AFL-CIO: Crisis in Alabama: The Devastating Effects of State Anti-Immigrant Laws
On Nov. 16, a delegation of African American labor leaders traveled to Alabama on a fact-finding mission to investigate and document the impact of HB 56, America’s latest extreme anti-immigrant law. The delegation met with local labor, civil rights, faith and community leaders and business owners, who painted a stark picture of the real-world effects of the law. They also heard from those most impacted by the law—undocumented people and their families.
1. HB 56 impacts fundamental human and civil rights on a broad scale, not just immigrants’ rights.
The human consequences of HB 56 are devastating. It is disturbing to working people, to the labor movement and to our country that currently people are being disenfranchised in the state of Alabama and discriminated against.
3. The labor movement must be a strong voice on the side of justice for all.
The purveyors of hate would have us believe that anti-immigrant laws are about protecting jobs. These are the same forces that are trying to destroy unions by pushing anti-collective bargaining laws, undermining Project Labor Agreements and limiting the voting rights of working people.
5. The labor movement needs to develop a strong, rights-based response to these laws, and continue to push for immigration reform on the national level.
Business is already pushing its solution to the Alabama law: bringing back the convict-lease system. Tea Party Republicans have pre-filed a bill that would make it legal for private companies to hire prisoners to work on farms, in chicken processing plants and in manufacturing industries. It is very disturbing that elected officials are calling for the return of one the darkest periods in American history
http://www.aflcio.org/About/Exec-Council/EC-Statements/Crisis-in-Alabama-The-Devastating-Effects-of-State-Anti-Immigrant-Laws
Nice, but not surprising to see Labor take a firm stand against these state immigration laws, of which Alabama's is arguably the worst.
