Diana Sierra is a labor organizer with the Pioneer Valley Workers Center. She talks about the wage theft ordinance being drafted, how it will work, and why it’s important to to pass this as one way to address systemic racism in Northampton. The ordinance wouldn’t add more bureaucracy to the City other than requiring businesses to sign an affadavit, when they got their license, that they will abide by state labor laws. If they are found by the state to be in violation, the City will revoke their license. People of color and people without documentation are disproportionately affected by wage theft, so this ordinance would help level the playing field.
Diana also talks a little about her personal experience coming to the US as a child and living undocumented for over 20 years.