These actions are part of the developing movement for the legalization of immigrant workers that exploded in the United States in the spring, strengthening the working-class movement and changing politics in this country.

By downing tools and taking to the streets across the country in numbers never before seen in the United States, millions of workers engaged in what became the first nationwide general strike presenting political demands on the government. These actions quickly spread to cities and towns, large and small, across the country. They were working-class political actions, in which all who took part, not just immigrants, were welcome.

No one can predict today whether the scope and spread of the September actions will approach those of April and May. But last week’s events—including the composition and outcome of the Chicago conference, the most important labor gathering this summer—confirm the working-class character of the coming actions and that they will build on the gains of the spring.

The decisions by the AFL-CIO and the Laborers’ union to collaborate with the National Day Laborers Organizing Network in joining day laborers, largely undocumented immigrants, in their fight for better wages and job conditions show that the labor movement is being increasingly drawn into this struggle. Broader layers in society are recognizing that the battle to legalize all immigrants, including opposition to the divide-and-conquer workplace raids and deportations, is in the interests of all working people.

The U.S. rulers, who were caught by surprise by the speed and power of the mobilizations last spring, have not yet recovered. They still don’t know what to do. The bill to make every immigrant without proper papers a criminal, approved by the House of Representatives in December, remains dead in the water.

Increasing numbers of immigrant rights groups and others have also correctly become vocal opponents of the version of “immigration reform” the Senate passed in May. That bill would reinforce the police crackdown on the border, establish a “guest worker” program, and offer legal status to some after meeting onerous conditions that include dependence on employers.

All the current proposals by the ruling capitalists aim, not to expel the undocumented, but to maintain a permanent layer of workers in pariah status to be superexploited for the profit of the bosses. This allows employers to foster divisions among our class and lower the wages and worsen conditions for all workers.

The choices for the labor movement are clear.

Back some variant of the chauvinist, America-first immigration policy proposals by the Democrats and Republicans and allow them to use immigration to drag down and weaken the entire working class. Or join the developing working-class movement—becoming clearer of the need to fight for immediate, unconditional legalization of all immigrants—and revitalize the trade unions to fight for the benefit of all working people.

Building the immigrant rights actions in September can help push in this last direction.
 
 
Related articles:
Chicago conference calls actions for immigrant rights
September rallies to demand legalization, end to deportations
Day laborers in partnership with AFL-CIO
Elvira Arellano, former cleaner at Chicago airport, fights government order for her deportation  
 
 
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