Latino Migrant Labor Strife and Solidarity in Post-Katrina New Orleans, 2005-2007

Abstract

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, lapses in federal policy‐making and a lack of state‐ level enforcement paved the way for employer exploitation of predominantly Latino migrant workers, transforming working‐class Latino newcomers into the newest class of storm victims in post‐Katrina New Orleans. In essence, a “rebuild above all else” recovery scenario took hold between 2005‐2007 in which immediate reconstruction of the city took priority over the participation of local, African‐American workers and the protection of immigrant worker rights. Despite their disadvantaged position, however, migrant workers did not remain passive victims to injustice but actively organized against employer abuse and intimidation by law enforcement and immigration officials. Latino worker activists and their allies sternly rejected the “rebuild above all else” recovery model championed by local, state and federal government policies and sought to carve out an alternative rebuilding model that respected immigrant labor rights.

The Deportation Threat Dynamic and Victimization of Latino Migrants: Wage Theft and Robbery

“…I also use transcripts of focus group interviews with groups of Latino migrant workers who describe their experiences of labor abuse and criminal victimization and their interpretations of its causes. The research takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana, several years after Hurricane Katrina caused a catastrophic failure of the levees protecting the city and a subsequent construction boom which attracted untold numbers of unauthorized Latino migrants to the area (Fussell 2009a,b; Gorman 2010). In this context, unauthorized Latino migrants were both geographically and occupationally concentrated, and laws governing immigration and workplace regulations were weak and variably enforced.…”

Informed Gatekeepers and Transnational Violence: Using Perceptions of Safety of Latino/a Youth in Determining Legal Cases

“…New Orleans has an established Latino/a population with strong ties to Central America, especially Honduras, which dates back to the banana trade during the early 20th century (Sluyter, Watkins, Chaney, & Gibson, 2015). This population increased after Hurricane Katrina when Mexican and Central American migrant workers came to New Orleans to complete dangerous, low-wage work in mold remediation, demolition, and reconstruction under the Davis-Bacon Act and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation suspensions (Fussell, 2009; Gorman, 2010; Masozera, Bailey, & Kerchner, 2007). Toxic mold levels and air pollutants posed a serious threat to the workers’ health (Picou, 2009).…”

The Influence of National Culture on Effectiveness of Safety Trainings During Postdisaster Reconstruction

“…A disproportionately high number of workers involved in postdisaster reconstruction are non-English speaking-and specifically Hispanic-workers (Gorman, 2010). As a group, recent immigrant construction workers have lower rates of health insurance coverage, unionization, hourly wages, and educational levels (Jorgensen, Sokas, Nickels, Gao, & Gittleman, 2007).…”