What Unions Do For You: SEIU Launches National Campaign for Immigration Reform

The Service Employees International Union is putting its muscle behind immigration reform. Today, they launched an ad called “America,” which they say is a part of a multifaceted national campaign including a $300,000 ad buy that will run on the most-watched cable news programs.

“Our immigration system is broken and Congress has a chance to fix it for good….Because in America, we fix what’s broken,” the ad states, as a work crew repairs a damaged flagpole that holds the American flag.

The SEIU has 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico. Their website claims they are the fastest-growing union in the Americas.

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Watch here:

Announcer: In America, we fix what’s broken…by working together.

It’s who we are.

Our immigration system is broken…

And Congress has a chance to fix it …

The fair and accountable way.

With back taxes paid, English learned and a real path to citizenship.

No half measures. Let’s fix it once and for all.

Tell Congress–Pass common sense IMMIGRATION reform with an earned path to citizenship.

Because In America, we fix what’s broken.

Tens of thousands of SEIU members are calling on Congress to pass commonsense immigration reform now. The SEIU explained:

(W)e continue a different fight for civil rights, human rights and immigrant rights and we urge Congress and the president to pass commonsense immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship.

This type of immigration reform is supported in public opinion polls by voters across all ethnic groups, across political party lines, and across all regions of the country because of the basic fairness it would bring to our society and our economy. They don’t doubt immigration reform with a path to citizenship would treat all workers equally and raise wages, hold employers accountable, keep our borders safe, and maintain our values as a nation of immigrants and a beacon of hope and justice.

Those values were what inspired SEIU members to march from Selma to Montgomery last year.

The SEIU’s vision is:
“We believe in and will fight for a just society:
Where all workers are valued and all people are respected.
Where all families and communities thrive.
Where we leave a better and more equal world for generations to come.”

What have unions done for you? They fight for fair wages for everyone, they get behind legislation like immigration reform and today they’re also protesting in DC on behalf of marriage equality rights. Unions fight for a just and fair society, and we all benefit even when we aren’t a member.

Sarah Jones

Listen to Sarah on the PoliticusUSA Pod on The Daily newsletter podcast here.

Sarah has been credentialed to cover President Barack Obama, then VP Joe Biden, 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and exclusively interviewed Speaker Nancy Pelosi multiple times and exclusively covered her first home appearance after the first impeachment of then President Donald Trump.

Sarah is two-time Telly award winning video producer and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.

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