For Immediate Release:
April 28, 2017
Contact: Armando O. Carmona: armando@ndlon.org, 323-250 3018

Immigrant Worker Advocates Call for Greater Protections on “Workers’ Memorial Day”

Immigrant Workers Push for Health & Safety Protections, CA Values Act (SB-54) to Defend Against Trump Immigration Policies

LOS ANGELES, CA (April 28, 2017) – Worker advocates held a press conference Friday morning at the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor to highlight worker health and safety and the need to protect immigrant workers’ ability to speak up about dangerous working conditions.

“Workers should be protected when exercising their rights and reporting dangerous health and safety conditions, workplace injuries, or wage theft. Safe jobs are every worker’s right” said Flor Rodriguez from the CLEAN Carwash Campaign.
Every day, about 13 workers die from workplace injuries, with Latino immigrant workers at a particularly high risk. Unions, worker centers, health and safety experts, and other worker advocates have seen a surge in fear from workers given the current anti-immigrant climate from the Trump Administration.

“Given the current political context and persecution of immigrants, bad employers feel emboldened to disregard labor regulations and the safety of workers. We must fight alongside workers that stand up for their rights.” Loyda Alvarado, Workers Rights Organizer, NDLON

“Today, on Worker Memorial Day, we urge the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency to show leadership in the face of the harmful and misguided policies from the Federal Administration. When immigrant workers are afraid of reporting poor conditions, all workers suffer,” said Maria Elena Durazo, General Vice President for Immigration, Civil Rights, and Diversity for UNITE HERE.

Advocates are highlighting the critical need for trust between immigrant workers and state agencies as spelled out in SB-54 (Sen Pro Tem Deleon– CA Values Act) – to prevent worker exploitation and to ensure safe jobs for all workers. And speakers invited the public to gather May 1st at MacArthur Park at 11 am in solidarity with worker and immigrant rights groups.
“Given the current political context and persecution of immigrants, bad employers feel emboldened to disregard labor regulations and the safety of workers. We must fight alongside workers that stand up for their rights.” Loyda Alvarado, Workers Rights Organizer, NDLON

Speakers include Maria Elena Durazo, UNITE HERE; Flor Rodriguez, CLEAN Car Wash Campaign, Loyda Alvarado, NDLON; Maegan Ortiz, IDEPSCA; Kevin Riley, UCLA-LOSH; Jose Ponce, a former Millennium Reinforcing worker; and David Huerta, SEIU-USWW on behalf of the May Day Coalition.

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