South Asian Workers Center to Launch Historic Report on Conditions of South Asian Immigrant …
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES: For July 18, 2012
CONTACT: Emma Woods, 646-200-5303/203-568-4780, emma@berlinrosen.com
Wednesday: New Report on Working Conditions for South Asian Low-Wage Workers in NYC
Hundreds of Surveys and Interviews Conducted with Workers in Queens
Report To Reveal Truth About How NYC’s Second-Largest Immigrant Group is Faring in The Workplace
Queens, NY – At a press conference Wednesday, a new report will be released on the working conditions for South Asian low-wage workers in New York City, many of whom are concentrated in Jackson Heights,Queens. Following the press conference, workers will take to the streets for a postcard signing drive in support of South Asian low-wage workers’ rights.
The report is authored by DRUM (Desis Rising Up & Moving) and the Community Development Project (CDP) at the Urban Justice Center, and is the result of nearly 200 surveys, 7 focus groups and 10 in-depth interviews with low-wage workers in Queens. While South Asians comprise approximately 23% of the undocumented immigrant population in NYC,second only to Latinos, and work in key service sectors that fuel the City’s economy, this is the first known report on South Asian immigrant working conditions in New York City.
WHEN: Wednesday, July 18th 2:00 PM-2:30 PM.
WHO: South Asian low-wage workers; Members of DRUM (Desis Rising Up & Moving); the Community Development Project (CDP) at the Urban Justice Center; elected officials including NY City Council member Daniel Dromm; Debbie O. Lau, Assistant District Director, New York City District Office, Federal Department of Labor; community and labor groups.
WHAT: Press Conference To Release New Report on Working Conditions for South Asian Low-Wage Workers in NYC, Followed by Post-Card Signing Drive in Jackson Heights.
WHERE: DRUM Office: 72-18 Roosevelt Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372.
VISUALS: Workers will walk around Jackson Heights, Queens to collect post-card signatures.
This report is endorsed bydozens of community and labor groups, including: Retail Action Project, Asian American legal Defense and Education Fund, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), Chaaya CDC, Vamos Unidos, CAAAV- Organizing Asian Communities, Damayan Migrant Workers Alliance, Ugnayan, ALIGN , National Employment Law Project (NELP), Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), CUNY CLEAR (Creating Law Enforcement Accountability and Responsibility), Muslim Consultative Network, Make The Road NY, Arab American Association of New York , Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)- Council for Social Justice, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), United Sikhs, Andolan, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC-NYC)
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