June 22, 2006

Dear Legislator: 

We, the undersigned labor leaders and organizations, would like to respond to the concerns raised by the recent discussion in the media about immigrant workers in Massachusetts and the Attorney General’s role in enforcement of the federal immigration laws.

According to a recent study by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University, 17% of the state’s workforce in 2004 was foreign-born.  One in seven residents of the Commonwealth was born outside of the United States.  Without the influx of these new immigrants, our state’s labor force would have shrunk, forcing more companies to abandon Massachusetts for other states.
 

We strongly believe that requiring any role for the Massachusetts Attorney General in enforcement of federal immigration law will lead to increased exploitation of workers by unscrupulous employers and will severely undermine enforcement of the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws.  These laws protect and support the entire Massachusetts workforce.

The Attorney General’s office is charged with enforcing labor standards for workers.  Currently the Attorney General’s office is struggling to meet that mandate.  The proposals to divert the Attorney General’s resources to immigration matters would hamper his ability to enforce the real wage and hour violations.  In addition, creating a relationship between the Attorney General’s office and federal immigration authorities would strongly deter immigrant workers, even those with legal work authorization, from coming forward with complaints, thus allowing employers who violate the law to continue their criminal practices.  This would affect all workers across the state, regardless of immigration status.  It is clear that the nation’s immigration system is dysfunctional, but it is the role of the federal government, not each state, to fix that system in a way that protects workers and reunites families.

All workers, whatever their status, need to feel that they can call the Attorney General’s office when their employers violate their rights on the job.  If employees feel that they or their co-workers will be harmed by complaining, they will not report violations.  This will increase unscrupulous employers’ ability to violate laws and harm all working people. 

It is also unrealistic to assume that the Attorney General’s office could effectively and efficiently monitor which employers might be hiring undocumented immigrants as  proposed in budget amendment Outside Section 36G or other similar proposals. This could also lead to constant checking of documentation by employers and the proposed creation of a “hotline” to report employers would lead to discrimination and racial profiling of workers.  For this reason, we urge you to eliminate Outside Section 36G from the final conference committee budget.

Massachusetts has a longstanding history of being a welcoming place for workers from many nations, from the Irish, Italians, and Portuguese of decades past to today’s immigrants from around the world. As a legislature, we call on you to continue that tradition of making the Commonwealth a place where working families, no matter what their country of origin, can build a better life and continue to contribute to the economy and well-being of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

 

Sincerely,

Rocio Saenz,
President, SEIU Local 615

Peter Knowlton,
President, United Electrical Workers District 2

Paul Bouchard,
International Rep., Communications Workers District 1

Jose Soler, Massachusetts LCLAA

Russ Davis,
Executive Director, Massachusetts Jobs With Justice 

Tom Barbera,
GALLAN

Jeff Crosby,
President IUE/CWA Local 201

Mike Grunko,
President, SEIU Local 509

Mark Lohan & Tony Hernandez,
Painters District Council 35 

Mike Gagliardi,
Business Manager, Laborers International Union of North America Local 175

Mark Govoni,
Vice President & Political Director, UFCW Local 1445

Warren Pepicelli,
Vice President & Manager, New England Joint Board UNITE HERE

Marcy Gelb,
Executive Director, MassCOSH

Dick Monks,
Vice President & Organizing Director IUOE Local 877

Julie Pinkham,
Executive Director, Massachusetts Nurses Association

Willie DesNoyers,
President, United Autoworkers Massachusetts CAP Council

Ellen Wallace,
President, United Autoworkers Local 2320

Mike Fadel,
Vice President, 1199/SEIU