MIWON is a multi-ethnic, multi-industry network of immigrant worker-based organizations that seeks to build the political consciousness and participation of immigrant workers in our fight for better living and working conditions. Our key strategies are to fight for legalization and worker rights, to act as a collective voice for low-wage immigrant workers in Los Angeles.
MIWON’s objectives are 1) to support one another in our struggles, 2) to build unity and develop political consciousness through collective political education, 3) to wage campaigns for local, regional and national battles for legalization and workers rights and 4) to build bridges between immigrant and non-immigrant workers for a more just society.
Organizational History:
MIWON is unique in its ability to mobilize thousands of low-wage immigrant workers from many diverse communities around Los Angeles and beyond. Through multi-ethnic collaboration and coordination, MIWON is able to confront and take action on large-scale issues at a much broader level than any of the organizations individually. Since its inception, MIWON has successfully advocated for the rights of immigrant workers and enjoyed tremendous successes. On May 1, 2004, International Workers Day, MIWON spearheaded its fifth annual day of action with a “Caravan for Justice†busing immigrant workers and their families to protest at the federal building, the office of Governor Schwarzenegger, and the storefront of an exploitative employer. Low-wage immigrant families were able to bring together their frustration at the federal, state government, and the local exploitation they feel from their employer. This caravan received the most media attention ever for MIWON. In the past, MIWON has mobilized over 30,000 immigrants to march for their rights on Mayday in Los Angeles.
MIWON member organizations have a long trajectory of accomplishments in organizing and developing the leadership of immigrant workers. CHIRLA’s mission is to advance the human and civil rights of immigrants and refugees. CHIRLA’s Workers’ Rights Project has successfully worked with day laborers, domestic workers and other immigrant workers to advance their workplace rights and engage their active participation in advocacy, organizing and policy reform efforts. KIWA, was founded in 1992 to empower low wage immigrant workers and develop a progressive constituency and leadership in Los Angeles’ immigrant communities that will join the struggle in solidarity with other underrepresented communities for social change. KIWA has since made significant contributions to the empowerment of immigrant workers through successful worker led organizing campaigns. KIWA’s leadership has been instrumental in improving wages and conditions in Koreatown restaurants. Pilipino Workers Center’s mission is to organize Pilipino workers to collectively address needs and issues both in the community and in the work place. In August 2000, PWC launched the Association of Pilipino Workers and engaged the workers in political education curriculum. The Garment Worker Center opened in January of 2001. GWC’s goal is to create a center that will be worker-led, holistic in addressing individual worker needs, and will establish a critical presence of organized workers in the garment industry. GWC organizes Chinese, Thai and Latino garment workers. Our newest partner, IDEPSCA, is a membership organization that trains community educators/leaders whose organizing efforts generate programs from the ground up. Their programs include three Adult Spanish Literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, a large Day Laborer Project, a Computer Literacy Project and a Women's Project. Currently IDEPSCA serves about 1,500 community members through their programs on an annual basis.
