Immigrant Rights
The United States is a nation whose history has been greatly shaped by immigrants; from the Irish and Italian Americans who flocked to Ellis Island in the mid-1800’s looking for a piece of the American dream; to the Chinese Americans of the late-1800’s who built the railways the created America’s infrastructure; to the Hispanic Americans migrating to the United States today due to economic situations created by American trade policy. Historically, these immigrant groups have faced a great deal of racism and hostility, and today’s immigrants are no exception. Immigrant workers currently face numerous challenges.
In Portland, Jobs with Justice works to fight for the rights of all workers regardless of legal status through uniting immigrant rights groups and the labor movement. Some of the immigrat rights organizations that Jobs with Justice partners with in the struggle for immigrant rights are Voz Workers’ Rights Education Project , PCUN Oregon’s Farmworker Union, Justice for Janitors , United Farm Workers , and PCASC . In 2006 Jobs with Justice was there when thousands of people took to the streets of Portland on May Day, to protest the proposed Sensenbrenner bill, and unfair treatment of immigrant workers. Jobs with Justice supports the mostly immigrant workforce at Three Mile Canyon Dairy, whose organizing campaign recently achieved a landmark victory .
Jobs with Justice has hosted a series of forums on labor and immigration to better understand the root causes of immigration. Through these forums we have addressed immigration to the United States as a trend in global migration due to free trade agreements and an increase in corporate globalization. We have also participated in training leaders about how to address the issue of immigration and global migration in their workplaces and unions.
In addition, Jobs with Justice partnered with Voz to support a legal observers volunteer base, in support of day laborers. We have also set up an emergency response network so that members can be mobilized to defend the rights of immigrant workers as they face harassment from government authorities and vigilante groups such as the Minutemen. Through action and coalition building JwJ strives to improve conditions for all immigrant workers. ¡Si se puede!
Get Active
If you are interested in geting involved in immigrant rights through Portland Jobs with Justice or seeing what other volunteer oppertunities are available fill out our Volunteer survey
