For Immediate Release
May 16, 2013

LABOR COUNCIL FOR LATIN AMERICAN ADVANCEMENT APPLAUDS COMMITTEE APPROVAL OF THOMAS PEREZ

WASHINGTON, D.C.— On behalf of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), the house of Latino labor, which represents the interests of over 2 million Latino/a trade unionist throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, Milton Rosado, President of LCLAA and Hector E. Sanchez, Executive Director of LCLAA issued the following statement on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee approval of Thomas Perez’s nomination for Secretary of Labor.

"We are very pleased the Senate HELP committee cleared Mr. Perez’s nomination for a full Senate vote. Latino workers fully support Mr. Perez nomination and we hope the Senate can act quickly to confirm him. We are confident that his experience and commitment to public service will serve our country well. We urge to the Senate to confirm him swiftly so he can begin his
work to enforce wage laws, job safety standards, and anti-discrimination laws,” said President of LCLAA, Milton Rosado.

“Today’s HELP committee vote is an important step in the right direction. Tom Perez has extensive experience of advocating and defending working families. At a time when the country is looking to government to lead and create jobs, we need a leader like Tom in the Department of Labor. We are encouraged by today’s vote and ask the full Senate to swiftly confirm Tom as our
next Secretary of Labor,” said Executive Director of LCLAA, Hector E. Sanchez.

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES, CONTACT: Victor Baten | Policy & Advocacy Coordinator | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 202.508.6989

The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is the leading national organization for Latino(a) workers and their families.   LCLAA was born in 1972 out of the need to educate, organize and mobilize Latinos in the labor movement and has expanded its influence to organize Latinos in an effort to impact workers' rights and their influence in the political process.  LCLAA represents the interest of more than 2 million Latino workers in the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), The Change to Win Federation, Independent Unions and all its membership.Visit LCLAA on the web at www.lclaa.org, on Facebook and Twitter.

###

For Immediate Release

February 26, 2013

NATION’S TOP LATINO CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS JOIN GLOBAL BOYCOTT OF HYATT HOTELS

Groups join growing list of supporters urging Hyatt to improve substandard working conditions for housekeeping staff

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and joined a global boycott of Hyatt hotels in response to widespread evidence of harmful working conditions for hotel housekeepers, who are predominantly women of color, including Latinas.  The groups pledged to not hold any conventions, conferences, special events or major meetings at Hyatt hotels covered by the boycott.

UNITE HERE announced the boycott on July 23, 2012.  Since then, the effort to push for the improvement of working conditions and ensure the right of workers to organize has received increasing support from more than 5,000 individuals and organizations, including the AFL-CIO, the NFL Players Association, the National Organization of Women (NOW), Feminist Majority, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Netroots Nation and Interfaith Worker Justice.  To date, the boycott has cost the company more than $27 million in business.

"A majority of the Hyatt hotel workers are women. LCLAA supports the boycott to fight back against unscrupulous employers who abuse theirTrabajadoras (women workers) by using tactics such as replacing their longtime employees with overworked minimum-wage temporary workers." Milton Rosado, President for the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. 

“We will not stand by and allow anyone to continue to profit on the injured backs of our trabajadoras (women workers).  In our research for ourTrabajadoras report, data showed that hotel workers are more likely to report injuries on the job if they know they have the right to do so and are associated with organizations that will back them if they are subjected to employer retaliation.  We proudly join the thousands of individuals and organizations in supporting the Hyatt trabajadoras through this global Hyatt boycott,” said Hector E. Sanchez, Executive Director for the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

“The pattern of exploitation of housekeepers in Hyatt hotels is not only at odds with Hyatt’s commitment to hospitality but also inexcusable.  For years, Latina housekeepers and their supporters have asked for the most basic and humane changes in the workplace to help reduce injuries and physical strain.  We are joining these courageous workers in calling on Hyatt to stop this pattern of abuse and become an industry leader in respecting workers’ health and safety,” said NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía. 

In a study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine examining a total of 50 hotel properties from five different hotel companies, Hyatt housekeepers had the highest injury rate of all housekeepers studied when compared by hotel company.

“The too-often unseen and ignored workers who ensure a comfortable stay at hotels like Hyatt deserve respect and scrupulous adherence to their rights under law,” stated Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel of MALDEF.  “The global boycott of Hyatt sends a clear statement that consumers expect hotel operators to operate consistently with well-established principles of decency and fairness.”

LCLAA, NCLR and MALDEF are calling on Hyatt to:

• Improve working conditions and reduce physical strain for housekeepers by complying with the recommendations outlined in a letter sent to Hyatt by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on April 25, 2012.
• Agree to the workers’ request to remain neutral when nonunion workers try to organize.
• Settle expired collective bargaining agreements with worker representatives on terms comparable to other major hotel chains, such as Marriott, Blackstone/Hilton and Starwood.

FOR MORE INFORMATION regarding the boycott, visit www.hyatthurts.org.

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES, CONTACT: Diana Villa | Communications Manager |  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  | 202.508.6989

The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is the leading national organization for Latino(a) workers and their families.   LCLAA was born in 1972 out of the need to educate, organize and mobilize Latinos in the labor movement and has expanded its influence to organize Latinos in an effort to impact workers' rights and their influence in the political process.  LCLAA represents the interest of more than 2 million Latino workers in the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), The Change to Win Federation, Independent Unions and all its membership.Visit LCLAA on the web at www.lclaa.org, on Facebook and Twitter.

###

LAS VEGAS, NV—LCLAA was present as President Obama announced his plans on immigration reform. We welcome the efforts of the President to move forward with an immigration policy that includes a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented workers who have so vigorously contributed to our country’s economy, and want nothing more than to achieve the American Dream.

The Latino influence on the outcomes of this past election season mandates immediate action. We denounce any language that seeks to prolong a path to citizenship and ignores the decades long worth of strife that these immigrant communities have endured. It is time that these workers are granted full rights and equal protection under law.

“The Senators’ announcement, coupled with President Obama’s release of his Administration’s immigration reform principles is a clear sign that the time to act on immigration reform is now. We are mindful that the devil is in the details and that we must continue to work to ensure that eligibility requirements of any bill do not unfairly exclude working families.” -- Milton Rosado, LCLAA President

“The Latino giant was wide awake this past election season and demands to be heard. No longer can politicians ignore the failing immigration system that operates on the backs of 11 million plus immigrant workers in the shadows of our profiting country. We need legislation that acknowledges and reflects the dignity of the immigrant workers that work for their children, pay their taxes and contribute to our economy.”-- Hector E. Sanchez, LCLAA Executive Director

The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is the leading national organization for Latino(a) workers and their families.   LCLAA was born in 1972 out of the need to educate, organize and mobilize Latinos in the labor movement and has expanded its influence to organize Latinos in an effort to impact workers' rights and their influence in the political process.  LCLAA represents the interest of more than 2 million Latino workers in the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), The Change to Win Federation, Independent Unions and all its membership.Visit LCLAA on the web at www.lclaa.org, on Facebook and Twitter.

###

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Diana Villa | LCLAA | 202-508-6989

Trabajadores Latinos Optimistas sobre la Reforma Migratoria.

LAS VEGAS, NV- LCLAA estuvó presente durante el discurso del Presidente Obama donde anunció sus planes sobre la reforma migratoria. Acogemos con beneplácito los esfuerzos del Presidente para seguir adelante con una política de inmigración que incluya el camino hacia la ciudadanía para millones de trabajadores indocumentados que han contribuido con tanto vigor a la economía de nuestro país, y quienes solo buscan alcanzar el sueño americano.

La influencia latina en los resultados de la pasada temporada electoral, demanda una acción inmediata. Denunciamos cualquier declaración que busque prolongar el camino a la obtención de la ciudadanía e ignore las décadas de larga lucha que estas comunidades de inmigrantes han aguantado. Es hora de que a estas y estos trabajadores se les conceda el pleno uso de sus derechos y la misma protección bajo la ley.

“El anuncio de los Senadores, donde concuerdan con el presidente Obama y su administración en cuanto a los principios de la reforma migratoria es una clara señal de que el momento de actuar sobre esta reforma es ahora. Estamos conscientes de que lo importante está en los detalles y que debemos seguir trabajando para garantizar que los requisitos de elegibilidad de cualquier proyecto de ley no excluya injustamente a las familias trabajadoras "-. Milton Rosado, Presidente de LCLAA

"La fuerza de la comunidad latina estuvo completamente despierta durante el pasado proceso electoral y exige ahora ser escuchada. Los políticos ya no podrán hacer caso omiso al deficiente sistema de inmigración en el beneficiando a nuestro país viven a la sombra 11 millones de trabajadores inmigrantes. Necesitamos una legislación que reconozca y refleje la dignidad de los inmigrantes que trabajan por sus hijos, pagan sus impuestos y contribuyen a nuestra economía "-. Héctor E. Sánchez, Director Ejecutivo de LCLAA

The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is the leading national organization for Latino(a) workers and their families.   LCLAA was born in 1972 out of the need to educate, organize and mobilize Latinos in the labor movement and has expanded its influence to organize Latinos in an effort to impact workers' rights and their influence in the political process.  LCLAA represents the interest of more than 2 million Latino workers in the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), The Change to Win Federation, Independent Unions and all its membership.Visit LCLAA on the web at www.lclaa.org, on Facebook and Twitter.

###

Contacto: Diana Villa, 202.508.6989

LCLAA Hails Secretary Solis' Tenure As Head Of the Department Of Labor

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Yesterday, Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis, the first and only Latina in a top cabinet post, announced her decision to resign. The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) hails Secretary Hilda Solis for her unrelenting commitment to working-families during her tenure at the Labor Department.As head of the Department, Secretary Solis succeeded in improving working conditions, increasing enforcement of labor laws, and increasing employment opportunities for all Americans.
 
Secretary Solis has never lost sight of her own working-class roots or her Latino heritage. Her time at the Labor Department is marked with accomplishment on behalf of these communities. She brought "Labor" back to the Department of Labor and always stood on the side of workers. Under her guidance, the agency held the first-ever Latino Worker Safety Summit to address safety and health issues, and issued long-awaited standards  to protect workers in industries with the highest rates of work-related injuries and deaths. In addition, one of Secretary Solis' first actions was to increase the number of Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) inspectors and, in 2012, the Department collected more than $280 million in back wages.
 
Milton Rosado, President of LCLAA, stated,
"LCLAA leaders have always supported Hilda Solis as a State legislator and through her confirmation because she embodied the democratic ideals that recognize the importance of having a collective voice. As cabinet member, she worked to strike fear into the minds of unscrupulous employers. We are sad to see this champion for working families leave, but wish our long-time friend the best in her future endeavors. We hope that President Obama continues to appoint leadership that represents our growing demographic and who, like she, recognizes that what is necessary for the well-being of working families is also vital to the progress of our nation."
 
Hector E. Sanchez, Executive Director of LCLAA, stated, "Secretary Solis is a longtime friend of LCLAA. She exemplifies the best of our Latino community and the labor movement.  From the moment she took office four years ago, employers knew that the sheriff was back in town to enforce labor laws on behalf of the most vulnerable workers in our country, a majority of whom are Latinos. We are honored to have had such a strong champion for Latino working-families.  While we will deeply miss her as Secretary of Labor, we know that whatever she chooses to do, she will remain a strong advocate for workers."
 

The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is the leading national organization for Latino(a) workers and their families.   LCLAA was born in 1972 out of the need to educate, organize and mobilize Latinos in the labor movement and has expanded its influence to organize Latinos in an effort to impact workers' rights and their influence in the political process.  LCLAA represents the interest of more than 2 million Latino workers in the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), The Change to Win Federation, Independent Unions and all its membership.Visit LCLAA on the web at www.lclaa.org, on Facebook and Twitter.

###

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Diana Villa | LCLAA | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 508-6989