TOOLKIT:
Information that could be useful to protect you
and your coworkers in case federal, state or local
agents arrive at your workplace.
Introduction
It’s important to know that workers have rights if federal, state or local agents come to your workplace.
This toolkit gives you information that could help you and your coworkers to be prepared in case agents come to your job. You should adapt this information to your specific situation and workplace. Please remember that this is just one tool that could help you and your coworkers be prepared. This is not legal advice.
THE TOOLKIT
CURRENT SITUATION
As we know, the current federal government has made changes that affect workers, including new executive actions. Some of these changes have made workers feel unsafe at their workplace.
According to testimonies from workers, in the first weeks after the new federal policies were announced, many workers chose not to go to work because they felt threatened and scared. This put extra pressure on those who did show up. Union workers often had clear emergency plans in place.
But many workers without a union didn’t know if their employer had any plan at all for what to do if federal, state or local agents came to their workplace.
Knowing your rights and having access to tools can help you stay calm and take action if federal, state or local agents come to your workplace.
Below, you’ll find resources to help you and your coworkers request through a collective petition that your employer have a protocol for these situations and make it known to all workers.
WHY DO WE NEED A PROTOCOL?
Why should workers request protocols from their employers to clearly define procedures and responsibilities and be prepared if federal, state or local agents arrive at their workplace?
First of all, it is important to remember that all workers have rights if federal, state, or local agents come to your workplace. Workers have the right to remain silent, request an attorney, and refuse to sign documents unless reviewed with legal counsel. It is also important to take into account that employers also have rights if federal, state or local agents come to the workplace. Employers can ask for the warrant or documentation authorizing the search and have the right to refuse consent for searches of private areas without a warrant, they also have the right to contact legal counsel if agents arrive at the workplace.
A protocol clearly and explicitly defines the procedures and responsibilities that both the employer and the employees should follow if federal, state or local agents arrive with the intention of entering, interacting with, questioning, or detaining someone in the workplace. The protocol ensures that everyone in the company knows their role and that legal procedures are followed.
All workers, no matter their immigration status, are part of the same team. Everyone’s role is important, and a disruption can affect the whole workplace. That’s why having a protocol helps protect the rights and safety of all workers. Therefore, it is important that, in light of current policies, we, as workers, have the tools to demand our rights and go to work knowing that those rights will be respected.
HOW DO WE ORGANIZE?
Workers have the right to make collective petitions to improve their working conditions. Through a collective petition, workers can request that the company disclose its protocols. If the company doesn’t have protocols explaining the roles, responsibilities and procedures to follow if federal, state or local agents come to the workplace, workers can collectively request to employers to have and share a protocol with the workers, supervisors, managers and administration.
Below, we provide two tools that you can use as a guide.
• The first is an example of a collective petition
• The second is a protocol with the responsibilities of everyone involved in the workplace.
We hope these tools will help everyone in your workplace understand what to do if agents arrive, whether to enter, question, or detain a worker. It’s important that everyone knows their role and the legal steps to follow.
WHY IS THIS NOT ENOUGH?
In response to current challenges, various communities have demonstrated incredible resilience and solidarity. Across the country, worker centers, advocacy groups, and grassroots organizations have intensified efforts to provide education, legal support, and training on workers’ rights. These actions empower individuals to protect themselves and their families while strengthening collective power against constant threats.
However, despite these significant efforts, it is still not enough. Retaliation and the lack of access to reliable resources leave many workers vulnerable. There is an urgent need to expand outreach, strengthen support networks, and offer accessible tools to ensure no one faces these situations alone. We hope that this information provides you with support to be able to prepare if federal, state or local agents arrive at your workplace and also help you to be more prepared to face any challenges that arise, grounded in your knowledge of your rights as a worker.
We will appreciate it if you share this tool kit with other workers, hoping it can be a tool to help us protect ourselves from policies that want to ignore our rights at work. We believe in the power of being organized and standing in solidarity with other workers.
SUGGESTIONS / QUESTIONS / COMMENTS
Please send any suggestions, comments, or questions via email to
info@chicagoworkersrights.org
This toolkit was developed in partnership with Social Movement Technologies, with support from the Woods Fund of Chicago. Thanks to Amanda Varela, Organizing Director, and Kevin Herrera, Legal Director from Raise The Floor, for their comments and suggestions.