Workers' Rights News
27-Year Sentence for Plant Manager
By JULIA PRESTON
Published in the New York Times: June 21, 2010
A federal judge in Iowa on Monday announced a prison sentence of 27 years on financial fraud charges for Sholom Rubashkin, the former manager of a kosher meatpacking plant where hundreds of illegal immigrant workers were arrested in a 2008 raid that garnered national attention.
MCHR at the U.S. Social Forum
The Midwest Coalition for Human Rights attended the 2010 U.S. Social Forum in Detroit, Michigan from June 22 - June 26. MCHR and its members held three workshops in which we connected with participants on the issues of immigrant detention, worker's rights, and racial equity. Through our workshops and information table we were able to reach out to a large number of individuals and organizations from around the country about the human rights issues in which we are involved. What a success!
End Exploitation of Child Farmworkers
Human Rights Watch: Support The Children’s Act for Responsible Employment (CARE Act)
Hundreds of thousands of children are employed as farmworkers in the United States, often working 10 or more hours a day. They are often exposed to dangerous pesticides, experience high rates of injury, and suffer fatalities at more than four times the rate of other working youth. Their long hours contribute to alarming drop-out rates. Government statistics show that one-third never finish high school.
MCHR Call to Take Action for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
May 4, 2010 - Arizona’s latest immigration law and the release of a fairly detailed proposal for comprehensive immigration reform by Democratic senators created national momentum for immigration reform. Human Rights advocates need to respond to this moment to support immigration laws that respect human rights. The Midwest Coalition for Human Rights (MCHR) urges you to take action by contacting elected representatives at the state, local, and national level to ask for their support on this critical issue.
MCHR Staff and Members to Participate in 2010 US Social Forum
The Midwest Coalition for Human Rights is excited to announce its participation in the 2010 U.S. Social Forum (USSF) which will be held from June 22 - June 26 in Detroit Michigan. MCHR will be sending a staff representative to the USSF to engage with human rights organizations working on similar issues. Additionally, MCHR has collaborated with member organizations on submitting two workshop proposals to the forum.