When most people hear "Silicon Valley," words
such as clean, pure, technologically developed, and high
personal income usually come to mind. However the reality of
immigrant workers is much different. Because we cannot
communicate well in English, immigrants often start at the
lowest-paying printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing
positions, very different from our initial expectations. For
more than 10 hours a day, we handle toxic chemicals, solder
small parts to PCBs, and peer through magnifying
glasses....Exhausted after constant overtime, an immigrant
woman has no time to learn English or other
skills...Nevertheless, we are slowly and steadily gathering
strength and raising our voices. — Eun Suk Kim
Asian Immigrant Women Advocates (AIWA) is a
community-based organization founded in 1983. Through
leadership training, language development, advocating for
social and economic justice, and promoting a women-centered
organization, they empower low-income,
limited-English-speaking Asian immigrant women in their homes
and workplaces.
Executive director Young Shin is an immigrant from Korea.
She began Asian immigrant services in 1976 by initiating the
San Francisco Bay Area committee of Korean wives of U.S.
servicemen and support services for battered women. After
graduating from law school, Shin co-founded AIWA, which
brought together Chinese, Filipina, Korean, and Vietnamese
women who work as seamstresses, hotel room cleaners,
electronics assemblers, nursing home workers, and janitors in
the greater San Francisco area.
AIWA member Sun Young Kang identified hazards in her
workplace after a Toxic Training workshop. "I never
realized how dangerous my work place is. Now I’m
committed to sharing this information with my
co-workers!"
Asian Immigrant Women Advocates, 310 Eighth St., #301,
Oakland, CA 94607; (510) 268-0192.
Read other articles by:
Berger, Rose Marie
|
Subscribe to Sojourners today at a special introductory price and save $10 off the basic rate! Click here for details.
WE WANT TO HEAR from you! Click here to share your views. Or write to "Letters," Sojourners, 3333 14th St. NW, Suite 200, Washington DC 20010; fax (202) 328-8757. Please include your name, address, and daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.
|
|
 |
Read other articles by:
Berger, Rose Marie
|
