On May Day 2006, close to a million immigrants engaged in the largest political strike to take place since the movement to push for the eight-hour workday at the close of the 19th century. The AFL-CIO and many international unions have embraced the immigrant rights movement and come out strongly in support of sweeping immigration reform. Labor's support for policy change is critical, but, beyond support for immigration reform, are America's unions prepared to take advantage of the biggest opportunity for growth they have encountered in decades? Are they culturally prepared and appropriately structured to admit these workers en masse into union ranks? This session will explore these questions and describe how new alliances between organized labor and the immigrant worker rights movement have started to re-energize the labor movement nationally, which will ultimately lead to good jobs, good health care and stronger protection for workers and their families. This session will also examine the role foundations can play in supporting partnerships between these sectors.

Speakers:
Ellen Widess, Rosenberg Foundation
Pablo Alvarado, National Day Labor Organizing Network
Jon Hiatt, The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)