Dear WISH members:  We are sending out this update on a couple of the activities/issues that we discussed at the last meeting. If you would like more information or would like to be involved, please contact Antonio Belmonte at antoniob@berkeley.edu .

Together with the Coalition of Immigrant Worker Advocates (CIWA) in Southern California, WISH is planning a legislative hearing on language access, which will be sponsored by the Assembly Labor Committee. At the hearing, immigrant workers will have the opportunity to testify and talk about their experiences with language barriers in trying to access government services and/or exercize their rights. Representatives from Cal/OSHA and the Division of Labor Standards and Enforcement will be present to explain how they are addressing the issue of language in their programs. Please let us know if you think you could attend this hearing!

In preparation for the hearing, we are collecting worker stories to document the types of problems workers are facing. We need your help to collect these real examples -- some of the stories may lead to testimony at the hearing, others may be featured in press events, and others will be included in a written summary. Helen Chen from the Asian Law Caucus sent out an email a couple of weeks ago describing this effort and included forms you could use to document stories, in English and Spanish. Please send stories by August 18 (By fax or mail to: WISH Coalition, c/o Asian Law Caucus, 939 Market Street, Ste. 201, San Francisco, CA 94103 -- Fax: 415-896-1702)

We are putting together a brief fact sheet on language access issues that we will send to everyone on the list serve, and you could use it to educate your members or constituents about this issue and what is being done to address it.

We have also talked about the idea of holding press conferences in Northern California and the Central Valley, on the same day of the hearing. In this way, we would be able to provide local media with local examples, and emphasize that this is a statewide effort for a statewide problem. We will be contacting some organizations who have already expressed an interest in participating in such press events, but if you are also interested, please let us know.  Contact Antonio Belmonte at antoniob@berkeley.edu.

At our last WISH meeting in May, Amber Chan, organizer for APEN and Power in Asians Organizing, gave a report on Chinese workers employed by Fremont-based AXT. These workers were exposed to high levels of gallium arsenide, a compound used in producing computer wafers. APEN is working with former AXT workers to identify actions they want to take regarding their health and their exposure, and is collaborating with Asian Law Caucus, Community Occupational Health Project, Labor Occupational Health Program, and the Chinese Progressive Association. Over 40 Chinese-speaking volunteers have come forth from these organizations to help.

This collaboration is enabling AXT workers to learn about their legal rights, obtain health examinations and screening, and learn about health issues associated with arsenic and other chemical exposure. To date approximately 200 former AXT workers have completed a health and safety survey and a medical survey. Approximately 100 workers have received a health exam and screening. Twelve workers participated in a workplace hazards mapping activity. There was a press conference in July that was well attended and several former AXT workers spoke on their issues. The AXT workers are becoming stronger through these collaborative initiatives and support from community volunteers. For more information on this, contact Amber Chan (amber@apen4ej.org)

An article summarizing fatal occupational injuries among foreign-born workers (nationwide):

http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2004/06/art3full.pdf

A link to Northeastern University's updated study on the contributions of immigrants to the country's labor force.

http://www.nupr.neu.edu/7-04/immigrant_04.pdf