Consumer Pledge to Stand In Solidarity with Workers and Immigrants in the Pioneer Valley/ Compromiso de Consumidor para apoyar a los Trabajadores e Inmigrantes del Valle Pionero
Employers of the Pioneer Valley
To build the world that we are fighting for, solidarity is critical. On International Workers Day, the PVWC Northampton Worker Committee and staff collective are releasing this Consumer Pledge to Stand in Solidarity with Workers and Immigrants in the Pioneer Valley. Workers and their labor fuel our economy. They work in the fields to grow our food, and cook it in restaurant kitchens throughout the valley. They care for our children and elderly. They maintain our roads, offices, and buildings.
Their labor is powerful. It is fundamental to the growth and sustainability of our community. Capitalism relies on making their labor invisible. Bosses, employers, and corporations exploit their work and benefit from making their livelihoods disposable. Workers and immigrants are confronting unprecedented attacks. In the face of this, we believe that our communities must organize to build a multi-racial movement to abolish exploitation. We call on all consumers in the Pioneer Valley to sign this petition, demanding that employers uphold the rights and dignity of immigrants and workers.
Will you sign this petition and join our call?
[Español abajo]
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Sponsored by
To:
Employers of the Pioneer Valley
From:
[Your Name]
[Español abajo]
May 1, 2019
As a consumer in the Pioneer Valley, I care about the wellbeing of workers who sustain the local economy. By signing this pledge, I stand in solidarity with immigrants and workers across the Pioneer Valley, from Greenfield to Springfield, as they are a fundamental part of our community. I will use my purchasing power to stand in solidarity with local workers in their struggles for fair wages and equal treatment. In solidarity, I pledge to support worker-led organizing efforts to obtain justice.
As a consumer, I call on local employers to do the following:
FOLLOW EXISTING LABOR LAWS
-Follow existing labor laws and apply them consistently to all workers regardless of race, nationality, legal status, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.
Undocumented workers are entitled to the same labor rights as all workers. It is illegal to discriminate and/or exploit them due to their immigration status.
-Participate in training to learn about state and federal labor laws, and the rights of employers and workers during an immigration raid or audit.
The city of Northampton held one of these trainings last year. The PVWC will ask the city of Northampton to hold one again next year and publicize it to all employers.
STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH IMMIGRANT WORKERS
-Never retaliate against workers who inquire or organize on behalf of their rights.
-Never use Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to retaliate against immigrant workers
-Never fire undocumented workers due to their legal status
-Never fire immigrant workers due to the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH FARM WORKERS
-Employers must support the recent MA statewide Ana Arias-Villiano v. Chang Farm supreme court decision which gives farm workers who work in packing houses the right to overtime.
-Employers must share information with workers. Starting effective immediately, consumers will ask employers that follow this new ruling and allow farm workers to work and receive the overtime wages they deserve.
SUPPORT IMMIGRANT’S RIGHT TO MOBILITY AND SAFETY
-Support the statewide campaign to pass the Work and Family Mobility Act and make drivers licenses accessible to undocumented immigrants.
-Employers must sign on to a public letter demonstrating their support of the bill and stand in solidarity with their immigrant employees.
-Community members in the Pioneer Valley will call their legislators and members of the transportation committee and ask that they co-sponsor the bill, if they have not. If they are already co-sponsors, express your support in their decision to support the bill and tell them to stay strong in the face of retaliation from Gov. Baker.
-Community members in the Pioneer Valley will write postcards to state reps and ask that they support the bill, and/or stand strongly against Gov. Charlie Baker’s threats to veto this Bill. If you would like to host a letter writing campaign, you can collect postcards at the PVWC office.
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1 de Mayo, 2019
Como un consumidor o una consumidora en el Valle Pionero, usaré mi poder de compra para solidarizarme con los trabajadores y las trabajadoras. Me uno a la lucha para los derechos de los trabajadores e inmigrantes que son fundamental para nuestra comunidad aquí en el Valle Pionero, de Greenfield a Springfield. Como un acto de solidaridad, me comprometo a apoyar negocios con empresas que respeten los derechos laborales y humanos de todos sus trabajadores, y me comprometo a apoyar los esfuerzos organizativos de los trabajadores para obtener justicia.
Como consumidor o consumidora, pido a los empleadores locales que hagan lo siguiente:
SEGUIR LAS LEYES LABORALES EXISTENTES
-Sigan y apliquen las leyes laborales vigentes de manera consistente a todos los trabajadores, independientemente de raza, nacionalidad, estado legal, género, orientación sexual y discapacidad.
-Participen en capacitaciones para aprender sobre las leyes laborales estatales y federales, y los derechos de los empleadores y trabajadores durante una redada o auditoría de inmigración.
-Respeten los derechos laborales de los trabajadores inmigrantes e indocumentados.
-Trabajen activamente para combatir y prevenir el acoso sexual contra los trabajadores.
PERMANECER EN SOLIDARIDAD CON TRABAJADORES INMIGRANTES
-Nunca tomen represalias contra los trabajadores que solicitan u organizan en nombre de sus derechos.
-Nunca usen la migra para tomar represalias contra trabajadores inmigrantes
-Nunca despidan a trabajadores indocumentados debido a su estatus legal
-Nunca despidan a trabajadores inmigrantes debido a la cancelación del Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS)
PERMANECER EN SOLIDARIDAD CON TRABAJADORES DEL CAMPO
-Los empleadores apoyaran la decisión de Ana Arias-Villiano v. Chang Farm que le da a los trabajadores del campo que empacan productos el derecho a ganar tiempo y medio.
-Los empleadores deben compartir información con los trabajadores. Comenzando inmediatamente, los consumidores pedirán a los empleadores que sigan este nuevo fallo y permitan que los trabajadores agrícolas trabajen y reciban los salarios de horas extra que merecen.
APOYAR EL DERECHO A MOVILIDAD Y SEGURIDAD DE LOS INMIGRANTES
-Apoyen públicamente la campaña estatal para obtener licencias para inmigrantes indocumentados en Massachusetts.
-Firmen un carta como empleador declarando su apoyo público