Immigrant workers at two federal detention centers in California are on strike over unsafe working conditions and low wages, “We are being exploited for our labor and are being paid $1 per day to clean the dormitories.”
At two federal detention centers in California, more than 50 immigrant workers are on strike over unsafe working conditions and low wages.
The California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice along with other organizations filed a complaint with Cal/OSHA back in May on behalf of seven detainees. The complaint charges that detained workers live in unsafe conditions, with black mold patches crawling up shower walls and black fibrous dust particles emitted into the dormitories through HVAC vents.
[Raul is a pseudonym, which Labor Notes has used to protect the identity of a worker who may face retaliation while in detention for speaking with the press. —Editors] Raul said the prices in immigration facilities are higher — and wages lower — than those of federally run prisons too. Raul said there are three dorms that are participating in the strike with about 27 workers involved and about 50 to 60 detainees who are standing in solidarity. “We all got together because this ain’t right.” He said they took their complaints to the warden and assistant warden. “Right now, this is only affecting 27 workers, but it’s going to be more than 27 because people are coming through here. In a period of a year, hundreds or even thousands are detained.