Andolan- Organizing South Asian Workers

About Andolan

Andolan (Organizing South Asian Workers) is a not-for-profit, membership-based group that organizes and advocates on behalf of low-wage, immigrant South Asian workers. Andolan was founded in 1998 by low-income South Asian workers. These workers are primarily domestic workers as well as workers in restaurants and retail stores, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Thousands of such workers enter the United States yearly to work for diplomats and private citizens who reside in the New York City area. The types of jobs done by low-wage South Asian workers often entail long hours and low pay without benefits. Exploitation and marginalization are common. Other problems faced by this group include sexual harassment on the job, domestic violence in their isolated familial lives, and immigration irregularities.

Andolan, which means "movement" in several South Asian languages, seeks to educate workers about their rights, persuade employers to pay a living wage and raise public awareness about abusive industry conditions. All Andolan members are low-wage workers and primarily women; many are undocumented.

Andolan is a worker-led collective. The leadership and decision-making structure are controlled by the worker-members themselves. For these reasons, Andolan maintains a ratio in the organization of 75% worker-members to 25% non-workers.

Click here for the Andolan website

Information to all workers, regardless of immigration status:

o You have the right to be paid minimum wage ($6/hr) and overtime (time and a half).

o You have the right to be paid in U.S. dollars every two weeks.

o You have the right to work free of abusive behavior.

o You have the right to adequate mealtime breaks.

o You have the right to one full day off each week, paid holidays, vacation every year, personal and sick days.

o You have the right to organize for better working conditions.

o Immigration status is private information, so consult with a trusted advocate before sharing your immigration status to an employer.

If you are contacted by the police or FBI:

o You are only required by law to give your name.

o You have the right to remain silent and ask for a lawyer.

o You do not have to allow an agent into your home if there is no warrant for your arrest.

Group 4: Zephyr Johnson, Prita Lal , Morgan Guy Twain-Peterson