Workers’ Rights Organizations Across Chicagoland Are Encouraging Workers To Reach Out To Workers Centers To Report Workplace Violations. Advocates Call New Guidance ‘DACA for Workers’ Who Stand Up To Workplace Abuses.
July 13th, 2022, Chicago- Labor rights organizations, legal providers and workers centers rallied together in Pilsen to celebrate recent guidance by the Department of Labor creating possible pathways for immigrant workers to obtain ‘DACA for Workers’ in the cases of labor disputes. This happened after months of organizing by grassroots organizations demanding that the Biden Administration take action to increase protection of immigrant workers. “Immigrant workers have had their wages stolen, discriminated against and have workplace safety problems,” said Jose Frausto Leadership & Advocacy Manager at Chicago Workers Collaborative. “We are hoping the new guidance gives workers the means to speak out when there are problems at work.”
While the new guidelines are welcomed, workers centers participating in the event are stressing the importance of immigrant workers contacting a local worker center or legal rights clinic to discuss their situation. “These are new guidelines and ‘prosecutorial discretion’ will be made on a workplace by workplace basis by agencies like the DOL and OSHA, so it’s important workers reach out to workers centers.” said Maria Pina, Manager of Immigration Programs at CWC. “All of our workers’ centers work with attorneys who can help assess each situation and who can assist in petitioning agencies for relief.”
Immigrant workers who experience workplace violations and unsafe working conditions are highly encouraged to reach out to the following organizations for assistance. All organizations listed have bilingual Spanish speaking staff.
Media Contacts: Jose Frausto, Leadership & Advocacy Manager, Chicago Workers Collaborative, 773.456.5482, jose@chicagoworkerscollaborative.org or Roberto Clack, Communications Director, Chicago Workers Collaborative, 312.450.1972, roberto@chicagoworkerscollaborative.org
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Contacts for Immigrant Workers Experiencing Workplace Rights Violations:
Arise Chicago: Phone 773.769.6000 office 1700 W Hubbard, 2E Chicago. Services Chicago and Suburban Cook County
Casa Dupage Workers’ Center: Phone 630.221.0889, 505 N County Farm Road, 3rd Floor, Wheaton, IL, serves Dupage & Kane County
Centro de Trabajadores Unidos: Phone 773.349.2806, 10638 S Ewing Avenue, Serves Chicago and Suburban Cook County
Chicago Workers and Community Rights: Phone 773.653.3664, 2801 S Hamlin, Chicago Serves Chicago and Suburban Cook County
Chicago Workers Collaborative: Phone 847.596.7491 300 Grand Avenue, Waukegan, Serves Suburban Cook, Kane and Lake County
Raise The Floor Alliance: Phone 312.795.9115 1 N LaSalle Street, Suite 1275, Serves Chicagoland Area
Warehouse Workers for Justice Phone 815.722.5003 114 E Jefferson Street, Joliet Serves Will and Suburban Cook County
Founded in 2000, the Chicago Workers' Collaborative promotes the creation of stable, living wage jobs with race, class, and gender equity for precarious workers in the Chicago region.
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