In Support of Immigration Reform

WHEREAS, the current system of immigration law in the U.S. is a blueprint for exploitation of workers, both foreign-born and native, and is feeding a multimillion dollar criminal enterprise at the U.S.-Mexico border; and

WHEREAS, most immigrants come from countries where the international development process has failed, and many are from countries where International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and trade policies have weakened countries' economies and labor protections, causing a devastating impact on all workers; and

WHEREAS, judicial and public policies toward immigrants have created an incentive for employers to recruit undocumented immigrants for economic exploitation; and

WHEREAS, U.S. border control and security has been woefully inadequate in addressing the issue of illegal immigration, particularly in a time of heightened national security; and

WHEREAS, trade policies such as those instituted as a result of trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA have directly and severely caused the immeasurable and rapid increase in illegal immigration; and

WHEREAS, these failed immigration policies include guest worker programs that lower labor standards and working conditions for all workers within our borders, by allowing employers to turn permanent, well-paying jobs in the United States into temporary jobs filled by imported workers; and

WHEREAS, immigrant workers, like all workers, should be full social partners, and like all workers, deserve credible and enforceable rights; and

WHEREAS, all those who gain the benefit of a worker's labor, whether that worker is an employee or an independent contractor, must abide by all labor and employment laws; and

WHEREAS, wages and working standards of undocumented workers increased significantly after the legalization program of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, thereby raising the floor for all workers; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that any immigration reform law supported by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO must provide real and enforceable remedies for labor and employment law violations that are available to all workers, and that there must be a mechanism by which all workers can vindicate their rights without having to face restrictive standing requirements or meaningless regulatory hurdles; and be it further

RESOLVED, that any reform supported by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO should consider solutions to the issue surrounding permanent residency of workers who are currently in the country; and be it further

RESOLVED, in acknowledgement that our economy may face real labor shortages in the coming years, instead of relying on flawed guest worker programs, any reforms supported by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO would focus on revising the permanent employment-based visa system, in part devoting time to remove processing delays; and be it further

RESOLVED, that any expansion of the permanent employment-based visa system supported by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO would be subject to provisions requiring the employer to show that there are not sufficient workers in the U.S. who are able, willing, qualified and available at the time and at the place where the foreign worker is to perform the job; and be it further

RESOLVED, that any reform of Immigration laws must consider the root causes of migration, and must take into account the global economic policies, as well as U.S. foreign policy that are pushing workers to migrate; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that the President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO will transmit a copy of this resolution and other information to all relevant parties to demonstrate its ardent support for immigration reform.

Submitted by:
Robert J. Haynes, President
Louis A. Mandarini, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer