New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice

‘Aside from legislative issues that could impact the nation’s small businesses, Chao also spoke about the need for a guest-worker program and lower taxes – two issues she considers critical to boosting U.S. economic growth. “The president’s economic stimulus package includes important incentives to help small businesses grow,” she said. “Now, with the economy the way that it is, this is not the time to pass new taxes that would burden businesses and dampen the economy. With the current unemployment rate below historic averages, we actually have a difficult time finding temporary workers. So the H2B temporary worker program is quite popular with your industry. Still, Congress has mandated a cap on the number of H2B workers.

“Now, we realize this is causing hardships on many employers who rely on these workers, but the [Bush] administration cannot lift the cap – only Congress can. However, the administration is going to propose changes to the law, and the Department of Labor has drafted reforms that should be available soon for public comment,” Chao said. “This is part of the process – the public has the opportunity to to comment on and shape how this legislation will come out. Your opinions are essential and let me encourage you to make your voices heard.”’

Elaine Chao, United States Secretary of Labor
April 15, 2008

Full article can be found here.

An updated press watch site, documenting media coverage of the satyagrahis.

Excerpt from The Times of India:

Mokhiber, however, did not comment on the meeting.

Signal International had said it had fired the recruiter after it learnt of its misconduct but denied the workers’ charges that they were being treated as slaves as “baseless and unfounded”.

Seventeen workers had come to New York to meet with the UN official. They said the official discussed with them the various courses open to them in the United Nations.

Though their fate remains uncertain, the workers who met Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen last month after a 1,500-km march from New Orleans and demanded a CBI probe, said they would not leave the country without getting justice for themselves and others placed in the same condition.

They, however, regretted the Indian government’s apathy.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4I8aC7sWXs]

As part of on going truth force action, Indian H2B workers from the gulf coast joined domestic workers in a rally for justice for a domestic worker, “Angelica,” who worked as a nanny and housekeeper in an apartment in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan, NY.

See more videos from the NOWCRJ on our YouTube page: www.youtube.com/nolaworkerscenter.