California
APALC Files Suit on Sexual Harassment, Lost Wages in Little Dhaka
An edited version of APALC Press Release
Bay Area Asian Grassroots Groups support OccupyOakland
Asian American grassroots groups in the Bay Area are joining in the denunciation of the police attacks on OccupyOakland protestors and supporting the Occupy movement.
They have joined a multi-racial group called Bay99 to strategize ways of incorporating support into their work in their community organizations and unions. Working groups formed to support the infrastructure of the encampments, to plan parallel actions that bring the work in low-income and communities of color forward, and to build unity among our groups.
Call to Occupy Portsmouth Sq., SF Chinatown Oct. 30th
from Pam Tau Lee and Ben Lee
Been there? Done that? Time to do it again!
CPA San Gabriel Valley Ceases Low-Wage Worker Organizing
After five years, Chinese Progressive Association San Gabriel Valley (CPA-SGV) has ended its low-wage organizing. Founded initially to undertake this work and to be a center for progressive Chinese Americans, they have been unable to expand their core of activists.
SF Coalition Wins Wage Theft Ordinance
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a ordinance August 2 increasing penalties and monitoring of employers who fail to pay their workers. Though non-payment of wages is currently illegal, the ordinance strengthens the city's Office of Labor Standards Enforcement's ability to enforce its labor laws. Mayor Ed Lee is expected to sign the ordinance. A progressive coaltion of community and workers organizations championed the new city law and had organized a vibrant campaign to win passage.
Koreatown Coalition wins Development Struggles
Korean Immigrant Workers Association, (KIWA), in coaliton with other Koreatown community groups has won a commitment from the City of Los Angeles and its Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA/LA) to build a public park, affordable housing, and a community center on Wilshire and Hobart.
Hmong and Older Workers File Suit Against Casino One in Fresno
Legal advocacy firms have brought a class-action suit against Fresno-based Club One Casino. In separate complaints filed April 11, 16 former workers allege discrmination based on ethnic background and another six say they were discriminated against because of their age. Both groups also allege that when they spoke out, the Club retaliated against them. The workers are seeking up to several hundred thousand dollars in lost compensation.
CSULA Fight for Asian American Studies May Be A Sign of Things To Come
The students of Cal State University Los Angeles are fighting for the iife of its Asian American Studies program. Recently, the Dean of its college announced that he intended to suspend the program, despite its minimal cost of $4,000 a year. Students have created a website, garnered support from the academic and student community throughout the U.S., and initiated an on-line petition to support continuing the program.
CA Filipino-American Hospital Workers Sue For Employer Discrimination and Harassment
Over fifty Filipino-American hospital employees filed a separate lawsuit against the Delano Regional Medical Center (DRMC) for job discrimination and harassment in early December. They also sought to join a pending Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit against the Medical Center filed last August. DRMC is in the city of Delano, north of Los Angeles and in the Central Valley. The Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC), is representing the employees. Julie Su of APALC explained that federal regulations limit the EEOC's monetary awards and fines to DRMC.
