Cochabamba Bolivia, December 11, 2006
While in Bolivia, Cathleen discussed with Bolivian lawyers the local laws in regard to recruiting Bolivians to work abroad. In 2006, 147 Bolivians participated in the USA guestworker program. Some of these Bolivians were brought to work in Decateur Hotels in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Theses workers, along with workers from Peru and the Dominican Republic were grossly underpaid. The Sothern Poverty Law Center is currently suing Decateur hotels on behalf of these guestworkers. Global Workers made alliances with labor lawyers in Bolivian to support that law suit and to lay the ground work for future collaboration. Portable justice means that workers have the right to exercise their rights even after leaving their country of employment. Global Workers will continue to push for this basic human right for migrants.