UDW Member Testifies at Workers’ Rights Hearing

November 18, 2009

Nicanora Montenegro, a member of UDW Homecare Providers Union/AFSCME, shares her story as a home care provider. (Photo credit: Jon Melegrito)

More than 300 workers, including union members from AFSCME, AFT, IBEW, IFPTE, Iron Workers, UAW, UNITEHERE! and Workers United, participated in the First National Asian Pacific American Workers’ Rights Hearing at the AFL-CIO to share their stories and talk about the challenges of organizing new members.

Co-hosted by the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) and the new leadership of the AFL-CIO, the event focused on employer abuse, immigrant exploitation, wage theft and union suppression. Participants renewed their commitment to fight for worker solidarity and economic justice.

“As home care providers, we face the challenges of isolation every day,” said Nicanora Montenegro, a member of UDW Homecare Providers Union/AFSCME. “We work alone and do not have opportunities to support each other. But with a union, we are able to bargain for better wages and health benefits. I can’t imagine providers in California or anywhere else in this country not having a union to protect them.”

U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) addressed the participants and vowed to work for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. “We need this bill passed, now more than ever,” she declared. “Workers aren’t getting the respect and dignity they deserve and they need the strong voice on the job that unions provide.”