Latinos are changing the face of our workforce and our communities. Download LCLAA's report, "Latino Workers in the United States, 2011" to learn more. Download the Report Here |
Your contribution will be used to improve the conditions of Latino working families. |
|
|
|
LCLAA Convenes Hundreds of Latino and Union Leaders at "We Are One/ Somos Uno" Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico
|
| |
On August 4th-6th, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) held its Educational Conference at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The theme of the conference was "We Are One/Somos Uno," highlighting the urgency for workers to come together at a time when legislatures across the U.S. are utilizing economic problems as a pretext to weaken the rights and voice of workers on the job.
Convening in Puerto Rico was imperative to LCLAA and the Puerto Rican labor movement, because the island's workers faced attacks to their job security and collective bargaining rights long before workers in the mainland. And despite the threat of Tropical Storm Emily, delegates to the conference were energized and eager to learn about a range of challenges hindering the advancement of Latino working families. |
|
GENERAL SESSIONS
"We are One/ Somos Uno:"
From Puerto Rico to Wisconsin, Rising Up Against Growing Attacks on Workers"
|
|
 | |
Jose La Luz Associate Director of Education and Leadership (AFSCME), Jose Melara, Organizing Coordinator for Region 9A (UAW), Edgar de Jesus, Area Organizing Director (AFSCME-Eastern Region), and New York State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz.
|
 | |
Jose "Lole" Rodriguez Baez, President of the Puerto Rico AFL-CIO; Manuel Perfecto President of UGT-SEIU 1199; and Luisa Acevedo, UFCW Local 481 President.
|
A distinguished line-up of labor leaders came together to discuss strategies to push back against political attacks on working people. As legislatures across the country threaten to deprive workers of their rights and benefits, leaders from the Puerto Rican labor movement shared stories from the frontlines in the island's two year struggle to successfully restore collective bargaining rights for public workers.
|
50.5 million Latinos: Strategies for Expanding
Latino Representation in the Labor Movement
|
| |
|
| |
Juan Cartagena, President and General Counsel of PRLDEF, and *Christine Trujillo, AFT National VP and LCLAA Exec. Board Member.
|
 | |
Edison Severino, LIUNA local 78 Business Manager and LCLAA Exec. Board Member.
|
LCLAA believes that unions can improve job quality for some of the most vulnerable workers while Latinos can revitalize the labor movement as they grow union rolls and rise to leadership positions. At this session, Latino and union leaders gathered to educate LCLAA delegates about the impressive growth of Latinos across the United States and what this means for the labor movement. Labor leaders shared what the labor movement is currently doing to organize and educate Latinos and promote their advancement within the union. LCLAA's recent report, "Latino Workers in the United States, 2011," highlights the benefits of unionization for Latinos and how our community can revitalize the labor movement.
|
Strengthening the Social Safety Net;
Expanding Access to Health Care and Building Retirement Security
|
|
 | |
Lillian Rodriguez-Lopez, President of the Hispanic Federation and Chair of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA); Lorraine Cortez-Vazquez, Exec. VP for Multicultural Markets & Engagement at AARP.
|
 | |
Jeff Cruz, Executive Director of Latinos for a Secure Retirement and Kevin Finnegan, Political Director SEIU1199.
|
So that all Latinos can enjoy crucial health benefits and retire with economic security after a lifetime of hard work, this general session event looked at our social safety net and called on LCLAA members to expand health care access among Latinos and fight against attacks to key public services like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
When it comes to retirement security, Latinos have much to lose. This is why LCLAA -along with several national Latino organizations- launched Latinos for a Secure Retirement, a coalition to protect the economic security of Latino seniors and raise awareness about misguided proposals to reform Social Security. Over the next few months, Latinos for a Secure Retirement will be coming to a city near you to talk about building retirement security.
|
Trabajadoras: Challenges and Strategies to the
Empowerment of Latina Workers
|
 | |
Congresswoman Carmen Yulin-Cruz, Member of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Aida Garcia, Executive VP of LCLAA and SEIU1199's Homecare Division.
|
 | |
From left to right: Lorraine Cortez-Vazquez, Exec. VP at AARP, Julie Kushner, Director of UAW Region 9A, and Annette Gonzalez, President of Servidores Publicos Unidos, (AFSCME council 95).
|
On August 5th, 2011, LCLAA held a women's luncheon entitled "Trabajadoras: Challenges and Strategies to the Empowerment of Latina Workers" to look at workplace issues affecting the health, safety and advancement of Latina workers. Luncheon speakers featuredprominent women in government, labor, and the non-profit sector, who shared their expertise and personal struggles to achieve working environments and communities that are safe, equitable and meet the needs of women in our society. Panelists discussed pay inequity, discrimination, sexual harassment, violence and other issues affecting Latina working women.
To address the need labor rights education and outreach to Latina workers, LCLAA will launch the "Trabajadoras" campaign. This effort will combine, research, community education and a national media campaign to empower Latinas with the information and resources they need to have a voice on the job.
|
The 2012 Elections and Beyond: Voter Suppression and Emerging Challenges to the Civic Engagement of Communities of Color
|
|
| |
From left to right: Steven Carbo (DEMOS), Kevin Finnegan (SEIU1199), Yolanda Pumarejo (SSEU), and LCLAA Exec. Board Member Rick de la Fuente (IAM).
|
2010 census data shows that there are currently 118 congressional districts where Latinos constitute more than one-fifth of the population, an increase from only 28 districts in 2000. Within those districts, 93 can be found in California, Texas, Florida, and New York, four states with the largest concentration of electoral votes. Experts in the field discussed the growth of Latinos in the American electorate and the attempts by conservatives to push for new Voter I.D. requirements, reduced early voting timeframes, and redistricting to disenfranchise and limit the influence of our community in the political process.
|
|
A GLANCE AT OUR CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS
The State of Latino Education: Educating Our Children for Success in the Workforce of the Future
|
Zuraya Tapia (Hispanic National Bar Association) stressed the importance of mentoring Latino youth and investing in them so they can pursue higher education. To her right she is joined by Anita Gomez-Palacios (Council of School Supervisors & Administrators) and Delia Garcia (National Education Association).
|
 | |
LCLAA delegates and members of the United Federation of Teachers learned about strategies to promote the advancement of Latino youth and increase parent engagement in their education.
|
| |
Reforming Immigration: Latinos and Labor United Against Anti-Immigrant Extremism
|
*Yanira Merino, National Immigration Coordinator and Asst. to the General President of LIUNA moderated the session on labor and immigration.
*LCLAA Exec. Board Member
Andrea Zuniga DiBitetto Legislative Representative for the AFL-CIO talks about the work of the labor movement to support the rights of Latino students and immigrant workers.
Sonia Ramirez, Deputy Director of Government Affairs explains the Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD) position on immigration reform.
|
|
LCLAA believes that our current immigration policies are flawed and misguided,and they undermine the human and civil rights of 11 million undocumented people in the U.S.. Due to the lack of Congressional inaction on immigration reform, states have taken immigration authority into their own hand, unfairly targeting Latino and dark-skinned workers, families, and students as we have seen with Arizona's SB 1070, and copycat bills in other states. In this workshop, a panel of legal experts, labor and community leaders discussed the critical role of the labor movement in advocating for immigration reform and labor protections for all workers in the U.S., regardless of their legal status.
|
| |
Green Jobs and Public Health: How Environmental Protection and Clean Energy Can Save Lives and Create Jobs
|
|
|
 | |
Curtis Roberts with AREVA explains what clean energy is, the types of clean energy available to meet our energy needs and the economic and health benefits to our communities.
|
 | |
Roger Toussaint, TWU International VP and Director of Strategic Planning tells LCLAA members that the fight against climate change is a fight to protect people. "It's about you, me and our children."
|
LCLAA is the co-founder and vice-chair of the National Latino Coalition on Climate Change (NLCCC). We are committed to educate the Latino community about the need to fight climate change and promote clean, renewable and efficient energy sources and technologies that will create good jobs and keep our communities healthy and safe.
|
|
Expanding Internet Access:
Broadband's Role in Creating Jobs &
Closing the Digital Divide
 | |
Norelie Garcia, Assoc. VP of Federal Public Affairs (AT&T) talks about AT&T's $47 billion investment to expand broadband access which is promoting entrepreneurship and creating new jobs across the U.S.
Debbie Goldman, Policy Director & Research Economist (CWA) discussed the AT&T and T-Mobile Merger. "If the merger is approved, over 23,000 T-Mobile workers will have the option to join a union."
|
LCLAA believes that expanding internet access is a critical element to create jobs, promote economic growth, and improve education, health care, and public safety. In this economy, our nation needs quality jobs with the right to organize, this is why LCLAA is standing with the AFL-CIO, CWA and IBEW in support of the AT&T and T-Mobile Merger to bring the union advantage to tens of thousands of T-Mobile workers who lack the opportunity to bargain collectively for job security, better wages, benefits, working conditions and professional development opportunities.
Youth in Action! Young and Restless, Embracing Youth in the Labor Movement
 | |
Cesar Moreno, AFT Asst. Director for Human Rights and Community Relations moderated the youth workshop. Cesar is a LCLAA Executive Board member and also serves as AFL-CIO delegate to the Working Youth Committee of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA-ITUC).
|
 | |
Young Latino leaders representing the labor, Latino and student movement shared strategies to attract and retain Latino youth into the labor movement. From left to right: Luz Minaya, (UFT) Delia Garcia (NEA), Carlos Saavedra (United We Dream) and Guadalupe Johnson (CSEA).
|
Building Black/Brown Coalitions:
Unity in the Face of Common Challenges
 | |
Santos Crespo, President of AFSCME local 372 and Kenneth Rigmaiden, General VP of IUPAT discuss the need to build trust and cooperation among Latinos and African-Americans to secure equal rights and opportunities for our communities.
|
 | |
After every workshop, LCLAA members participated in a "Head, Heart and Hands" exercise where they shared what they thought, felt or wanted to do about the issues they learned about.
|
High rates of unemployment, poverty, inadequate educational attainment, limited access to health care and discrimination are all common issues that hinder the advancement of African Americans and Latinos alike. The social and economic advancement of our communities, along with increased political participation, are goals shared by advocates of communities of color. The purpose of this workshop was to initiate an ongoing dialogue on strategies to build bridges between the Latino and African-American community with the long-term goal of fostering a Black-Brown alliance based on mutual respect and recognition of common struggles and goals shared by our communities. |
|
WELCOME RECEPTION:
"NOCHE DE BLANCO"
 | |
LCLAA's Welcome Reception titled "Noche de Blanco" was a night of celebration as LCLAA members dressed in white, in solidarity with the countless men and women who fought to reinstate collective bargaining rights for public workers in Puerto Rico.
|
 | |
Julie Kushner, UAW Region 9A Director introduces Miguel Romero, Puerto Rico's Secretary of Labor and Human Resources.
|
DINNER & GALA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS  | |
Robert Martinez, IAM General VP and LCLAA National VP served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Awards Dinner and Gala.
|
 | |
Foster J. Stringer, AFT Director of Human Rights and Community Relations presented Maria Portalatin with the Lifetime Achievement Award: "For a lifetime of leadership, audacity and devotion to the dignity and empowerment of workers through organizing, the union contract, and civic engagement."
|
COMMUNITY WARRIOR FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD  | | LCLAA honored Joseph Nazario for his leadership and commitment to LCLAA and the labor movement. Nazario serves as Secretary-Treasurer for SSEU Local 371 and 2nd Vice President of NYC LCLAA. The award was presented by NYC Chapter Pres. & LCLAA VP Sonia Ivany and AFSCME International VP Braulio Torres. |
 | |
LCLAA delegates representing New York City LCLAA join their chapter president and LCLAA Vice President, Sonia Ivany at the Lifetime Achievement Awards Gala.
|
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS LCLAA Expands the Representation of Women in its National Executive Board   
The National LCLAA Executive Board is proud of the three new additions to its leadership. Evelyn de Jesus, Manhattan Borough Representative (UFT); Yolanda Pumarejo, SSEU Executive VP and Ana Avendaņo Assistant to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on Immigration and Community Action. LCLAA LAUNCHES "TRABAJADORAS CAMPAIGN" 
Latinas are particularly vulnerable in the workplace. They make 59 cents for every dollar earned by a white man and they confront serious occupational hazards including sexual harassment and assault. "An attack on the rights of Latina workers is an attack on LCLAA, this is why we are launching the "Trabajadoras" Campaign, to inform Latinas about their rights and raise national awareness about workplace issues that affect their safety, health and overall well-being." says Hector E. Sanchez, LCLAA's Executive Director. The National LCLAA would like to thank our National Executive Board, our sponsors and our loyal members for helping us make this conference a success! 
A special thanks to all the staff, interns and volunteers whose arduous work made this conference possible: Hector E. Sanchez, Executive Director Karla Pineda-Santos, Director of Operations Andrea L. Delgado, Senior Policy Analyst and Communications Manager Guadalupe Hernandez, Program Assistant Fernando Loera, Marketing & Technology Polimnia Rossin, Art Director Elianna Carballo, Intern Allyson Diaz, Intern Aya Hosch, Intern Ed Vargas, Volunteer Ryan Torres, Volunteer We couldn't have done it without you! |
|
|
This newsletter was exclusively for events that took place at LCLAA's Educational Conference in Puerto Rico. You may send Your Chapter Activities to be included in Next Month's e-mail Newsletter
|
| To submit photos of chapter activities please include a brief description of the event and e-mail them to adelgado@lclaa.org by September 21, 2011. |
|
|
|
|
