“The Boss Can’t Do That, Can He?” The UMass Labor Extension Program’s Worker Rights Curriculum is based on Massachusetts law, but can be adapted for use in other states. It can be used as an organizing and community education tool for new entrants to the workforce, young workers, and immigrant workers, documented or undocumented. Topics include an intro to basic worker protections, how to read a pay check, minimum wage, workers under 18, overtime, discrimination, health and safety, FMLA, unemployment insurance, temp work & day labor, and unions and the right to organize. The curriculum is approximately 13 to 15 hours long when all parts are used, but it can be broken up into smaller pieces (individual modules range from 45 to 150 minutes). Participants’ materials are available in Spanish.

This project done by the New York Times includes a wealth of resources including three interactive maps, videos, graphic illustrations and slide shows, as well as reporting on immigrants in various aspects of life. The maps detail where foreign born workers are from by occupation; where immigrant groups have settled from 1880-2000; and demographic changes in education searchable by county and state.

On-Line resources from UE

32 minute documentary about a three year strike by members of Los Mineros at the huge copper mine in Cananea, Mexico operated by Grupo Mexico. Produced in connection with 2010 visit of UALE delegation to Cananea.