Labor Council for Latin American Advancement
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Michigan
LCLAA Labor Council for Latin American Advancement |
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Celia Ontiveros, President Michigan LCLAA ChaptersFlint-Genesee LCLAA Greater Lansing Area
LCLAA Kent County LCLAA Lenawee County LCLAA Oakland County LCLAA Saginaw LCLAA Wayne County
LCLAA A Nation of Immigrants- Resolution at the 2001 National AFL-CIO Convention Find Out What Social Security Privatization Means for Latinos in English or Spanish "We at LCLAA believe that the power of a united community can overcome any obstacle. LCLAA serves as a voice for change in the Latino community and recognizes the importance of mobilizing workers and their families. LCLAA will not rest until we see overall improved working conditions for all Latino workers here and throughout the Americas!" - Milton Rosado, National LCLAA President |
Reaching Out to Latino WorkersLatino workers are the fastest growing minority workforce in the state and often are exposed to dangerous work. One out of every two new workers in the U.S. are immigrants. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Latino workers have the highest rate of industrial injuries compared to white and black workers. Some experts believe that workplace injuries are under-reported because immigrant workers fear deportation or losing their jobs, or an unscrupulous employer fails to file an injury report. Origins of the MovementThe 1950’s brought many Latino activists to the forefront of the civil rights movement. These activists struggled to begin opening the doors of opportunity for the community by building solidarity and promoting economic justice for all working people. In 1972, Latino trade unionists from all across the United States and Puerto Rico joined together to make a commitment to the Latino community and pledged to fight for the rights of working people.These trade unionists fundamentally believed that through the union movement & the electoral process, Latinos would be able to strive for social dignity, economic equality, access to the political process and a higher quality of life for every Latino working family. These ideals became part of the “American Dream” for Latino working families. With this dream in mind, these Latino trade unionists made a commitment to the Latino community and formed the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), an organization dedicated to achieving this American dream for all Latino workers through the promotion of the union movement. LCLAA works with Latino union members to advocate for the rights of all Latino workers and their families at all levels of the American trade union movement and the political process. LCLAA strives to achieve social and economic equality for each and every Latino worker by developing programs that reach out and educate Latino workers about the importance of participating in the political process in order to ensure a strong voice for Latino working families. An AFL-CIO Constituency Group As an AFL-CIO constituency group, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement is a bridge to diverse communities, creating and strengthening partnerships to enhance the standard of living for all workers and their families. The groups also promote the full participation of minorities in the union movement and ensure unions hear and respond to the concerns of the communities they represent. Today, these constituency groups are investing new energy to support workers' efforts to join unions to improve their lives, drawing upon close ties in local communities to rally support for workplace justice. They have developed a common agenda focusing on six areas of mutual concern: promoting organizing and the freedom of workers to choose a union, encouraging women and minorities to participate in the political process, fighting discrimination, defending immigrant rights, building Union Cities and protecting retirement security. The Michigan chapter of LCLAA was officially formed on February 15, 2004. Building CommunitiesLCLAA builds coalitions between Unions and the Latino community in order to promote an inclusive working family agenda.LCLAA promotes civic participation by holding voter education campaigns and registering Latinos to vote. LCLAA works with Unions and the community to organize Latino workers so that they may have the freedom to join the union movement. LCLAA works with National organizations to advance the civil, economic and human rights of all Latinos. Celia Ontiveros |
