BAC Hispanic Outreach

Local 18 California member Mario Reyes.

Hispanic Americans, the fastest-growing segment of the work force, are finding out that unions can be instrumental in helping them work their way up the economic ladder.

Each year, the International Union appoints BAC officers and representatives to serve as delegates to regional and national programs sponsored by labor and leading Hispanic groups in an effort to promote participation by minorities in the union movement, and to strengthen partnerships between unions and organizations in diverse communities. Two notable programs that offer tools and information for outreach to Latino communities and workers are annual conferences sponsored by the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), and the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Conference (USHLC).

LCLAA has grown from a small group of Latino workers who organized themselves in the 1970s to its current membership of 1.4 million Latino working men and women from 43 international unions. As the Latino constituency group within the AFL-CIO, LCLAA advocates for the rights of Latino workers and their families in all phases of the workplace, the union movement, and the political process.

Local 1 Texas/Louisiana/New Mexico Field Representative Anthony Tapia, a delegate to the 2001 LCLAA Conference held in July, said, “The conference was very educational, and has been helpful in areas where we deal with immigration problems constantly. I liked the fact that we were able to meet with fellow Hispanic union leaders throughout the country, and learn from each other as well.”

The largest Hispanic conference in the U.S. is the USHLC, which attracted nearly 8,000 participants to its September meeting. The USHLC brings Hispanic students together with labor, corporate, government, university, and nonprofit communities for leadership training and education. BAC Region 8 Director John Franco, a participant in this and past conferences, sees USHLC as an “opportunity to develop the Hispanic leaders of the future by bringing in the present leaders. At the conference in September, BAC and IMI had exhibits that emphasized masonry’s multiple career paths.

Although we realize many of the students at the conference plan to attend college, we want them to know that the trades are a viable alternative,” said Franco. He added, “a strong BAC presence at these events also helps us make connections with future architects, engineers, and designers, and to familiarize them with masonry materials and systems. By encouraging them to design and build with masonry, we also have an opportunity to create work for our members.”

Local 21 Illinois Organizer Andrew Gasca also attended the USHLC and credits the conference’s workshops with “providing a better sense of the way Hispanic communities feel throughout the country.” According to Gasca, one workshop focused on both the benefits and obstacles of organizing Hispanic workers into the union movement. Participants discussed how Hispanic individuals and communities are making inroads in the political and corporate worlds. In contrast, the labor movement is having a tough time organizing certain segments of the work force, such as day laborers.

“The good thing about this conference was that it shows the Hispanic community that they can make a difference, and that labor will work with them,” said Gasca.