Myth 3 - Unions Oppose Immigration Because It Harms the Working Class

1. Goals of Unions
1. The goals of unions like AFL-CIO were not to improve conditions for all the working class (like increased minimum wage, etc.), but instead to improve conditions only for union members through improved private contracts with employers.
2. This created an "elite" working class that actually depended on the dual-labor market that made cheap products for union members to buy.
3. Further, immigrants working in the unregulated secondary market were non-union members, so most actions that improved their conditions "hurt" the greater benefits enjoyed by union members.

2. Racism in unions
1. While some unions in the early days did promote improved conditions for all, the ones that prevailed were racist.
2. AFL Samuel Gompers, "caucasians…are not going to let their standard of living be destroyed by negroes, Chinamen, Japs, or any others" (31). These groups were "semi-savages" that must be kept out of our country.

3. Now Support Immigrants
1. Starting in 1993, because of race changes in the 60s and restructuring of labor since the 70s, AFL-CIO started reaching out to immigrant workers as a means of survival, stating "immigrants are not the cause of our nations problems" (35). These unions began focusing on labor reform policies that helped all workers, including immigrants.