Bernie Sanders: 'This is a massive effort to attract cheap labor.’

[ProSense]

9. Here's the problem

this was a deal worked out by the AFL-CIO and the Chamber of Commerce.

What Immigration Reform Could Mean for American Workers, and Why the AFL-CIO Is Embracing It

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Under the agreement (arrived at last weekend) a limited number of temporary visas would be issued to foreign workers in low-skilled occupations, who could thereafter petition to become American citizens.

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But employers hope the guest-worker program will also prevent low-wage Americans from getting a raise. As soon as any increase in demand might begin to push their wages higher, employers can claim a “labor shortage” — allowing in more guest workers, who will cause wages to drop back down again.

So why would the AFL-CIO agree to any new visas at all?

Presumably because some 11 million undocumented workers are already here, doing much of this work. The only way these undocumented workers can ever become organized – and not undercut attempts to unionize legal workers — is if the undocumented workers also become legal.

Remember, we’re talking about low-wage work that U.S. employers can’t do abroad – fast-food cooks and servers, waiters, hotel cleaners, hospital orderlies, gardeners, custodians, cashiers, and the like. (Construction jobs were exempted from the agreement because the building trades are already well-organized and saw more risk than gain from guest-workers.)


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http://robertreich.org/post/46955871646

AFL-CIO’s Trumka Hails Immigration Pact

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka issued a statement Saturday touting the proposed new visa program that emerged from a pact between big business and labor on a new immigration bill.

The labor movement has no higher priority in 2013 than to build a workable immigration system that will allow 11 million aspiring Americans to become citizens. Each day we have become more encouraged that our goal is in reach, and quickly. Each day we hear from working people of every background that we need a fair system that lifts up everyone.

The strength of the consensus across America for just reform has afforded us the momentum needed to forge an agreement in principle to develop a new type of employer visa system. We have created a new model, a modern visa system that includes both a bureau to collect and analyze labor market data, as well as significant worker protections. We expect that this new program, which benefits not just business, but everyone, will promote long overdue reforms by raising the bar for existing programs.

But a new visa program is only a small part of our campaign to build a common sense immigration system. Mass deportations are a moral and economic crisis. The senseless thwarting of DREAMers' efforts to live the American dream is a crisis. And we are leading a national campaign for reform that addresses these crises.

From making sure citizenship for the 11 million is achievable not only in theory, but in fact, to maintaining family unity, the labor movement’s immigration campaign is just getting started.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/afl-cios-trumka-hails-immigration-pact

AFL-CIO and Chamber of Commerce reach deal on guest workers
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/04/01/1198406/-AFL-CIO-and-Chamber-of-Commerce-reach-deal-on-guest-workers

Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka On Gang of Eight Immigration Bill
http://www.aflcio.org/Press-Room/Press-Releases/Statement-by-AFL-CIO-President-Richard-Trumka-On-Gang-of-Eight-Immigration-Bill

Highlights from the New Immigration Reform Bill
http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Political-Action-Legislation/Highlights-from-the-New-Immigration-Reform-Bill

Background on the negotiations:

Why the 400,000 new ‘low-skilled’ work visas business wants is a ridiculously high number
http://www.epi.org/blog/400000-skilled-work-visas-business-ridiculously/

Recent analyses of the current bill:

Gang of 8 bill could give nearly half of new IT jobs requiring a college degree to guestworkers
http://www.epi.org/publication/gang-of-8-bill-new-it-jobs-college-degree-guestworker-h1-b/

Senate immigration bill’s key innovations for high-skilled workers are in jeopardy
http://www.epi.org/blog/senate-immigration-bills-key-innovations/