The Worker Support & Organizing program serves low wage Filipino workers, with an emphasis on Oakland Airport workers and caregivers in Alameda County. This program provides services to help Filipino workers stabilize their economic situation and through leadership development and organizing helps improve the working and living conditions for low wage workers.

Airport Workers

The seeds of the Worker Support & Organizing Program were planted in 2002 when FAJ organized immigrant airport screeners displaced by the Aviation Transportation and Security Act (ATSA) passed in response to the 9/11 tragedies. The requirement that all airport security screeners be U.S. citizens resulted in a massive employment displacement of Filipino workers who had previously held 80 percent of airport screener jobs. We helped Filipino screeners at the Oakland Airport organize a “Justice for Screeners” campaign to defend their rights and form the worker-led group Peoples’ Association of Workers and Immigrants or PAWIS (Tagalog for “sweat”).

Filipino Advocates for Justice continues to work with PAWIS by providing support for worker organizing meetings, campaign development, workshops on understanding the economic crisis, knowing and defending our rights, financial literacy and assistance in accessing services and public benefits to help with workers’ basic needs. Because older workers are hit particularly hard by lay-offs at Oakland Airport, PAWIS launched the “Justice for Manong” campaign in August 2009, to fight age discrimination in the workplace.

Caregivers

The Caregiver Organizing Project of Filipino Advocates for Justice organizes caregivers in South Alameda County to improve their working conditions. Activities of the project include organizing support & discussion groups, workshops aimed at knowing and defending their rights, assistance in accessing services and public benefits, and leadership development through advocacy campaigns.

See our PAWIS video and tribute to the late Danilo Orcullo, PAWIS leader and Chairperson.

(video by Katie Joaquin)

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August 3, 2009: PAWIS’ Press Conference and Launch of “Justice for Manong” Campaign

to defend the rights of older workers to a safe working environment, free from discrimination.

(Video courtesy of Balitang America, ABS-CBN Intl.)