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As a labor movement, we are used to those in power – the bosses and the politicians – trying to divide workers. And as a labor movement, that's why it is more important than ever to stand up for all working people. When we go to work, we do so with the expectation that we will be safe there. But as headline after headline after headline has shown us, for many workers – in California and beyond – that just isn’t the case. Under President Donald Trump, the Department of Homeland Security has significantly increased enforcement operations, including workplace raids happening across the country. The Administration has directed ICE to step up enforcement across the nation, despite heavy protests against such activities. California is at the center of this political fight and California labor is at the center of fighting back, as we should be. For decades, we have built workplace standards in state law to ensure that no employer can undercut California workers. Our laws apply to everyone in nearly every workplace: no matter their race, gender or immigration status. We have the highest minimum wage, strongest paid leave, worker's compensation, and misclassification laws in the nation. We are one of only two states that provide farmworkers with the same workplace protections and right to organize as every other employee. And, we have laws to hold employers criminally liable if they engage in intentional wage theft through misclassification or denial of wage and hour laws. These protections help ensure that employers can't easily just undercut California's workers by exploiting immigrant labor. Every worker is protected and all work is afforded a basic level of dignity. These protections, and the ability of immigrant workers to enforce these employment laws, have made California the epicenter of workplace raids. For weeks now, Los Angeles has been Ground Zero for immigration enforcement, most recently with feds raiding a Home Depot in Hollywood, prompting a swift reaction by protesters and outcry from many in the city. These raids have sown not only chaos but also fear. People are literally afraid to ride the bus or see the doctor because of ICE activity. Compounding the fear and uncertainty felt by many workers in California and beyond was President Trump’s uneven approach to enforcement. He initially directed ICE to step up enforcement of farms and hotels before changing his mind and ordering the agency to back off from enforcement at such places. But then he changed his mind again, and now once more ICE is conducting raids on farm- and hotel-workers. What does this mean for you? If ICE comes to your workplace, it is important to know your rights and what you can, and can’t do in response. The ACLU of Northern California offers this advice if ICE comes to your work. The California Federation of Labor Unions also will offer training on how to respond to a Department of Labor audit. Contact us for more information on that training. Now, more than ever, workers need to look out for each other. We will only get through this with the power of solidarity. In Solidarity, Lorena Gonzalez |
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