About Worker’s Rights

LCLAA is committed to improving the conditions of the Latino workers in the United States. While significant strides have been made to ensure Latino workers receive equal and fair treatment in the workplace, Latinos continue to suffer from higher rates of poverty and lower median wages than the average worker. Over a third of Latino immigrants earn less than minimum wage, and that number is even higher among Latinas, at 40 percent. Latino workers are disproportionately represented in dangerous workplace environments; environments that result in a death rate 21percent higher for Latino workers than the national average – higher than any other population group. Undocumented workers are particularly vulnerable to working in exploitative working conditions. Employers often bank on undocumented workers’ inability to voice their complaints for fear of deportation as grounds for keeping workplace safety standards unacceptably low.

LCLAA continues to promote collective bargaining rights through unionization for Latinos. Unions provide Latinos better wages, protections, and a voice in the workplace. Unionized Latino workers earn 51 percent more than their non-union counterparts and have increased access to health care and pension plans. Union membership can boost earnings for Latino workers and improve overall working conditions and Latino workers who are unionized are also more likely to enjoy health care benefits. LCLAA remains committed to promoting universal workplace safety standards and is a proponent of increasing OSHA oversight of workplace safety, enforcing stricter punishments for employers who fall below minimum safety standards, and advocating immunity from deportation for whistleblowing undocumented workers.