“American” and “middle class”

New Deal era unions also narrowed the New Deal era unions also narrowed the gap between “haves” and “have-nots” – gap between “haves” and “have-nots” – The Great CompressionThe Great Compression

How Immigration is How Immigration is Different TodayDifferent Today Prior to 1924, there was no such Prior to 1924, there was no such

thing as an “illegal alien”; today thing as an “illegal alien”; today U.S. has 12 million unauthorized U.S. has 12 million unauthorized immigrants who can be denied immigrants who can be denied basic civil rightsbasic civil rights

Undocumented Immigrants Undocumented Immigrants in the U.S., 1980-2005 (in in the U.S., 1980-2005 (in millions)millions)

How Immigration is How Immigration is Different TodayDifferent Today Prior to 1924, there was no such thing Prior to 1924, there was no such thing

as an “illegal alien”; today U.S. has as an “illegal alien”; today U.S. has 11-12 million unauthorized 11-12 million unauthorized immigrants who can be denied basic immigrants who can be denied basic civil rightscivil rights

Countries of origin have shifted from Countries of origin have shifted from Eastern and Southern Europe to Latin Eastern and Southern Europe to Latin America (especially Mexico), Asia, and America (especially Mexico), Asia, and to a small extent Africato a small extent Africa

Unauthorized immigrants Unauthorized immigrants in the USA, by place of in the USA, by place of birthbirth

Mexico –56%Mexico –56%Other Latin America -- 22%Other Latin America -- 22%Asia -- 13%Asia -- 13%Europe & Canada -- 6%Europe & Canada -- 6%Africa & Other -- 3%Africa & Other -- 3%

(Pew Hispanic Center 2006)(Pew Hispanic Center 2006)

Immigrant Union Immigrant Union OrganizingOrganizing

Takes off in late 1980s/early 1990s, Takes off in late 1980s/early 1990s, with “Justice For Janitors” campaignwith “Justice For Janitors” campaign

Immigrant union organizing also in Immigrant union organizing also in construction, trucking, hotels, and low-construction, trucking, hotels, and low-wage manufacturing wage manufacturing

Successes initially based in California, Successes initially based in California, but later spread (e.g. Houston, Miami)but later spread (e.g. Houston, Miami)

Labor historically divided over Labor historically divided over immigration, though 2000 marked a immigration, though 2000 marked a shift away from exclusion and toward shift away from exclusion and toward immigrant organizingimmigrant organizing

Unionization Rates, U.S.-born and Foreign-born Workers, 2006

12.4%

9.8%

14.9%

6.1%

16.1%

11.7%

7.4%

4.7%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

Immigrants as Immigrants as “Unorganizable”?“Unorganizable”? Compare Pay/Conditions to HomeCompare Pay/Conditions to Home Sojourner OrientationSojourner Orientation Fearful of Deportation/ICE Fearful of Deportation/ICE

(especially for unauthorized (especially for unauthorized immigrants)immigrants)

Unwilling to take risks involved in Unwilling to take risks involved in union organizingunion organizing

Factors Facilitating Factors Facilitating Immigrant OrganizingImmigrant Organizing Immigrant social networks Immigrant social networks Collective worldviews:Collective worldviews:

“ “La union hace la fuerza”La union hace la fuerza” Shared stigmatization as outsidersShared stigmatization as outsiders Relatively modest risks of Relatively modest risks of

organizing: “There, if you were in a organizing: “There, if you were in a union, they killed you. Here, you union, they killed you. Here, you lost a job at $4.25 an hour.”lost a job at $4.25 an hour.”

Varied Immigrant Varied Immigrant Organizing FormsOrganizing Forms

Conventional union campaigns Conventional union campaigns Worker Centers, especially in Worker Centers, especially in

casualized sectors (day labor, domestic casualized sectors (day labor, domestic work).work).

““non-citizen citizenship”: immigrant non-citizen citizenship”: immigrant rights legislative and political advocacyrights legislative and political advocacy

Political incorporation Political incorporation (naturalization/voting) (naturalization/voting)

The 2006 immigrant rights marchesThe 2006 immigrant rights marches

Immigrant Rights 2006 Immigrant Rights 2006 MarchesMarches

Provoked by proposed Provoked by proposed Congressional bill to criminalize Congressional bill to criminalize immigrantsimmigrants

Labor played a role, but ethnic Labor played a role, but ethnic media and immigrant CBOs led media and immigrant CBOs led the mobilizationthe mobilization

Immigration Reform: Immigration Reform: Strange BedfellowsStrange Bedfellows Employers and unions agree on Employers and unions agree on

many issues:many issues:– Both want a path to legalization for Both want a path to legalization for

unauthorized immigrant workers.unauthorized immigrant workers.– Both want an end to employer Both want an end to employer

sanctions.sanctions.– Most employers and some unions Most employers and some unions

support a guest worker program.support a guest worker program.

The View from BelowThe View from Below

Many U.S.- born workers oppose Many U.S.- born workers oppose “amnesty” as well as guest worker “amnesty” as well as guest worker programs. They fear more immigration programs. They fear more immigration as a threat to their living standards. as a threat to their living standards. Many favor harsh anti-immigrant Many favor harsh anti-immigrant measures like those in HR 4437.measures like those in HR 4437.

Immigrants themselves – legal and Immigrants themselves – legal and unauthorized alike – strongly favor unauthorized alike – strongly favor reform and a path to legalizationreform and a path to legalization

Immigrant-Native Immigrant-Native Competition?Competition? Many native-born workers scapegoat Many native-born workers scapegoat

immigrants, especially unauthorized immigrants, especially unauthorized immigrants; they view immigration as immigrants; they view immigration as a cause of declining living standardsa cause of declining living standards

Some black-Latino tensions too, Some black-Latino tensions too, though many efforts to build bridgesthough many efforts to build bridges Immigrant freedom ride; Villaraigosa; SEIU Immigrant freedom ride; Villaraigosa; SEIU

security officers organziingsecurity officers organziing

Labor Divided on Labor Divided on Details of Immigration Details of Immigration Reform Reform SEIU and some other CTW affiliates SEIU and some other CTW affiliates

support ‘guest worker’ program as support ‘guest worker’ program as part of broad immigration reform part of broad immigration reform packagepackage

AFL-CIO opposes guest worker AFL-CIO opposes guest worker programs of all sorts programs of all sorts

This reflects contrast in memberships This reflects contrast in memberships more than any fundamental divisionmore than any fundamental division

AFL-CIO and CTW AFL-CIO and CTW Convergence Convergence Both sides recognize the potential – in Both sides recognize the potential – in

re both organizing and politics – of the re both organizing and politics – of the capacity for immigrant mobilization capacity for immigrant mobilization the 2006 marches displayedthe 2006 marches displayed

Competition unleashed by the split led Competition unleashed by the split led both sides to pursue relations with both sides to pursue relations with immigrant CBOs and worker centersimmigrant CBOs and worker centers

AFL-CIO and Laborers both forged AFL-CIO and Laborers both forged relations with NDLON in mid-2006relations with NDLON in mid-2006

Political ImpassePolitical Impasse

Republicans divided: Republicans divided: – The business wing of the party wants The business wing of the party wants

a path to legalization and/or guest a path to legalization and/or guest worker program – led by McCain!worker program – led by McCain!

– the Republican base favors the Republican base favors stepped up enforcement and stepped up enforcement and deportationsdeportations

Democrats less divided but happy to see Democrats less divided but happy to see Republicans demonized in the immigrant Republicans demonized in the immigrant community (thanks to HR 4437)community (thanks to HR 4437)

Both have their eyes on the Latino vote Both have their eyes on the Latino vote (not just recent immigrants but 2(not just recent immigrants but 2ndnd generation)generation)

Since the 2006 Since the 2006 Marches Marches Backlash: ICE workplace raids, intensified Backlash: ICE workplace raids, intensified

border policing, local anti-immigrant laws border policing, local anti-immigrant laws (breaching traditional firewall between (breaching traditional firewall between immigration control and law enforcement).immigration control and law enforcement).

Immigrant naturalization surge – 1.4 million Immigrant naturalization surge – 1.4 million applicants in FY 2007 (Oct. 2006 –Sept. applicants in FY 2007 (Oct. 2006 –Sept. 2007), double the previous year. 2007), double the previous year.

Increased voter registration: In Nov. 2006, Increased voter registration: In Nov. 2006, 70% of Latinos voted Democratic (while less 70% of Latinos voted Democratic (while less than half of white voters did so)than half of white voters did so)

National Labor-Latino National Labor-Latino Alliance?Alliance? In California, after Prop. 187 in 1994, In California, after Prop. 187 in 1994,

unions mobilized immigrants unions mobilized immigrants politicallypolitically

Some efforts to replicate that now on Some efforts to replicate that now on the national level, though the national level, though complicated by labor’s internal complicated by labor’s internal divisions over both immigration divisions over both immigration policy and Clinton/Obamapolicy and Clinton/Obama

McCain: the main threat to realizing McCain: the main threat to realizing this scenario?this scenario?