Latino Heritage: Resistance and Resilience
Querida familia LCLAA,
We cannot truly celebrate our heritage while Latino families are being torn apart, when workers are disappearing, arbitrarily arrested, or wrongfully deported. To honor our legacy means fighting back against policies that seek to erase our history and diminish our contributions.
From the fields to the factories, from hospitals to airports, from the streets to the classroom, Latinos have always been at the heart of America’s workforce and the core of the Labor Movement. We have built this country’s strength with our labor, our voices, and our love.
This October, as we mark Latina Equal Pay Day, we are reminded of the deep inequities our communities continue to face. Latinas earn far less than their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts, meaning we must work nearly 10 extra months into the following year to earn the same pay. This wage gap is not just an individual burden, it weakens entire families and communities by limiting access to healthcare, education, housing, and economic security. Closing this gap is about more than fairness; it is about dignity, justice, and ensuring that Latinas receive the value of their labor and the respect they have long deserved.
Today, Latinos are at the forefront of the fight for justice. Across the nation, we are resisting laws that aim to criminalize us simply for who we are. As defenders of immigrant families and our communities, we stand on the frontline—in our unions, our workplaces, and in the streets.
We call on all Latinos, all union siblings, allies—¡y a toda la familia LCLAA! Stand united. Defiendan nuestras comunidades y nuestras familias. We are not going anywhere, and we will not allow anyone to erase our contributions. Our labor, our love, and our legacy will endure for generations to come.
In Solidarity,
Evelyn DeJesus,
LCLAA National President.
|
Latina Equal Pay Day, Take Action!
|
📢 Save the Date: Latina Equal Pay Day 📢
On October 8th, we unite to demand justice for Latina workers and fight for the economic security and safety of our communities.
💻 Join our Social Media Storm at 2pm ET / 11am PT
📲 Follow and use #LatinaEqualPay and #Trabajadoras on all platforms
Sign on as a 2025 Latina Equal Pay Day Partner by completing this form: Partner Form
|
10 Years of the National Latina Equal Pay Campaign: The Fight for Justice Continues ✨ For a decade, we’ve united to demand pay equity and shine a light on the wage gap that robs Latinas of thousands each year. Join us on October 8th Use the hashtags: #LatinaEqualPay #Trabajadoras and tag our partners @lclaa @mujerxsrising @equalpay2dayorg @equalrightsadv
|
The Fight for True and Dignity
Since last March, many of us have followed the story of Kilmar Abrégo García, an immigrant from El Salvador, detained and wrongly deported to El CECOT, the infamous mega Salvadoran prison. Why does this case matter? Why is Kimar's story so relevant today? And how does it reveal the ways immigrant workers resist today's anti-immigrant policies? Join us for a conversation with Jaime Contreras, Executive Vice President of SEIU 32BJ's Capital Area District, as we dive deep into this urgent and powerful story. Listen to this episode of El Cafecito del Día here.
|
Fighting for our Communities: Los Nuevos Líderes Latinos
En este episodio de El Cafecito del Día, we share a conversation with Ximena Arias Cristobal, a young activist who was detained and taken to the Whitfield County Jail in Georgia, and one of the keynote speakers at the 25th LCLAA National Convention, in Atlanta, Georgia. By sharing her story, she has become the voice de los inmigrantes que sufren las consecuencias of the anti-immigrant policies and an advocate for young latinos and immigrant families.
Listen to El Cafecito del Día with Ximena Arias Cristobal here.
|
10 Years of Latina Equal Pay
LCLAA is proud to be part of history! On behalf of LCLAA, Executive Director, Karla Pineda, received the 2025 Champion of Change Award during the celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Latina Equal Pay.
LCLAA has stood strong with las trabajadoras Latinas, amplifying their fight for equal pay, fair wages, and dignity on the job. 30 women, leaders, including AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler were honored for their support to this tremendous effort.
|
Central Florida LCLAA Chapter
Join the Central Florida LCLAA Chapter to celebrate 15 years of championing for the rights and dignity of Latino Workers and their families. This special event will bring together labor leaders, elected officials, advocates, and community allies to reaffirm our share commitment for justice and equity.
More details to come.
|
LCLAA | Advocacy, Justice, and Equity Associate: This position will work closely with the Executive Director to support national and local advocacy efforts, coordinate campaigns and strengthen partnerships with allies committed to empowering Latino workers and their families and to identify funding opportunities. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator, a skilled organizer, and a passionate advocate who thrives in both grassroots and policy environments. For more information visit HERE. Submit your application to Karla Pineda, Executive Director kpineda@lclaa.org
LCLAA | Advocacy, Communications and Policy Internship Program: LCLAA’s Internship Program exposes interns to administrative, communications, research, and legislative advocacy work. For more information email kpineda@lclaa.org.
|
El Avance is published by the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), the leading national organization for Latino(a) workers and their families. Since its inception in 1972, LCLAA has remained a grassroots organization driven and directed by Latino labor leaders who understand the importance of unionization in helping workers secure rights and protections on the job, empowering them to become voices for justice and change in their communities. To help us continue our support for workers, please consider donating to LCLAA and becoming a member. Thank you!
|
|
