How To Build Ties with Immigrant Workers

You probably already know that immigrant workers want pretty much the same things any unionized worker wants. A decent job. A living wage. Respect and trust. Some measure of control over their lives.

The other thing you should know is. . . .

Editor’s Note: As debates around immigration policy continue throughout the U.S., immigrant workers play increasingly important roles in the labor movement. Despite their growing numbers and their willingness to fight for respect and power on the job and in their communities, immigrants are not always welcomed by unions. Even when unions try to reach out to immigrants, cultural barriers of many sorts can stand in the way. This excerpt from A Troublemaker’s Handbook 2 provides some basic advice for union officers and activists who are new to working with immigrant members.

You probably already know that immigrant workers want pretty much the same things any unionized worker wants. A decent job. A living wage. Respect and trust. Some measure of control over their lives.

The other thing you should know is: Don’t presume to know anything. Forget stereotypes. Approach immigrant workers in an open, straightforward manner and see what you can learn.

Many immigrants may have as much to teach you about the labor movement as they have to learn. Some may have been involved in labor, political, or even revolutionary movements in their native countries.

Others may be professionals, doctors or teachers, but because of citizenship and licensing issues find themselves working in lower-skill jobs here. A surgeon becomes a taxi driver.

Here are some guidelines to working with immigrants:

First, immigrants are the experts on their own communities. If you wish to reach an immigrant community, you will need to have immigrants themselves involved in, and ideally leading, the effort.

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The immigrant community is not homogeneous. Upper class people or professionals can have goals that conflict with those of blue-collar workers.

PROVIDE TRANSLATION

Translate organizing materials into the appropriate language(s). Translate the union constitution and bylaws, contracts, health and pension plans, and the union newspaper, even though doing so may be expensive. Immigrant members cannot participate as equals without these tools.

Provide translation at all meetings or conduct them in the workers’ language. Translation can be a pain: cumbersome, time-consuming, boring, or irritating to those who are listening to remarks and responses (questions, anger, laughing) when they don’t know what is going on. Make sure interpreters are sensitive to those issues and familiar with union terminology. It may be advisable to temporarily divide groups and conduct separate meetings in different languages, but if you do, you should also hold joint meetings.

Be sensitive to religion and customs. To avoid scheduling conflicts, be aware of days and times of worship and of religious or national holidays. Be respectful of immigrants’ dress and other customs. Even when you are “just kidding,” you can drive members away from the union.

FIND KEY LEADERS

Identify capable immigrant activists and promote them as stewards, committee members, and spokespeople. Immigrants will take the union seriously as their own organization to the degree that they hold leadership positions. Note, however, that immigrants will resent being pigeonholed as ethnic spokespersons—they must become leaders in the union at large, not just one of its enclaves.

Respect immigrants’ right to self-organization. Any minority group may encounter discrimination or misunderstanding that may cause its members to want to meet separately. Immigrants should be able to caucus as a group.

Educate native-born members. Open discussion of issues like police harassment or racism may help other workers better understand immigrant workers’ problems.

Finally, remember that immigrants may be experts on more than their communities. Immigrant workers can help us understand the global economy. When workers from southern Mexico explain that they came to the U.S. because of the collapse of their rural economy, American workers may learn more about NAFTA than they would in a year of union newspaper articles.

This article was excerpted from, A Troublemaker’s Handbook 2: How to Fight Back Where You Work and Win!