Labor Unions, TPS Workers to Deliver 40,000 TPS Extension Petitions to Democratic and Republican Congressional Leadership

Brief Press Conference, Petition Delivery Part of Campaign to Demand Immediate, Long-Term Action to #SaveTPS

What: TPS Press Conference and TPS Extension Petition Delivery to Congressional Leaders: Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and Marco Rubio

When: Tuesday, December 5th at 12:30pm

Where: SD 562, Dirksen Senate Office Building, United States Capitol Complex

Who: Working Families United, a major labor partnership of UNITE HERE, UFCW, IUPAT, Iron Workers, Bricklayers; major labor leaders including UFCW International’s Secretary-Treasurer Esther L ópez; dozens of union members on TPS

NOTE: Congressional sponsors of TPS extension bill invited with attendance confirmations pending. TV Crews and print/television reporters are strongly encouraged to join union worker delegation to members of congress immediately following press conference

Why: There are over 320,000 TPS holders in America, working legally, paying taxes, and contributing to the economy. TPS designations to countries with humanitarian or environmental crises have been renewed annually, but are now threatened under the Trump administration. That’s why Working Families United, which represents tens of thousands of TPS union workers in hospitality, construction, meat processing and trades, will take TPS union members directly to the offices of Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, and Marco Rubio on Tuesday to deliver 40,000 TPS extension petitions.

Following the Thanksgiving termination of Haitian TPS for nearly 60,000 immigrants, labor leaders will take no chances and no prisoners in demanding congressional action immediately to save TPS.

Media contact: Rachel Gumpert, (202) 285-0464

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Working Families United is a major immigration campaign organization founded in November 2017 between partners UNITE HERE, IUPAT, UFCW, Iron Workers, and Bricklayers with backing of the AFL-CIO. The member unions of Working Families United represent tens of thousands of immigrant workers on TPS across America, working in hospitality, construction, and trades.

 

Labor Unions Launch Nearly One Million Dollar Campaign to Save TPS

UNITE HERE, IUPAT, Bricklayers, UFCW and Iron Workers, Unveil Creation of Joint Campaign to Extend Temporary Protected Status for All Countries Facing Expiration

Washington, DC – Today five leading American labor unions, backed by the AFL-CIO, unveiled the creation of a joint campaign initiative focused on saving Temporary ProtectedStatus, revealing nearly one million dollars already raised and throwing its weight behind the TPS bill introduced today by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

UNITE HERE, IUPAT, Bricklayers, UFCW, and the Iron Workers publicly launched Working Families United today, an immigrant worker advocacy coalition that will be running a nearly million-dollar campaign to extend Temporary Protective Status in the coming weeks. The partner unions represent tens of thousands of TPS union workers in hospitality, construction, and trades who would lose their legal worker status if TPS is not renewed.

Working Families United is the only major TPS advocacy organization funded exclusively by labor, and has the formidable backing of nearly one million dollars for advocacy in the final weeks of the 2017 congress. The TPS campaign budget will include a variety of ad buys and will center around key congressional targets crucial in bipartisan passage of HR 4253 and the Van Hollen bill.

There are over 320,000 TPS holders in America, working legally, paying taxes, and contributing to the economy. Many have been in America for decades and have raised families that include American born children. In addition to wreaking significant economic damage on the hospitality and construction industries if not extended, termination of TPS would also eliminate a major source of tax revenue, as TPS holders pay hundreds of dollars of fees to have their immigration status renewed regularly. TPS designations to countries with humanitarian or environmental crises have been renewed annually, but are now threatened under the Trump administration. Labor unions are making a strong statement that people who have lived here for decades and played by the rules should be offered a path to legalization and citizenship.