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Immigration - Update

Like a bad zombie movie, the immigration reform bill that was thought to have died a little more than a week ago is reappearing from the grave.  This even after we were able to hold the line and prevent passage of cloture that would have ended debate and led to passage in the Senate.  So we are back where we were a little over two weeks ago, asking you once again to weigh-in with your Senators to stop final passage of a comprehensive immigration reform package that, if approved, will have devastating consequences for the electrical industry and our union.

We still cannot overstate the seriousness of the situation.

As stated earlier, the IBEW has met with many U.S. Senators who are championing S. 1348 to advise them of our opposition to the creation of a new temporary worker program and have urged them to not forsake American workers by agreeing to this flawed legislation.  This provision will have dire consequences by opening the door for further exploitation of guest workers along with an accelerating erosion of the middle class.

We also shared with these senators our views on the need to secure our nation?s borders and implement a reliable employment verification system.  The actions taken this week to try and address the strong concerns are no more than cosmetic, designed in our view to provide cover for Senators to ignore the public interest and pass this bad legislation.

Please send a new message to your Senators right now on this very important issue.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Defeat Immigration Bill

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Please oppose immigration reform legislation that is being brought back to the Senate Floor in the near future. The proposed changes are insufficient to address major concerns that make this poor legislation. In fact, passage of this legislation will further exacerbate the unconscionable exploitation of immigrant workers, while simultaneously accelerating a further erosion of U.S. workers' living standards.

Again, Please oppose the current "fast track" by the United States Senate to "get something passed" on this issue, and take a breath and truly examine the effects that this misguided legislation will have on those of us who are trying to maintain a decent life for our families. At the very least, the Senate should defeat this bill and start anew.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 19, 2007


Background Information

What is especially troubling is that this legislation establishes a new temporary guest worker program without any credible wage floor protections for workers.  We see how this situation is driving down wages and living standards for American workers. 

The exploitation of temporary and illegal workers is systematically destroying what is a viable path to a middle class lifestyle for millions of Americans.  The current Senate bill simply allows for the continuation of the status quo.  For America’s workers, that is simply unacceptable.

We believe that the a primary Constitutional responsibility of the federal government is to provide for the security of the American people, its territory and its sovereignty in order to make the United States’ homeland safe.  Achievement of these goals is critical as a means of reducing our vulnerability to terrorism, and also as a means of preserving the economic conditions of its citizens and legal residents.  Implementation of strong and effective border security measures with appropriate funding will help combat the threat of terrorism as well as the threat to the living standards of U.S. workers.

Enforcement of our border security must also be accompanied by fair and effective enforcement of our existing immigration laws, as well as fair and equal enforcement of federal and state labor and employment laws.  Further, a mandatory electronic work-eligibility verification system is needed, and it should be accompanied by strong and effective procedures designed to protect personal and civil rights, along with substantial increases in the fines, penalties and sanctions levied against employers who violate our immigration laws.



Just the Facts! Do Large Deficits
Mean High Unemployment? You Decide.

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