In 2002, PAWIS was formed to fight against social and economic injustice faced by Filipino workers and im/migrants in Santa Clara County. Initial PAWIS members were former airport screeners, resulting from the U.S. Aviation and Transportation Security Act after 9-11-2001. *This Act is discriminatory against Filipino workers and im/migrants. It requires airport screeners to be US citizens and that they pass a new employment and language test, which had nothing to do with the job of airport screeners. *Today PAWIS continues to support Filipinos in Santa Clara County, the bay area, in the U.S and around the world. Many are working in industries such as health care, retail/sales, and electronic manufacturing.
We are Filipino workers and im/migrants, realizing the need to support ourselves collectively to strengthen our voice and stand against any forms of abuse and exploitation.
Bind our selves together to create an organization, which shall have the nationalist and democratic ideals of our people in general, and in Santa Clara County in particular.
We shall tirelessly work to defend the rights gained by the struggles of Filipino workers and im/migrants and shall forever uphold their welfare.