Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico April 28, 2008
The fist day of the training was wonderful. Most of the advocates are lawyers and they soaked up the day’s intensive survey of US employment law. All of the US law topics were carefully chosen as most relevant to transnational migrant workers and based upon the manual meticulously elaborated over the past 1.5 years by consulting attorney Nan Schivone. Three experienced US lawyers (two Global Workers board members and the Executive Director) conducted interactive trainings on the US legal system (Latin American societies are based on the civil law system which contrasts with the US common law approach), US Civil Procedure (the US system is quite unique and needed to be carefully explained to the foreign lawyers who will be working hand in hand with US lawyers to make sure the workers can enforce their rights), Wage and Hour Laws (mostly concerning failure to pay a full days wage), Farmworkers, and Immigration law.
The long day wrapped up with a showing of “Farmingville” an excellent documentary about a New York community struggling for and against its newest immigrants, Latino day laborers. The documentary artfully explains all sides of the story and is an intimate glimpse in to the passions surrounding today’s immigration debate. Many advocates requested copies to use as educational tools in their own communities.