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Actions / Alerts The Background Story of the Indian Guest Workers 300 Indian Guest Workers are taking part in a hunger strike in Washington D.C. to protest the human trafficking and exploitation they have faced. The workers have faced horrible conditions and obstacles in their path to Washington D.C., and their plight continues even today.
In 2006, after Hurricane Katrina, 550 Guest Workers from India (mainly the Southern part of India) were recruited in India to come to the U.S. Gulf Coast and work as welders and pipe fitters. The workers were recruited with false promises that they would be given green cards and work-based permanent residency in the United States, and that they would eventually be able to bring their families from India to come live with them. In return, the workers were forced to pay $20,000 apiece in reliance on these false promises. In December 2006, the workers arrived in the U.S. and began working for Signal International, a major Gulf Coast employer which has shipyards in both Texas and Mississippi. Signal International had knowledge of the fraudulent recruiting scheme but did not stop it, maintaining that the scheme was not the company’s problem. After arriving, the workers were required to live in labor camps and faced dehumanizing conditions: 24 men were forced to live in each cramped room; they faced a barrage of racist slurs; they were given only 10-month visas; and the men felt incredible discrimination as they were segregated from all the other workers in the factory. In March 2007, the workers began to organize in order to protest the horrendous conditions they were facing. In response, Signal International sent armed guards to the labor camps, pulled the organizers out of bed, imprisoned them on company grounds, and attempted to deport them. 300 of the workers then went on strike that day to free the captive organizers. One year later, in March 2008, the 300 workers escaped from the labor camp and in April 2008, the workers walked from New Orleans to Washington D.C. to expose the harsh realities of the Guest-Worker program. This walk was in the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha. Along their walk to Washington D.C., the workers faced racism in the various states they passed through, and in once instance, some workers even had acid thrown at them. On May 14th, 2008, the workers launched a hunger strike in Washington DC because they still had not received justice. Their strike has sparked a criminal trafficking and racketeering investigation against Signal International. As of now, the demands of the worker’s hunger strike are three-fold: they want the U.S. Department of Justice to allow the workers continued presence in the U.S. so they may participate safely in the criminal investigation of Signal International; the workers want Congressional hearings, which they have won; and lastly, they want the Indian Parliament to prosecute the recruiters and create a bilateral agreement between the U.S. and India to prevent future guest worker abuses. Currently, Dennis Kucinich is circulating a letter to the Department of Justice regarding the worker’s wishes to remain in the U.S. 18 members of Congress have signed the letter, and grassroots supporters have written over 9000 letters to Congress on behalf of the workers asking for their continued presence in the country. The workers are requesting an adequate response from the Department of Justice no later than 5 P.M on Friday, June 13th. The workers are subject to immigration surveillance due to the fact that their 10-month visas have expired and are in a vulnerable state because of publicity they have received. Due to the Department of Justice’s lack of responsiveness, the workers’ lives are in limbo, and Signal International is continuing to do business while the workers are being punished. The response of the federal government has been infuriating for the workers, and they have been dehumanized. They came to the United States to fulfill an American Dream and live a serene life with their families; instead, the workers were harshly misled and are now victims of human trafficking and exploitation. Ultimately, the workers wish to not only remain in the U.S. and achieve justice against Signal International, but expose the global nature of trafficking as well. On Wednesday, June 11th in a National Day of Action, people from all over the country will gather at their local federal buildings to show their support for the workers who have been living their lives in torture for more than a year. For more information and updates, visit the website of the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice at www.neworleansworkerjustice.org. South Asian Network Bears Witness to Migrant Deaths on the US-Mexico Border In Solidarity…
By Nisha Dandekar (SAN Intern) June 6, 2008 During the week of May 26 – June1, 2008, South Asian Network (SAN) staff Joyti Chand, Prakash Ghimire and Hamid Khan walked in the 5th annual Migrant Trail -Walk for Life. SAN walked with 65 others in the migrant rights movement to bear witness to the thousands of migrants who have died crossing the border and to raiseawareness about the unjust policies of the U.S. government. The Migrant Trail - Walk for Life is a 75 mile walk on the Arizona/U.S and Sonora/Mexico border. It allowed SAN staff to walk in the footsteps of other migrant men, women and children who attempt to cross the border. This walk was sponsored by a coalition of more than a dozen organizations, including Coalicion de Derechos Humanos, No More Deaths, BorderLinks and Witness for Peace - Mexico. South Asian Network is a grassroots, community based organization dedicated to advancing the health, empowerment and solidarity of persons of South Asian origin. Fundamental to the mission of SAN is equality for all. SAN is working to improve the lives of the South Asian community, immigrants, and people of color. SAN staff had the opportunity to learn about the negative impact that immigration and trade policies have had on communities on both sides of the border. These policies include Operation Gatekeeper, passed in 1994, which has forced migrants to cross through the most dangerous and hazardous routes. Extreme hot and cold temperatures, lack of food and water, violence by bandits and border patrol agents, and animal/insect bites, all lead to high rates of death and/or detention for migrants attempting to cross. During the walk, the participants were approached by two migrant men who had been traveling with two women in a larger group when a border patrol helicopter spotted them and forced the group to separate. The men told the walkers that the women were unable to walk and ran out of food and water. Three walkers went back with these men but were unable to locate the women. The men feared that the women had been picked up by border patrol or bandits. Since 1994, more than 5000 dead bodies have been recovered along the border. Many more remain missing. One family has been searching for their missing loved ones for eight years, hoping to find them. This is common. Entire communities have been displaced from their land. Migrant women who are attempting to cross the border have increased risks of being sexually assaulted and raped. According to the organizers, about 90% of women begin taking birth control pills two weeks prior to crossing because of being raped and impregnated by border enforcement, coyotes (smugglers), or other people. The experience of the migrants crossing through the US/Mexico border resonates with many of the experience of immigrants from the South Asian community in the U.S. In the past several years there has been much debate in the South Asian community about immigration issues and policies. False messages are being spread in the community that there will be a large legalization program that will legalize people soon. Unfortunately, a majority of the policies that have been proposed by the U.S. government will compromise the rights and dignity of all immigrants and people of color in the U.S. If passed, they will further dramatically increase the current internal and external militarization and policing in our communities, such as local police and immigration enforcement partnerships, F.B.I. surveillances, warrant less wiretapping, increase numbers of detention centers being built, more reasons to deport non-citizens, and will give power to local law enforcement to ask for immigration status. Although the media and politicians are giving this false message that a full legalization program is under way and that the immigration debate only impacts Latinos, we know that the South Asian community and other people of color will continue to be negatively impacted across the board by this militarization. Participating in The Migrant Trail – Walk for Life was a stark reminder of our own history of colonial oppression and affirmed SAN’s position against supporting any policy that would lead to increase militarization and more death on the border, reduction of immigrant rights, and increased deportation of immigrants. As a community, we must not compromise! For more information about the
Migrant Trail – Walk for Life, please contact:
A grassroots community-based organization dedicated to promoting the health, empowerment, and solidarity of persons of South Asian origin SAN Urges you to Vote NO on Prop 98, and YES on Prop 99 Through a new proposition on the June 3rd ballot, Proposition 98, over 620,000 tenants in Los Angeles are in jeopardy of losing their basic housing rights. Prop 98, or what has been popularly called “the landlord’s hidden agenda scheme,” claims that it is about eminent domain reform. In reality, Prop 98 will remove rent control throughout California. Rent control in Los Angeles, or rent stabilization, is supposed to provide tenants with basic rights. Firstly, apartment management companies can only increase a tenant’s rent once a year, at a fixed rate. A fixed rent increase offers protections for many of our community members who are working-class, immigrant, fixed-income senior citizen, disabled, as well as single-income women’s households who rely on affordable housing for a place to live. Secondly, rent control also protects a tenant beyond rent increase. It prevents unfair evictions. Landlords and managers must have just cause in order to evict a tenant from their apartment in a rent-controlled unit. Under rent control, retaliatory evictions against tenants requesting building safety, repaired leaks, and inquiring against unfair charges illegal. Now, even with rent control, many South Asians face harassment, discrimination and unfair evictions. However, if Prop 98 passes, it will be even more difficult for community members to find safe, affordable housing. South Asian Network (SAN) urges you to vote No to Proposition 98 as it will deeply harm many working-class immigrant and communities of color who rely on affordable housing in the Los Angeles area. In the case of an already gentrifying Koreatown, the loss of existing affordable housing will devastate the many South Asian and Bangladeshi families living in Little Dhaka. Prop 98 also ends inclusionary housing (a law that requires developers to give a percentage of rooms or funds for affordable housing) as well as affects current environmental protections. Prop 99, instead, offers a plan to reform eminent domain to protect single family homes, while preserving rent control and affordable housing. On June 3rd, SAN urges you to join a broad coalition of tenant’s rights, labor, senior citizen and environmental groups in noting NO on Prop 98 and YES on Prop 99. For more information visit http://www.noprop98.org/ or call Coalition for Economic Survival at (213) 252-4411.
18173 Pioneer Blvd. Suite I
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Artesia, CA 90701
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Phone (562) 403-0488
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(800) 281-8111·
Fax (562) 403-0487 Day of Protest It’s International Worker’s Day!!! By Joyti Chand (Civil Rights Unit at SAN)
“International Worker’s Day” or “May Day” is a day to celebrate the social and economic achievements of the International Labor Movement. Throughout the world, millions of working people, unions and communities of color, go to the streets to protest against worker exploitation and abuse. International Worker’s Day commemorates the Haymarket Riot of May 4th, 1886 in Chicago. On this day, Chicago Police dispersed and attacked a group of people attending a meeting in support of striking workers. Recognizing the Haymarket Riots in Paris on July 1889, the Second International declared May 1st as International Worker’s Day. The Second International also initiated an international campaign for an 8 hour work day. The United States does not respect this day as an official holiday and day of solidarity for workers.
Since it’s formation in 1990,
South Asian Network (SAN) has worked with low income immigrants,
survivors of violence and other marginalized members of the South Asian
community, working in the taxi and hotel industries, convenience stores,
and in “Little India” on Pioneer Blvd. Many of these community members
have been displaced from their country of origin because of war,
poverty, lack of opportunities, and state violence. They are working in
difficult conditions and are exploited because of their immigration
status, language problems, age and other barriers. Often times, workers
are working 10-14 hrs/day without meal and/or rest periods, are paid
less than minimum wage, receive no health benefits and are working in
unsafe/unhealthy working conditions. Part III: May Day Protests Report Backs
On Thursday, May 1st, 2008, at 10a.m., SAN and the community marched and rallied on Pioneer Blvd. to demand an end to the exploitation and abuse of workers in our community. This was the first demonstration on Pioneer Blvd., on May Day. The marchers on the streets chanted loudly, “the workers united, will never be defeated!” and “inqalaab zindabad!” When asked about his participation at this historic rally, Ms. Lamu Stadler, a community member said, “We should send this message to the owners who run their businesses around here [on Pioneer] so that they know about the power of [our] unity”. The community then joined thousands of other voices at the larger May Day march in Downtown, Los Angeles. Ms. Uma Thapa from Nepal, former worker and organizer against Ziba Beauty Center, addressed a crowd over 20,000 strong, stating “unfortunately, for all of us working now, our rights continue to be violated…To fight that, we need to come together…As immigrants from all over the world, we demand an end to the violations of our dignity and humanity”. Furthermore, Mr. Sentayehu Silassie, an immigrant from Ethiopia and coordinator with the Los Angeles Taxi Workers Alliance, said that “it was great to see people of diverse backgrounds…It made me feel very good and energized”. Mr. Silassie ended his address to the crowd with an old Amharic expression ofunity meaning “single threads coming together can also tie a lion”. Following these two huge public events, SAN joined CopWatch L.A. in McCarther Park from 5-10:30pm to speak out about the L.A. Police Department’s brutality last year on May Day against the community in the park.
Part III: What are our demands and points of solidarity? South Asian community members continue to suffer from police abuse, anti-immigrant policies, hate crime, no health care and other abuses. On May Day, we are also organizing against these abuses, repression by the State, and are in solidarity with other people of color, immigrants and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer & Questioning people (LGBTIQ). SAN is marching in solidarity with the “Allies Collective” in Los Angeles, CA. This collective consists of grassroots organizations that work with people who are incarcerated by immigration and the police, immigrant workers, LGBTIQ people, women, youth, and other sectors of our communities. We Refuse to Compromise! We call for:
Dream a World with Real Security Bread, Beds and Books not Bars One World
Let’s Be United
The American Dream is a Lie
We Survived Last Year and We’re Back Take Action! Get Involved! Support the Workers! To support workers on Pioneer Blvd. and 7-11 convenience stores, please sign our community petition either on our website or by contacting us directly. To get more information about SAN’s work, you can contact us by mail at 18173 South Pioneer Blvd., Suite I, Artesia, CA 90701 or by phone at 562-403-0488. You can also log onto www.southasiannetwork.org. HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL!!! END POLICE & IMMIGRATION REPRESSION!!!
JUSTICE FOR WORKERS * Allies Collective consists of the following organizations: Garment Worker Center, Homies Unidos, Khmer Girls in Action, South Asian Network and Youth Justice Coalition.
BIG VICTORY for ZibA
Workers!!!
On February 25, 2008 Ziba Beauty Center workers claimed a huge victory when the center’s representative stated that Ziba will not enforce harsh non-compete provisions in its 2005 and 2008 employee contracts. Furthermore, Ziba Beauty Center acknowledged that the arts of applying Henna and Threading are NOT propriety trade secrets. Ziba admits that these arts are cultural traditions that have existed in our communities for hundreds of years – LONG before Ziba existed. In January 2008, five courageous Ziba workers were fired for refusing to sign an employment contract that contained unacceptable non-compete and trade secret provisions. On January 15th, 2008 the “Ziba 5”, South Asian Network (SAN) and the community protested in front of Ziba Beauty Center demanding an end to severe harassment by Ziba management and bad working conditions. Among their top demands was the elimination of contract provisions that attempted to stop them from working at other salons or opening their own business after leaving Ziba. With the help of Deborah Drooz Esq., Attorney at Law with the law firm of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, workers who leave Ziba have the right to work for others or in their own Henna and Threading businesses. ZIBA is one of Los Angeles’s largest corporate beauty salons which specializes in mehndi (henna) and threading.
After 2 months of challenging Ziba’s de-humanizing practices, Ziba Beauty Center has agreed to the following: o Ziba will completely throw
out its 2008 contract.
“Ziba 5”, After weeks of intense battle with the management of Ziba Beauty Center and determined to exercise their rights to work freely anywhere, four of the five women, Bishnu Shahani, Payal Modi, Uma Thapa and Indira Carreon worked together to open their own beauty salon, “WOW Beauty Center” located at 10836 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, 90232. Wow Beauty Center opened its doors to the public officially on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008. All four women provide facials, threading, waxing, body massage and other services for their customers. To visit their salon and support their work, call Wow Beauty Center directly at 310-559-1900. When asked about their victories, Uma enthusiastically states that “it is a victory for everyone, for all workers at Ziba. This shows us, when we stand together, we can do anything. It is a lesson for the owners that when workers come together and fight for their rights, they will win!” Jyoti Parmar, who decided to work in another beauty center remarks that she is very happy because “we are finally free to work anywhere we want to!” South Asian Network asks the community to support these women in their fight to be self determined and work under conditions that promote dignity and respect for all workers. To find out more information about SAN’s work with worker rights issues and the “Ziba 5”, contact us at 562-403-0488 or visit our office at 18173 South Pioneer Blvd., Suite I, Artesia, CA 90701. South Asian Network is a Tax Exempt 501 © 3 Non-Profit Organization • Tax ID No. 33-0608166 New Immigration Proposal is Misleading, Separates Families, & Sharply Increases Harassment, Arrests & Deportations Right now, the Senate is debating an immigration bill. The bill claims to provide legalization, but what it would actually do is separate families, charge immigrants huge penalties, and make it easier to arrest and deport anyone who is not a citizen. It does not address the root causes of why people come to the United States in the first place, or recognize the basic human rights of immigrants. If the bill becomes law, it would: Eliminate & reduce many family-based immigrant visa categories by:
Create a legalization program that is really a “report to deport” program by:
Increase enforcement and require the following BEFORE the Z visa program could begin:
Make it easier to exploit workers by:
Increase the arrests and deportations of ALL immigrants by:
TAKE ACTION!!! This bill benefits businesses and corporations, but harms families, workers, and immigrant communities. There is still time to voice your opinion. 1. Call Your Senators Now! Telephone Number: 1-800-417-7666 We encourage you to share your personal story with your Senators and tell them:
2. Join SAN in our protests, educational forums, and other actions against the Immigration Bill! Call Shiu Ming or Joyti at (562) 403-0488 to share your story with us and to be included on our “take action” list. STOP THIS BILL! STAND & DEMAND HUMAN RIGHTS! For more information, contact Shiu Ming or Joyti at South Asian Network:
18173 Pioneer Blvd.
Suite I ·
Artesia, CA 90701
·
Phone (562) 403-0488
·
(800) 281-8111·
Fax (562) 403-0487 COMMUNITY ALERT Protect South Asian Families! Right now the Senate is debating an immigration bill. If it becomes law, it will:
TAKE ACTION!!! 1. Call Your Senators Now! When you dial 1-800-417-7666, you will be automatically connected to the senators representing the phone number/area code you are using. You can call anytime from May 24 to June 8. We encourage you to share your personal story with your Senators and tell them:
2. Share Your Stories with South Asian Network about how important family-based immigration is to you and how you and the community are feeling the effects of increased enforcement. 3. Join SAN in our protests, educational
forums, and other actions against the Immigration Bill!
18173 Pioneer Blvd.
Suite I ·
Artesia, CA 90701
·
Phone (562) 403-0488
·
(800) 281-8111·
Fax (562) 403-0487 “South Asian Network (SAN)
calls for an immediate halt to Deportation and Temporary Protected
Status (TPS) for non resident Pakistanis in the United States”….. SAN strongly suggests all
community members to call President Bush at 202-456-1111 between 9 am
and 5 pm E.S.T. (6 am to 2 pm pacific time) and ask him to: For full details please read
the following letter: October 21, 2005
Please click here to download a copy of this letter in PDF format. |
