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Young Workers United members need our help

Submitted on Tue, 01/10/2006 - 1:51am

December 22nd: Last Thursday at 7 in the morning, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents with guns busted into the San Francisco apartment of two Young Workers United (YWU) members. The couple was excitedly preparing for the birth of their first child. It appears to be the case that the woman’s former employers called the ICE on this young family. Due to legal considerations, YWU is not releasing the name the couple or the restaurant. Her employer had been paying far below the legal minimum wage, and also yelled at workers, threatened them with deportation, called them racial slurs and ultimately fired the young woman for speaking out and organizing against these abuses and being pregnant.

The young man was taken away and flown that night to a detention center in Eloy, Arizona. It is virtually impossible to get into the detention center and 90% of the detainees have no access to a lawyer. YWU is working tirelessly to coordinate with lawyers and Arizona immigrant rights group to get the all the resources he needs. A recent doctor's appointment indicates that the young woman will likely give birth this week. YWU has helped win a minimum wage charge through the City and has claims for pregnancy discrimination and retaliation. This young mother-to-be has no income since the ICE is detaining her partner. Young Workers United is asking for donations to be sent to help with her expenses.
                                                
Update:  The father is still in custody in Eli, Nevada.  He has a lawyer and support from Young Workers United and the local labor and immigrants' rights communities.  An attempt to post bail at his hearing on January 3rd was ignored by the judge.

The baby was due anytime after the 25th of December.  When I called their apartment this evening (January 8th) there was no answer, so the mother may have left for the hospital. 

Her spirits were good the last time we met and she believes the baby will be fine and the three of them will soon be reunited.

The family will still need any assistance we can give them.
                                                               in solidarity,
                                                                       Ann Worth
              
"Ann and Leslie" <[email protected]>