Workers to Kennedy: No to Guest-Worker Programs

Driving hours from Springfield, A-DP brought some 3,000 petitions demanding comprehensive immigration reform for delivery to Ted Kennedy. Among the thousands of signatures are those of union workers--immigrant and US born--collected from Western Mass. Their delivery action was moved up from the planned June date in view of the current negotiations in DC. Despite the resulting rush, six immigrant workers came prepared to tell their stories and present their proposals for said reforms. In their support role for this meeting, MIRA turned out other activists (ourselves included) on less than an hour's notice.

Working our way to the Robert F. Kennedy Federal Building in Boston's Government Center, we checked through the front desk security... a lengthy process as zippers (!) set off the sensitive metal detectors and laptops are booted up to confirm their authenticity. From there, our delegation of immigrant workers and activists rapidly ascended, hoisted by Schindler Elevator, to the top floor overlooking Boston's Financial District, North End, Harbor, East Boston and, indicative of the Senator's weight, the future Rose Kennedy Greenway (which runs atop the Big Dig, the US's most expensive single public project [other than war]). This left me thinking, "Hmmn, if the Senator could deliver the big bucks for the construction industry, hopefully something positive may come for migrant workers?"

The folks from A-DP are involved in their workers center and represent an effective empowerment effort that, in turn, is part of multi-million dollar cooperative structure pioneered over the years by their organization. (This was written up and described in Dollars & Sense magazine.) During our meeting, three A-DP'ers testified to Kennedy's aide of their support for the Senator and their expectation that he will stand for comprehensive immigration reform that sets immigrants on the road to full citizenship, protects their rights as workers, provides for family reunification, and that rejects guest-worker programs.

On the last point, the aide heared the rationale for our collective rejection of such programs: they create a multi-tiered workforce with super-exploitable, temporary, immigrant workers at the bottom. Joel, pictured below in the blue shirt, spoke eloquently to his experience in the construction industry... where prevailing wages are ignored by many employers and migrant worker wages remain stagnant at low levels. Joel underlined this by condemning the "race to the bottom" in employment.

While moved by the stories of my fellow immigrants and fortified by their resolve, I was somewhat less impressed by the response from Senator Kennedy's aide. He seemed to leave the door open to guest-worker programs while appearing genuinely sympathetic to his guests' perspective. My perceptions and ambivalence was mirrored by the interesting juxtapositions in the Senator's meeting room. The photos adorning the walls reveal a gregarious Senator who clearly enjoys yachting, indeed at least 5 or 6 of photos took the aforementioned recreational vehicle of the wealthy as their primary subjects. To be sure, however, there was also a lonely picture of Rosa Parks on the north-facing wall...leaving me wondering which Senator would be championing our cause. Unfortunately, little discussion focused directly on the current ICE raids, although New Bedford was mentioned.

After the meeting, per A-DP tradition, we did an on-site evaluation of the action. While most folks felt that the presentations were effective, there were mixed feelings about whether the meeting would have the desired impact on the negotiations in the D.C. Still, we did what we could with this tactic and certainly, A-DP gave the Senator what he needs (evidence of support for meaningful, comprehensive immigration reform). What he does with it, history will decide. Similarly, our elevator ride to the top of Boston's skyline will be ignored by history if it is not part of a broader push from below. That is the challenge we are taking up with our partners in the Boston May Day Coalition.