The growing number of Latinos in unions is reshaping labor's focus, which may in turn help unions broaden their message and political influence, experts say.
Labor unions face an uncertain future as membership numbers decline. But labor activists and scholars point out that growing numbers of Latino members could help strengthen labor's message as unions broaden their causes to include civil rights, gender and immigration issues while they focus on voter engagement and registration.
“We are in robust dialogue in this country to recognize union strength and worker power as a way to achieve success on so many fronts," says Maria Peralta, national political director at the Service Employees International Union ."Whether it is health care or the environment, engaging Latinos on different levels can shift the power of the economy.”
Labor organizers point to unions' growing dependence on brown and black members, including a significant number of immigrants, particularly in the service and health care industries. Scholars who study unions point to the decline of manufacturing jobs and the rise of service-oriented jobs.
With the growing dependence of Latino families in their ranks, unions have been more vocal about immigrant rights and legislation, for instance praising the passage of the House's bill on Tuesday to give citizenship to the so-called Dreamers and temporary protected status, or TPS, holders. “The building trades industry cannot afford to lose long-standing and experienced professionals, currently in high demand due to labor shortages and to maintain a highly skilled workforce," stated Ken Rigmaiden, general president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. The union is part of a broader coalition, Working Families United, which put out the statement supporting the House bill.
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