Solidaridad sin Fronteras

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0:49 Stephen’s Updates

Still using Vanillux GNU/Linux

Having some audio issues with alsamixer and pulseaudio

Also trying to find good FOSS software that tracks and bills a computer for a cyber cafe – any suggesttons?

2:30 Walton’s Updates

Dealing with immigration issues

Took the Life in the UK test -test your knowledge on this unofficial test site.

Visa fees are expensive – approaching £2,000 for Walton

Consecutive governments have dramatically increased fees amid anti-immigrant rhetoric. Conservatives doubled fees in April 2011

You need a visa to go anywhere on a South African passport. Travelling on a passport from a developing country is tough.

We have a guest today – Lindsey works for an immigrant advocacy organisation in Boston

8:00 It’s Labor Day in the US

Why September? Because conservative element sin the US labor movement wanted a day distinct from the more radical May Day.

May Day comes from the Haymarket massacre when workers were attacked while fighting for an eight hour day

Guardian article about Joe Hill and Labor Day

10:30 Our guest Lindsey speaks about immigration

Lindsey works at an immigrant advocacy organisation in the Boston area called Centro Presente

The UK relies on immigrants – especially doctors, nurses and home carers

Lindsey works with undocumented workers – sans papiers – because No one is Illegal

Immigration policy is often nakedly racist

18:00 Neoliberalism is responsible for immigration

Policies driven by rich countries decimate economies in poorer countries

Poor people need to move in order to survive

Neoliberal capital also needs a cheap and vulnerable labour supply – so immgrants suit them

Walton’s experience

Many poor countries receive large numbers of immigrants too – for instance, 3 million Zimbabweans live in South Africa – a quarter of the population

Human migration is natural, neoliberalism adds both push and pull factors

26:00 What is to be done?

Understand the global factors that lead to migration

Unions need to do more to reach out to migrants

We need solidarity networks

Social Movement Unionism is an industrial relations model that links union and community struggle

29:00 We agree to dedicate a future show to Social Movement Unionism

Some interesting case studies we didn’t get time to talk about