LCLAA Gives Voice to Latino Workers

From left, BAC delegates to the 2002 national LCLAA meeting: Local 6 LA/MS/AL Organizer Claudia DeLeon; and Local 4 CA Field Representative Joe Solis. Not shown are Region 8 Director John Franco; IU Organizer Frank Lozano; Local 5 OK/AR President Ed Navarro; Local 1 TX/LA/NM Field Representative Anthony Tapia; IU Organizer Arturo Jurado; and IMI Regional Training Director Raoul Cervantes.

Eight BAC officers and organizers appointed by President John J. Flynn joined 1,000 delegates and guests at the 14th Labor Council for Latin American Advancement’s (LCLAA) national meeting from July 31 to August 4 in Dearborn, Michigan. LCLAA, a constituency group of the AFL-CIO, represents the interests of approximately 1.4 million Latino/a trade unionists throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

Delegates attended a series of presentations and training sessions — all with a heavy emphasis on the 2002 elections, organizing, and civil rights. According to BAC delegate and Region 8 Director John Franco, “speaker after speaker stressed the importance of organizing Latino and Latina union members to participate fully in achieving the American dream through the power of the union card and the ballot box.” Delegates heard presentations on proven techniques in recruiting Latino workers and how to pre-empt exploitative actions by unscrupulous employers. They were also urged to build support for immigrant rights by electing legislators who support immigrant workers, and by increasing their political voice by forging coalitions with community and church groups.