Forum hears immigrant organizers

Leading organizers from immigrant worker groups in the New York-New Jersey area brought a message of struggle to the Workers World Forum in New York on Aug. 25. From the mostly Mexican and other Latin@ workers, the message was: “We are here for work because NAFTA has made it impossible to work for a living wage at home. We pay taxes. We work hard. We are organized and we will fight for our rights.”

The speakers also reported on a conference of day laborers that took place at Hofstra University on Long Island, N.Y., from July 27-31.

Among the speakers were Brian Barraza, president of the Association of Mexican American Workers, active main ly in New York City; four leading members of Casa Freehold, a solidarity organization in Freehold, N.J., that has fought for and won concessions for the mostly Mexican-born day laborers (jornaleros) in central New Jersey; and Heather Cottin, who has written about and supported the protests of day laborers and other immigrant workers in and around Farmingdale, Long Island, N.Y.

Sharon Eolis of the International Action Center also spoke at the meeting about her recent trip to the Philippines. And Dustin Langley of “No Draft No Way” reported on his visit to Camp Casey in Crawford, Texas, now a center of anti-war activity.

The forum gave an opportunity for the immigrant worker movement to speak directly with pro-socialist activists and to increase solidarity in the struggle for workers’ rights.

—Story and photo by John Catalinotto