March 11, 2008 8:39 PM
I just received this from the Long Island Civic Participation Project. I am having some problems with the program so it might look a bit like Greek in places.
SUFFOLK COUNTY NEEDS POSITIVE SOLUTIONS,
NOT MISGUIDED ANTI-IMMIGRANT AND ANTI-WORKER LAWS
Statement by SEIU Local 32 BJ, SEIU Local 1199, UNITE HERE! NYS Council and Laborers Local 78
Tuesday, March 11th 2008
Once again, we are very disappointed that the Suffolk County Legislature is choosing to spend its time and resources on yet another anti-worker, anti-immigrant and anti-community bill: IR No. 1105-2008, A Local Law to promote fair business practices by strengthening requirements for occupational licenses. Contrary to its name, this bill places an unnecessary burden on employers by asking them to take the role of federal immigration agents, facilitating discrimination against Latinos—whose economic contribution to Long Island has been demonstrated in a 2007 Adelphi University report—and diverting energy and resources from the real needs that Suffolk County residents face during these hard economic times.
We see the bill for what it is. It is nothing more than an attempt by some legislators to score political points by scapegoating immigrants. The elements of this bill related to the improvement in the working conditions of workers may be positive, but unnecessary, as they are already covered by state law. On the contrary, this bill could have a significant negative impact, as it threatens one of our most vulnerable sectors—housing—and may result in discrimination against one of Long Island’s important economic engines: immigrant workers. For this reason, we consider that this type of lawmaking is just distracting and not constructive.
Suffolk County and the nation as a whole are facing tough economic times, and this is not the time to play politics with people’s lives, but to get our communities working together in the search of alternatives that will improve the situation of all workers. If the Suffolk County Legislature is really concerned about workers it should focus on pro-active laws that uphold workplace standards for all workers—like enforcing minimum wage and overtime pay laws—and set a positive tone demonstrating that different communities can come together to build a stronger and better future. The cumulative effect of a series of initiatives targeting a particular group is division, fear and mistrust. These are not ideal conditions for advancing labor rights, civil rights or human rights.
Understandably communities in Suffolk County, like communities around the country are looking for a solution to fix this country’s broken and outdated immigration system. However, local initiatives targeting individuals will not bring about the solution. Instead, we call upon the Suffolk County Legislature to join us in calling on the federal government to pass meaningful immigration reform legislation that:
q Creates a path to legalization for hardworking immigrants
q Allows for the reunification of families
q Provides strong workplace protections for all workers and
q Protects the civil liberties and rights of all
As labor unions representing workers across Long Island, it is our responsibility to stand up for all workers regardless of their race, ethnic or religious background or immigration status. When immigrant workers are targeted and attacked, standards for all working people are put at risk.
SEIU Local 32 BJ UNITE HERE! NYS Council Laborers Local 78 SEIU Local 1199
Coordinated by the Long Island Civic Participation Project (LICPP). LICPP brings together labor unions and community partners to promote and protect immigrant and workers rights.
For more information contact:
Domenico Romero
Director
Long Island Civic Participation Project
m. 347.387.2841
dromero@licpp.org