Press Conference on Wednesday, September 14 at 11:00 a.m. in Lafayette Park

(Located on H St. between 15th and 16th Streets, in front of the Chamber of Commerce)

WASHINGTON, DC - Just ahead of the House Judiciary Committee's markup of a mandatory E-Verify bill, small business owners, community leaders, and workers will unite on Wednesday, September 14 to speak out against Congressional proposals that would mandate virtually all employers to use an error-ridden government computer database created to determine a person's authorization to work in this country. Although the program has been widely criticized for its costs, some members of Congress are determined to pass the job-killing bill.

This E-Verify proposal is bad for small businesses, bad for our workforce, and bad for the country's bottom line," said small business owner David Borris. "We need the U.S. Chamber to listen to small business, and withdraw its support for this flawed proposal. Why is the Chamber nibbling around the margins and accepting a piecemeal non-solution that will have a serious negative impact on small businesses?"

"The truth is that E-Verify is a jobs killer and that the system needs to be fixed. We need comprehensive solutions to raise wages for our workers, make sure they work in good conditions, and ensure that everyone is on a level playing field," said Jaime Contreras, SEIU 32BJ District Chair.

WHAT:

Demonstration against E-Verify proposal and press conference featuring business owners, community leaders, and workers.

WHEN:

Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 11:00 a.m. EDT

WHERE:

Lafayette Park, H street between 15th and 16th Streets, NW, Washington, DC, In front of the Chamber of CommerceMetro: Farragut North (Red line), McPherson Square (Blue and Orange lines)

WHO:

Jaime Contreras, District Chair, SEIU Local 32BJ

Nora Escobar, Small business owner, La Chiquita and La Chiquita Express, MD

Jorge Sactic, small business owner, Langley Park, MD

Barbara Coufal, Assistant Director, Legislative department, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

David Borris, small business owner, Hell's Kitchen Catering, Northbrook, IL and member of Main Street Alliance

BACKGROUND:

On Wednesday, September 14, small business owners, labor leaders, and workers across the country will participate in events condemning legislative attempts to make E-Verify mandatory for virtually all employers. The day of action will focus on the consequences of implementing another unfunded mandate on small businesses at a time of extreme economic hardship.

Labor leaders and workers also will discuss how current legislative mandatory E-Verify proposals will quash a worker's rights, will lead to discrimination and will cause chaos at the workplace. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the National Immigration Law Center here.

With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy. www.seiu.org

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