By Jesse Russell

As the national debate surrounding immigrant workers heats up, the Economic Policy Institute has released a report highlighting the importance of worker centers. The report by Janice Fine, titled Worker Centers: Organizing Communities on the Edge of the Dream, was the subject of a conference call on Tuesday. During the call Fine called the response of Washington disappointing. She said the President’s proposal doesn’t reflect reality:

[Fine]: What I’m pleased about is the President’s talking about immigrant workers with greater humanity, at least rhetorically. But his proposals don’t reflect that humanity and don’t reflect the reality of immigrant workers as their working around the country.

In her report, Fine looked at 140 worker centers in 31 states to show how they help lift wages and working conditions for low-wage immigrants. Legislation being proposed by Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin would criminalize these worker centers. Fine argues they serve an important purpose.

[Fine2]: Basically what they’re doing is building new institutions, helping workers learn their rights, setting up English classes, learning to negotiate with employers and seeking redress from employers who wrong them."