IUE-CWA Local 81381 Members Stand with Immigrant Workers Against ICE Intimidation

On September 9th a call went out on rapid response networks from labor unions and social justice groups for community members to respond to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid in progress on a roofing job in Monroe County, NY.

Grievance team members from IUE-CWA Local 81381, representing Human Services workers in Monroe County, responded to the call to find two roofers still on a rooftop while hundreds of community members began to gather in the driveway and surrounding the house. One roofer, who has been a legal working resident of the United States for several decades, had already been taken into custody by ICE in order to force the other two men to come down from the roof.

As the crowd continued to gather to stand in solidarity with the workers and ensure that their rights were respected, ICE agents retreated and began to leave the scene. A press conference on the signing of the Trigger Bill at Assemblymember Bronson's office nearby brought the entire Rochester state delegation to the scene as they responded to the call as well.

"The experience was empowering,” said 81381 President Christina Christman. “Labor leaders, politicians, clergy, and concerned neighbors came together to protect workers in our community from harassment, detainment and possible deportation. The day after the Supreme Court issued a ruling overturning. racial profiling we as a community stood up for the workers this would negatively impact.”