AFL-CIO Urges Full Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - The 13-million strong AFL-CIO labor federation Wednesday called for a full amnesty to give permanent legal status to an estimated 6 million illegal immigrants and hold employers accountable for exploiting them.

The AFL-CIO executive council unanimously approved the policy resolution, which calls for the repeal of the so-called ''I-9'' sanctions, a process that imposes sanctions on employers that hire undocumented workers.

It also called for a full amnesty program, as well as guarantees that all workers receive full protection on issues of workplace rights and freedoms.

``Throughout our country's history immigrants have played an important role in building democratic institutions and vibrant new communities that enrich our lives,'' AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson said in a statement.

``The current system of immigration enforcement in the U.S. is broken. If we are to have an immigration system that works, it must be orderly, responsible and fair,'' she said.

The labor federation said unscrupulous employers had systematically used the ``I-9'' sanctions process, which the union helped enact 15 years ago, to retaliate against workers who join together in unions.

``Employers often knowingly hire workers who are undocumented, and then when workers seek to improve working conditions employers use the law to fire or intimidate workers,'' Chavez-Thompson said. ``The law should criminalize employer behavior, not punish workers.''

The resolution also called for creation of education programs and training centers to educate workers about immigration issues and assist workers in exercising their rights and freedoms.

Chavez-Thompson said the AFL-CIO would sponsor a series of regional forums with immigrant workers and community and union leaders to stimulate more national dialogue and understanding on immigration issues.

The first forum is in New York City on April 1, followed by one in Atlanta on April 29, and Los Angeles on May 20.,

The AFL-CIO Executive Council is the governing body of the U.S. union movement, with representatives of unions with 13 million members.