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THE IMPORTANCE OF UNIONS FOR LATINOS

By EDUARDO ROSARIO

For Latinos - and especially Latino immigrants - unions provide opportunities that are denied them virtually everywhere else in society.

As the labor movement looks to organize new members and strengthen players in rebuilding unions.

Sharing the commitment of unions to improving the living standards of working families, Latinos are bringing a new vitality to the movement. Many immigrants are highly politicized and deeply dedicated to the fight for justice because they have felt the sting of economic exploitation in their own countries and in the United States.

"Unions are the greatest poverty protection program in society," says Ed Ott, a professor and lecturer at the CUNY Graduate Center. Because of their experience of living in poverty, Latinos are naturally drawn to unions.

Latinos have long been disproportionately employed in low-wage jobs according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. One in four Latino families lives below the poverty level. Forty percent of Latinos earn poverty wages.

Many working-class Latinos — mindful of the benefits of working in a union workplace — are very responsive to union organizing campaigns.

A lot of Latino immigrant workers come with a wealth of knowledge and experience because they were union organizers and leaders in their home country.

Precisely because they come from countries that have endured tremendous economic dislocation and political violence caused by free trade policies and civil war, these workers, including millions from Central America, have a clear understanding of how important unions are. They understand the need to organize despite the risks, which include being fired and even killed.

For Latinos — and especially Latino immigrants — unions provide opportunities that are denied them virtually everywhere else in society. Unions democratize the workplace and are responsible for setting the standard on wages, hours, and working conditions.

Latinos are the fastest growing group in the United States. But their numbers do not necessarily translate into a greater voice in the workplace. A recent report by the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement found that 77 percent of Latino workers suffer minimum wage and overtime violations — more than any other ethnic group in the United States.

Twenty-four pertections of a union contract, they earn better wages and work in safer and healthier working conditions. The weekly median earning for Latina work ers when represented by a union is more than 42 percent higher than that of Latinas in the non-union jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The U.S. labor movement needs to step up its effort to organize Latinos.

By creating more space for Latinos and immigrants, the labor movement will not only make our unions stronger but also help build a more humane and democratic society.

Eduardo Rosario is president of the New York City chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and a grievance representative at Civil Service Technical Guild Local 375.