Pass the POWER Act for Immigrant Workers’ Rights

From the National Immigration Law Center:

Strike at Hershey’s Underscores Need for Passage of the POWER Act

The historic strike at Hershey’s last week shed light on abuses faced by J-1 guest workers. Last week, brave student guest workers held a sit-in at the Hershey’s Chocolate Company packing plant in Pennsylvania to protest their treatment by Hershey’s. The students paid $3,000-6,000 each to come to America this summer for what they thought would be a cultural exchange program. Instead, they found themselves packing chocolates at the Hershey’s plant in deeply exploitative conditions.

With the support of the National Guestworker Alliance, these student guest workers are fighting back to ensure their labor rights are respected. Their struggle—like that of countless others—shows how necessary it is to pass the POWER Act. This bill, introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Judy Chu (D-CA) would help level the playing field between unscrupulous employers and vulnerable workers. If passed, the POWER Act would protect immigrant workers who report workplace violations, ultimately helping ensure that our country’s workplaces are safer and more just.

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