I have a question for this sub. I’m an immigrant to North America. I am endlessly thankful and fortunate to have had the opportunity to live my whole life here. Which is why I would like to discuss a conflict that I have been struggling with.
My question/moral dilemma is, do we, the left have to reckon with how immigration can be at odds with the advocacy we hope to accomplish on the part of labour? More specifically the labour market (in North America at least) is very tight now. Meaning employers are desperate for workers. Instead of forcing capital to feel the pain of understaffing and raising the compensation of labour; Our governments, both Canadian and American are responding to this situation by increasing immigration. This creates a glut of employees looking for jobs, thereby allowing capital to not have to raise wages or improve working conditions.
I’d like to reiterate. I’m an immigrant. I completely understand how this sounds. I’m asking this sub to help me reconcile what appears to be two values that we hold very dear but appear to be working against each other. These immigrants want nothing more than a better life for themselves and their families. I want to support them. But for every immigrant that comes here are we undercutting the interest of labour here? I would love a discussion about this and maybe help me see how these two noble goals are not in contradiction to each other. Or perhaps they are?
Many thanks!