Labor Rights

The labor movement has been a driving force in the progress of human and workers’ rights. Yet, much of this progress and much of its successes still can not be fully enjoyed by Latino/a/x workers. LCLAA is resolute in its commitment to educating and preparing workers to utilize their labor rights to create healthier and more productive workplaces in the United States and its territories.

our priorities

Accessible Information for Voters: Knowing industry standards and workers’ rights are the first line of defense against workplace violations and lays the foundation for all the labor movement can accomplish. Too often, Latino/a/x and immigrant workers are kept in the dark about their rights and taken advantage of by their employers.

This is why LCLAA calls for the following: 

  • Legislation to promote pay transparency across industries

  • Federal initiatives and investment to educate workers on their rights in the workplace

  • Support and protections of union and worker centers “know your rights” trainings and campaigns

  • Reform that builds on the National Labor Relations Act and eliminates an employers’ right to hold captive audience meetings

Adequate Trainings and Preparation: To thrive in their industries, trades, and fields, workers have to be train on how to carry out their job requirements successfully. However, time and time again, receiving these training and apprenticeships are unattainable for Latino/a/x workers, preventing many from joining union jobs, from reaching their fullest potential, and from joining the middle class.

This is why LCLAA calls for the following: 

  • Scholarships and programming to make apprenticeships and trainings more accessible for all workers

    Increased oversight and evaluations to ensure that apprenticeship programs are providing high-quality,

    comprehensive training

Healthy and Safe Workplaces for All: Hundreds of workers take on our country’s most dangerous jobs; however, employers frequently fail to protect these workers from harm. These failures and the ever-present racism have led the share of Latino/a/x workers fatally injured on the job to continue to rise. Immigrant workers have been vulnerable to exploitation and retaliation, resulting in death on the job.

This is why LCLAA calls for the following: 

  • Strengthened protections against chemicals, equipment, temperatures, and other environmental factors

  • Full enforcement and increased oversight by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) on workplace safety and health law

  • Increased funding to better support and increase the capacity of job safety agencies

  • Legislation to tighten anti-discrimination safeguards, expand OSHA’s coverage to workers not currently covered, and enhance the rights of people who have suffered injuries or illnesses because of their jobs

  • Federal protections to ensure that all workers have a right to paid breaks

Making Organizing Accessible for All: Organizing empowers Latinos/as/xs throughout all fifty states, the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia to have safety in numbers in their fights to improve their pay, their benefits, and their working conditions. Yet, far too many obstacles remain that prevent Latinos/as/XS, immigrants, and specifically women, from organizing their workplaces.

This is why LCLAA calls for the following: 

  • Removing right-to-work laws that strip workers of their rights and serve to weaken and divide organizing efforts

  • Passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to expand workers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain

  • Programming to promote diverse leadership within unions to incorporate more voices in the labor movement

  • Increased funding for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to make the agency able to defend workers’ rights properly

  • Protection of project labor agreements (PLAs) that promote collective bargaining and safe labor conditions

Our work

podcasts

  • The Cost of the Cup: A Discussion on Labor Rights Now and in the Future

    Listen Now!

  • Illinois Workers Rights Amendment

    Everything you need to know about how this amendment affects the labor movement

    Listen Now!

  • No Contract, No Coffee! Starbucks Union Leaders Conversation

    Listen Now!

OUR RELATED RESOLUTIONS

Resolution 2: Adequate Trainings and Preparation for Workers

Resolution 6: Ensuring Labor Rights for Latino/a/x Workers

Resolution 10: Healthy and Safe Workplaces for All

Resolution 11: LCLAA urges the Biden-Harris Administration to Include Puerto Rico in the Executive Order Raising the Minimum Wage to $15 for Federal Contractors

Resolution 14: Resolution Calling for Free and Democratic Unions in Cuba as well as Ending the

Oppression of Free Speech and Freedom of Assembly Resolution.

Resolution 29: Calling on the Biden Administration to Investigate Maximus’ Unfair Labor Practices

Resolution 30: Calling For Free and Democratic Unions In Cuba and Ending The Oppression of Free Speech and Freedom of Assembly