A workers' rights center staffed by University of Minnesota law students is now providing free legal advice for workers who feel their rights may have been violated.
Though the Twin Cities Workers' Center is open to any worker with a job-related issue, organizers are focusing on nonunion immigrant workers, who are most susceptible to workplace exploitation, said Brendan Cummins, a labor lawyer at Miller-O'Brien.
Nonunion workers in the Twin Cities' immigrant communities have few opportunities for legal recourse when it comes to workplace injustices, he said. Many are unfamiliar with state and federal labor regulations; even when they are aware of mistreatment, they often are unable to pay for legal advice. The center has a philosophy of "build it, they'll come," Cummins said.
He and other founders of the center hope the attraction of free legal help will bring in volunteers and leaders from affected communities, who then will create a network of workers seeking change.
Early victories
Law student Kate Deters said the center already has won a $1,000 settlement for a worker who had not been paid for his final two weeks on the job.
Nonprofit advocacy organizations such as the Workers' Center have the advantage of being able to "do the little stuff," where the cost of professional lawyers otherwise would outweigh the benefits, Deters said. She said part of the center's mission is to approach the problem holistically, by tying in political action and community education with legal work.
Many immigrant workers don't know minimum wage and overtime laws, but worker education can teach them how to protect themselves, she said.
Fourteen law students currently work with the center. Doug Smith, the university law professor in charge of the center, said the project gives these students an opportunity to "explore different visions of what it is to be a lawyer."
The ultimate goal of the center, Smith said, is to bring together immigrant workers to form a "movement" that will grow into a force in Minnesota. Another goal is to "link advocacy with organizing," Cummins said, with the center providing a way for advocates to organize where unions can't because of "institutional constraints." By reaching out to nonunion workers, lawyers at the center can put workers in touch with unions appropriate to their line of work.
When there is no such union, the center can help create a nucleus of mistreated workers in the same field who then can create new unions. Cummins said he hopes this process will "create emissaries" who can "spread the union gospel far and wide."
Still trying to spread the word
The center is still struggling to get the word of its existence into various worker communities, Cummins said. The Twin Cities Religion and Labor Network, which helped create the center, is now helping in that outreach. Cummins urged labor leaders to get the word out and to push the program "in your own sphere."
The center's efforts now are focused primarily on Latino and Somali communities in Minneapolis. Smith said he hopes to expand the center into Hmong communities, as well as into sites in St. Paul.
For more information
? To schedule an appointment or to reach the Workers' Center hotline, call 612-626-6900.
? The center currently has hours from 3-5 p.m. at four Minneapolis locations ? Wednesdays at the Resource Center of the Americas, 3019 Minnehaha Ave, and the African Credit Education & Financial Counseling Agency, 2025 Nicollet Ave. S; Thursdays at the University of Minnesota Law School Clinic Office, 229 19th Ave. S; and Fridays at Bethany Lutheran Church, 2511 E. Franklin Ave.
Jeff Zethmayr is a staff intern at the Union Advocate newspaper, the official publication of the St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly.
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A workers’ rights center staffed by University of Minnesota law students is now providing free legal advice for workers who feel their rights may have been violated.
Though the Twin Cities Workers’ Center is open to any worker with a job-related issue, organizers are focusing on nonunion immigrant workers, who are most susceptible to workplace exploitation, said Brendan Cummins, a labor lawyer at Miller-O’Brien.
Nonunion workers in the Twin Cities’ immigrant communities have few opportunities for legal recourse when it comes to workplace injustices, he said. Many are unfamiliar with state and federal labor regulations; even when they are aware of mistreatment, they often are unable to pay for legal advice. The center has a philosophy of “build it, they’ll come,” Cummins said.
He and other founders of the center hope the attraction of free legal help will bring in volunteers and leaders from affected communities, who then will create a network of workers seeking change.
Early victories
Law student Kate Deters said the center already has won a $1,000 settlement for a worker who had not been paid for his final two weeks on the job.
Nonprofit advocacy organizations such as the Workers’ Center have the advantage of being able to “do the little stuff,” where the cost of professional lawyers otherwise would outweigh the benefits, Deters said. She said part of the center’s mission is to approach the problem holistically, by tying in political action and community education with legal work.
Many immigrant workers don’t know minimum wage and overtime laws, but worker education can teach them how to protect themselves, she said.
Fourteen law students currently work with the center. Doug Smith, the university law professor in charge of the center, said the project gives these students an opportunity to “explore different visions of what it is to be a lawyer.”
The ultimate goal of the center, Smith said, is to bring together immigrant workers to form a “movement” that will grow into a force in Minnesota. Another goal is to “link advocacy with organizing,” Cummins said, with the center providing a way for advocates to organize where unions can’t because of “institutional constraints.” By reaching out to nonunion workers, lawyers at the center can put workers in touch with unions appropriate to their line of work.
When there is no such union, the center can help create a nucleus of mistreated workers in the same field who then can create new unions. Cummins said he hopes this process will “create emissaries” who can “spread the union gospel far and wide.”
Still trying to spread the word
The center is still struggling to get the word of its existence into various worker communities, Cummins said. The Twin Cities Religion and Labor Network, which helped create the center, is now helping in that outreach. Cummins urged labor leaders to get the word out and to push the program “in your own sphere.”
The center’s efforts now are focused primarily on Latino and Somali communities in Minneapolis. Smith said he hopes to expand the center into Hmong communities, as well as into sites in St. Paul.
For more information
? To schedule an appointment or to reach the Workers’ Center hotline, call 612-626-6900.
? The center currently has hours from 3-5 p.m. at four Minneapolis locations ? Wednesdays at the Resource Center of the Americas, 3019 Minnehaha Ave, and the African Credit Education & Financial Counseling Agency, 2025 Nicollet Ave. S; Thursdays at the University of Minnesota Law School Clinic Office, 229 19th Ave. S; and Fridays at Bethany Lutheran Church, 2511 E. Franklin Ave.
Jeff Zethmayr is a staff intern at the Union Advocate newspaper, the official publication of the St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly.