Illegal immigrants have the right to unionize, says L.A. Times edtiorial

Remember the raid on illegal immigrants working in the Agriprocessors meatpacking plants in Postville, Iowa, in May?

Nearly 400 people were arrested that day by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The raid was apparently one of the biggest of its kind and came after months of planning, according to this release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Now, a discussion over the right of illegal immigrants to unionize -- an action that Agriprocessors has tried to block -- raises new worries for people on both sides of the immigration debate, according to this Los Angeles Times editorial.

Three years ago, employees at the meat processing company's Brooklyn distribution center voted to unionize, but Agriprocessors would not honor the vote. The National Labor Relations Board ordered it to do so. Instead, it is petitioning the Supreme Court to hear a case arguing that illegal immigrants do not have the right to join labor unions. If it wins, the company's apparent business model -- using illegal immigrants until caught but denying them union protections -- could usher in a new era of worker serfdom.

This should alarm people on all sides of the immigration debate -- those who favor stepped-up deportations and sanctions against employers of illegal immigrants, as well as those who support increased labor and civil rights for immigrants. Should Agriprocessors prevail, illegal immigrants would be vulnerable to even greater human rights and labor abuses than they are now, and employers would have more incentive not to hire U.S. citizens, who have the right to organize.

Read the rest of the editorial on the rights of illegal immigrants to unionize here.

For more on immigration, click here.

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City

I

Comments

[Melissa]

Letting the illegal IMMIGRANTS (not ALIENS!) would be a SMART thing to do! I'm not just saying this because my father was deported almost one year ago, but because it's true! They take jobs that real Americans would never take just because they're not accepted anywhere else! Don't go around saying "Oh yeah those Latinos should be deported! They don't belong here with us. Most of them are just in gangs anyways," because Latinos are very well educated and are capable of ANYTHING! It is hard for us, but at least we know we're good people. Latinos are NOT criminals either! We don't turn to drugs and alcohol for acceptance or any stupid thing like that! I am proud to be a Latina from Central America! Yeah I was born here, but with all of my years of living, I know that illegal immigrants should have all of the rights that every other person out there does! This is so prejudice! And prejudice isn't a pretty thing people. I don't care if you think sending us back is a good thing, because it's not and even though the government can't see that, a lot of people are fighting for their rights today just as they did over one hundred years ago! THINK ABOUT AMERICA'S HISTORY AND COMPARE IT TO TODAY...IS IT REALLY ANY DIFFERENT BESIDES NO CIVIL WARS?

[AGAINST YOU]

I BELIEVE EVERY PERSON HAS THE SAME RIGHT AS ANY OTHER AMERICAN CITIZEN! IN FACT WITHOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THE U.S WOULD NOT RUN SUCCESSFULLY FOR THE FACT THAT MOST IMMIGRANTS MAKE UP VERY IMPORTANT JOBS! I MEAN HONESTLY IF THERE WOULD BE NO IMMIGRANTS THE ECONOMY WOULD GO MORE DOWN THEN IT ALREADY IS. WHO WOULD MAKE FOOD?
WHO WOULD TAKE ALL THE JOBS OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT FEED YOU EVERYDAY!?
MY ADVICE TO ALL YOU PEOPLE IS TO STOP GOING AGAINST IMMIGRANTS AND FOCUS ON YOURSELVES! WITHOUT IMMIGRANTS YOU WOULD BE NOTHING.
THEY HAVE THE SAME RIGHT BECAUSE THEY CAME HERE IN ORDER TO PURSUE THEIRE HAPPINESS, TO HAVE A JOB TO TAKE CARE FO THEIR FAMILY AND TO ALL THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AMERICA HAS TO OFFER.
THIS IS A FREE COUNTRY!
GET THAT STRAIGHT.KNOW YOUR FACTS.OR JUST DONT MAKE THESE
UNBELIEVABLE COMMENTS!!!!!!!!

[USA1]

You Sir, should be prosecuted for aiding and abetting criminal behavior. Illegals have NO RIGHT to employment in the USA. Those that assist them in breaking this law is engaging in criminal behavior.

I suppose you think murderers should be given guns and knives to do their murders.

You and the LA Times have lost all sense of sanity in your toxic illegal alien bootlicking agenda.

[miked]

You are right...they do have the "right" to organize...IN MEXICO,CHINA,IRAN,RUSSIA CENTRAL AMERICA and what ever THIRD WORLD they broke into the country from.

Let me remind you..Americans have the RIGHT to defend and protect the nation, THEIR jobs, schools and well being. Make NO MISTAKE, they will.

My advice to Illegal aliens, go back to where you come from before it gets nasty in here.

DO NOT FORGET THAT.

[American Patriot]

They are getting more and more rights and we are loosing ours. The more members the unions get the more money they recieve. It is all about MONEY. And Greed is destroyimg or once great country

[alamb]

the MSM should be ashamed of itself advocating for illegal aliens. For crying out loud what is going in our country. These people havee no standing asking for unions rights, they are not allowed to be here in the first place. Allowing them to unionize is basically invalidating their illegal status and opening the flood gates. And goodbey America and hello to "nueva americana latina"

[Shirin]

I am opposed to illegal immigration, and think we should step up deportation. However, we should allow them to unionize because our not doing so encourages big businesses to hire more of them in the first place. Similarly, I believe that illegal immigrants who are crime victims should be able to seek recourse through the courts as not allowing them to do this encourages gangs.

[kc]

Are you kidding me!!! These people have no right to ANYTHING in this country. Hire displaced American workers for these jobs and let the criminals go back to where they belong. These people are traitors to there country and a blight on ours. STOP PANDERING TO THESE CRIMINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[franks]

Illegal workers should not be employed in the U.S. in the first place so the debate is ridiculous. NO, they should not be allowed to unionize because they shouldn't be hired. Agriprocessors owners/managers were clearly aware of the illegality of so many of their workers and should suffer the criminal consequences along with those they hired and abused.

[Felaware Bob]

"...right of illegal immigrants to unionize..."

Where are they coming up with all the stuff about their rights? They are ILLEGAL ALIENS, for God's sake! They don't even have a right to be in this Country!

I believe the American taxpayers are fed up with the suckling of these ILLEGAL ALIENS. Just sucking us dry from the BILLIONS upon BILLIONS sent out of this Country every year, not to mention the BILLIONS upon BILLIONS the ILLEGAL ALIENS and their ANCHORS suck up every year. This must end now or we will soon be bankrupt and this beautiful Country will become a third world country.

Yes, get the ILLEGAL ALIENS out of this Country and back to their own country where they belong. THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO HERE!