Sep
19
Immigrants Boycott Western Union
Filed Under Immigration News
158 immigrant groups in the US are staging a boycott against Western Union, accusing the company of charging their customers extortionate fees and exchange rates.
The boycott began last week in California and will go nationwide slated for nationwide on Monday - the immigrant groups are demanding that Western Union invest money back into the communities that make up the bulk of their customer base.
According to market analysts, immigrant workers in the United States send home approximately $70 billion in earnings, of which wire transfer companies take $14 billion in fees.
Executive director at the Transnational Institute for Grassroots Research and Action (TIGRA) Francis Calpotura says, "We choose to stand up for our right to live in dignity and fight for our families."
A representative of the Oaxaquena Federation says, "Western Union makes billions from Mexicans and they give us pennies. It’s time for Western Union to reinvest meaningfully in our communities."