http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/may-day-marching-in-the-footsteps-of-chicago-immigrant-workers/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:48:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/may-day-marching-in-the-footsteps-of-chicago-immigrant-workers/#comment-102 stephan geras Fri, 04 May 2007 02:20:25 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/may-day-marching-in-the-footsteps-of-chicago-immigrant-workers/#comment-102 The debate about "immigration" is hot right now but I'm trying to compose a cool level-headed essay. Briefly, I take issue with the popular misnomer "immigration rights" for undocumented workers in the USA; more accurately these are migrant workers. Secondly, all workers, whether citizens, documented residents or migrants should be guaranteed job safety, workmen's comp, 35-40 hour workweek with overtime, paid sickleave and maternity leave and a wage commensurate with living standards in the USA. That's where rights end for undocumented workers. It's illegal to work here without permission and people who come here to make as much money as they can to enrich themselves elsewhere where the standard of living is far lower, without participating in any way in the social, cultural and political life of the land they emmigrated to, those same people trample on the won rights of workers here, namely the right to a living wage. Yes, the contrdictions inherent in this capitalist imperialist system drain workers of power and rights and suck the life out of work integrity. But that's not a problem for those who want to get a piece of that american candy made sweeter artificially; among those who flood the work market illegally, there's zero concern for the draining of wholesomeness that results from blatant abuses of labor rights. Perhaps the debate should be about labor rights and protections, not "immigrant rights". The debate about “immigration” is hot right now but I’m trying to compose a cool level-headed essay. Briefly, I take issue with the popular misnomer “immigration rights” for undocumented workers in the USA; more accurately these are migrant workers. Secondly, all workers, whether citizens, documented residents or migrants should be guaranteed job safety, workmen’s comp, 35-40 hour workweek with overtime, paid sickleave and maternity leave and a wage commensurate with living standards in the USA. That’s where rights end for undocumented workers. It’s illegal to work here without permission and people who come here to make as much money as they can to enrich themselves elsewhere where the standard of living is far lower, without participating in any way in the social, cultural and political life of the land they emmigrated to, those same people trample on the won rights of workers here, namely the right to a living wage. Yes, the contrdictions inherent in this capitalist imperialist system drain workers of power and rights and suck the life out of work integrity. But that’s not a problem for those who want to get a piece of that american candy made sweeter artificially; among those who flood the work market illegally, there’s zero concern for the draining of wholesomeness that results from blatant abuses of labor rights. Perhaps the debate should be about labor rights and protections, not “immigrant rights”.

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