Just Elvia

MIWON is a multi-ethnic, multi-industry network of immigrant worker-based organizations that seeks to build the political consciousness and participation of immigrant workers in our fight for better living and working conditions. Our key strategies are to fight for legalization and worker rights, to act as a collective voice for low-wage immigrant workers in Los Angeles. MIWON’s objectives are 1) to support one another in our struggles, 2) to build unity and develop political consciousness through collective political education, 3) to wage campaigns for local, regional and national battles for legalization and workers rights and 4) to build bridges between immigrant and non-immigrant workers for a more just society. read more

On March 25, 2006, Los Angeles immigrants and their supporters came out in mass to protest the recent anti-immigrant legislation being discussed by the US Congress. An estimated 500,000 to 1 million people were out in the streets, in a peaceful protest. News reported 500,000 but organizers estimate over a 1 million came out on Saturday. They came out to protest HR 4437, a bill that is being discussed this month in the US Congress. The Sensenbrenner Bill is a 247 page bill that is an outrageous law because it makes local law enforcement immigration officers, makes being undocumented a felony (now just a civil case and will be deported), makes anyone who assists undocumented workers a smuggler (also felony and can seize property that was used - office, car, home, etc.), and makes it harder for employers to hire undocumented workers. read more

»We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us«. The following text from Fassanito Network about "Movements and Struggles of Migration in and around Europe" was written for and distributed at the 4th European Social Forum (ESF), which took place between 4th and 7th of Mai in Athens/Greece and when migration became the first time an own thematic axis inside the ESF. read more

Edward Morrison used to be a packing house worker at Smithfield Foods #039; plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina. His job was to flip 250-pound hog carcasses, and then line them up for the next worker to handle. Smithfield expected Edward to handle 500 of them every hour, working at an inhuman pace. When Edward injured his knee at work and needed surgery, Smithfield gave him only 30 days to recover. His doctors said he needed four months. After two months, Smithfield got tired of waiting and fired him. Edward describes his time on Smithfields#039;s line as "a living hell." Today, he is fighting for justice at Smithfield. You can help. Stand with Edward, Smithfield workers, other working people, and community leaders as they rally for justice at the companyi#039;s shareholders meeting on August 30. read more