Public Employee Press

South Asian labor group builds political power

With the American Dream that drew many South Asian immigrants to the United States increasingly unfulfilled, South Asian labor activists are strengthening their role in American politics.

"For the first time in our nation, we can't expect our children and grandchildren will do better than us, according to the U.S. Census," said Local 1407 President Maf Misbah Uddin, DC 37's treasurer and the founder and president of the Alliance of South Asian American Labor.

Welcoming 200 activists to the group's fourth annual convention at CUNY's Murphy Institute on Nov. 12, Uddin spoke of the country's growing income disparity and poverty and said that with unions under attack and working people struggling to maintain their standard of living, groups like ASAAL are ever more important. The convention's theme was, "Organize, Register and Vote to Be Part of the Political Force."

"South Asians now have a platform to fight discrimination, and ASAAL is becoming stronger every day," said Engineer Abu Shakoor, who heads the Bronx chapter. ASAAL also has chapters in Queens and Brooklyn and members nationwide. South Asia comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Convention participants discussed organizing strategies, reaching out to youth and women, and the potential effects of legislative redistricting on their community. They heard from politicians, including City Comptroller John C. Liu, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, and state and city legislators Tony Avella, Rory Lancman and Darlene Mealy. Other speakers and guests included state Labor Commissioner Colleen Gardener and Vilda Vera Mayuga the state's director of immigrant affairs, May Y. Chen, of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Gregory Cendana, head of the AFL-CIO's Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance.

ASAAL honored DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts for her support since its inception. Alarmed at the country's growing inequality, Roberts urged the activists to step up their political involvement.