FW: [NAIR_CC:4775] May 1st Welcomes AFL-CIO Change to Win Announcement
Rosendo Delgado
From: NAI...@googlegroups.com [mailto:NAI...@googlegroups.com]On Behalf Of Teresa "Tejana" Gutierrez
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 3:22 PM
To: may...@lists.riseup.net; NAI...@googlegroups.com; oct2...@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NAIR_CC:4775] May 1st Welcomes AFL-CIO Change to Win Announcement
For Immediate Release, Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Contact: Tatiana Bejar, Press Coordinator (917)597-6941
MAY 1ST COALITION FOR WORKER AND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS WELCOMES THE AFL-CIO AND CHANGE TO WIN ANNOUNCEMENT
Immigrants groups receive unanimous solidarity of major labor organizations
Announcement paves the way for Greater Solidarity
During deepening Economic Crisis
New York City—The May 1st Coalition salutes the support for a comprehensive immigration reform from the major labor federations of the United States. Yesterday, A.F.L.-C.I.O. and Change to Win, agreed for the first time to join forces to support comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for undocumented workers. This announcement strengthen the forces of May 1st Coalition in its preparation of the Immigrant and Workers Rally on May 1st at Union Square, a traditional rally that brings organizations, activists, and people in general who support immigrants and workers rights.
Teresa Gutierrez, May 1st Coalition Co-coordinator, said “Clearly, this wonderful expression of solidarity shows that workers of the US will not go along with fear mongering and dividing of the people. This is a very important step forward of unity of all workers in this economic climate.”
According to immigration policy makers, such as the Immigration Policy Center the federations’ announcement is a signal that the time for immigration reform has come.
Charles Jenkins of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and also a May 1st Co-Coordinator stated “It is crucial to organize and mobilize people in the streets this May 1st. Workers are losing jobs at an unprecedented rate. We need to build a movement that addresses all these issues.”
The May 1st Coalition has the endorsement of human rights organizations, unions, day laborerss, religious groups, women’s organizations and grassroots groups. The coalition is organizing a fundraising party this Saturday at St. Mary’s Church in Harlem at 7:00pm.