Journal of Community Practice
Volume 17, Issue 1-2, 2009, Pages 184-206

Organizing for immigrant rights: Policy barriers and community campaigns (Article)

Hanley J. , Shragge E.*
  • a School of Social Work, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
  • b School of Community and Public Affairs, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada

Abstract

Immigration to Canada has changed in basic ways the composition of the labor force. Over the past 40 years, a large wave of immigrants has arrived from the countries of the "Global South". Many have arrived with high levels of education and qualifications; however, the jobs they receive are at the bottom of the labor market. The Immigrant Workers Center (IWC) in Montreal is an organization that provides individual services, education on rights, and organizes immigrant workers for workplace justice. This article describes three campaigns led by the center. They reflect the exclusion of immigrant workers from coverage in policy areas related to heath care, compensation for workplace injury, and benefits for collective lay-offs in the textile sector. The article concludes with some of the lessons learned in these campaigns.

Author Keywords

Labor Immigrant Campaigns Organizing social policy

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-70450060922&doi=10.1080%2f10705420902856209&partnerID=40&md5=9fae95d985b82a7831e11669310fb5a3

DOI: 10.1080/10705420902856209
ISSN: 10705422
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English