When we started the LCLAA Twin Cities Chapter a year ago, we had a simple yet powerful goal: to create a safety net for our community and provide a space where union leaders and workers could come together to advocate for our rights.
We knew the daily challenges Latino workers face – wage theft, racial profiling, worker misclassification and the constant fear of worksite raids. These are not new problems, and they have intensified, making it harder for our communities to thrive.
The reality is stark. Many of our brothers and sisters fear going to work, sending their children to school or even walking through the town. The possibility of being separated from their families looms over them, and as a result, many hesitate to report labor violations, speak up about unsafe working conditions or demand fair wages.
When workers are afraid, employers with bad intentions take advantage. They misclassify workers, cut corners on safety and drive down wages. When legal status and language barriers come into play, it becomes even harder for workers to fight back. The blame, unfortunately, often falls on the workers themselves rather on the companies violating their rights.
This is why LCLAA, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, exists.
Since its founding in 1972, LCLAA has been at the forefront of the labor movement, ensuring that Latino workers have a voice. From advocating for fair wages and safer workplaces to fighting for immigrants’ rights and political inclusion, we have spent more than 50 years standing up for our communities.
Here in the Twin Cities, we are working to continue the legacy. Just last month, we hosted an event where an immigration attorney answered urgent questions from our members. We also distributed “Know Your Rights” cards, provided legal resources through the AFL-CIO, and made sure our community members had the information they need to protect themselves and their families.
But we know that one meeting is not enough. This is just the beginning.
Our LCLAA Twin Cities chapter is committed to ensuring that workers feel supported, informed, and empowered. We want to see more union members getting involved, more leaders stepping up and more allies joining us in the fight for dignity and respect.
The challenges ahead are real, but so is our determination. We are here to say that Latino workers are not alone. We are here to organize, to advocate, and to ensure that no one has to live in fear.
At LCLAA Twin Cities, we are just getting started.
– A member of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 386, Grecia Palomar serves as president of the LCLAA Twin Cities Chapter. She is a drywall finisher/safety instructor at the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest. To learn more about LCLAA, email twincities [at] lclaa [dot] org.
