Labor Council for Latin American Advancement
Encyclopedia
The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is a nonprofit
, nonpartisan
Latino
organization affiliated with the AFL-CIO
and the Change to Win federation. It was formed in 1973 to provide Latino trade union
members in the United States
with a more effective voice within the AFL-CIO, to encourage Latino participation on the democratic process, and to encourage the organization of Latino workers into labor unions.
LCLAA is the official "voice" of Latinos within the AFL-CIO, and one of six official "constituency groups."
LCLAA is based in the headquarters of the AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C.
In 2006, it had 65 chapters in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and claimed to represent 1.7 million Latino trade unionists.
, in 1965. The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
followed in 1972 to give a broader, more effective voice within the AFL-CIO to black workers, and the Coalition of Labor Union Women
was chartered in 1974. But it was the large influx of Latino workers brought about by the chartering of the United Farm Workers
in 1966 that led to a push by Latino labor union activists for a separate organization of their own.
Several years passed, however, before the growing militancy and political muscle of the emerging Latino movement moved AFL-CIO president George Meany
to agree to a Latino constituency group. In 1972, the AFL-CIO brought together hundreds of Latino labor activists and members of local Latino labor committees to form LCLAA. The organization's founding conference was held in Washington, D.C., on November 16, 1973. LCLAA's first president was Ray Mendoza, a member of the Laborers' International Union of North America
.
LCLAA has three primary goals. The first is to work with unions and community groups to organize Latino workers into unions. The second is to advance the social, economic, political and civil rights of Latinos by building coalitions with and among other unions and other national groups. The third goal is to promote Latinos' participation in the American democratic process.
LCLAA engages in a wide variety of projects in the furtherance of these goals. It has a significant lobbying and legislative presence in the nation's capital, and coordinates the work of state-level legislative work on certain issues such as immigrant rights and access to social services. LCLAA also conducts research on a number of policy issues affecting Latinos and non-citizen immigrant workers (whether Latino or not). It is currently very active in the U.S. immigration policy debate. LCLAA also conducts voter registration, education and mobilization efforts throughout each election cycle.
The membership elects nine national officers. The officers include a president, secretary-treasurer, executive vice president and six vice presidents to four-year terms.
The membership also elects an executive board of 36 members to four-year terms as well. In addition to the elected members, the nine officers of the organization also automatically sit on the board. All past-presidents (as of 2006, there are five living past-presidents) and the executive director of LCLAA are ex-officio members of the board as well. The board governs the affairs of LCLAA between membership meetings. It meets at least once a year, although it may meet more often than that, and may also make organizational or structural changes in the organization during the period between membership meetings.
The officers recommend, and the executive board approves, the appointment of an Advisory Board. The duties of the Advisory Board, however, are not spelled out in the LCLAA constitution.
LCLAA may establish, at its discretion, state and local councils. These councils are required to affiliate with their respective state and local AFL-CIO bodies. State and local councils do not exist in all areas, however, and the LCLAA constitution provides for at-large membership where they do not.
In 2006, the following were elected officers of LCLAA: Milton Rosado, a member of the United Auto Workers
, president; Aida Garcia, a member of the Service Employees International Union
, executive vice president; and Maria Portalatin, a member of the American Federation of Teachers
, secretary-treasurer.
In 2010, Hector E. Sanchez became LCLAA's executive director.
was an LCLAA vice president from 1986 to 1996.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
organization affiliated with the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
and the Change to Win federation. It was formed in 1973 to provide Latino trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
members in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with a more effective voice within the AFL-CIO, to encourage Latino participation on the democratic process, and to encourage the organization of Latino workers into labor unions.
LCLAA is the official "voice" of Latinos within the AFL-CIO, and one of six official "constituency groups."
LCLAA is based in the headquarters of the AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In 2006, it had 65 chapters in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and claimed to represent 1.7 million Latino trade unionists.
History and goals
LCLAA was founded in 1973 as part of a wave of constituency group organizing within the AFL-CIO. The AFL-CIO had chartered its first retiree organization, the National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSC), in 1962 and its first civil rights organization, the A. Philip Randolph InstituteA. Philip Randolph Institute
The A. Philip Randolph Institute is an organization for African American trade unionists.-History:Following passage of the Voting Rights Act, APRI was co-founded in 1965 by A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin...
, in 1965. The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of African American trade union members affiliated with the AFL-CIO....
followed in 1972 to give a broader, more effective voice within the AFL-CIO to black workers, and the Coalition of Labor Union Women
Coalition of Labor Union Women
The Coalition of Labor Union Women is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of trade union women affiliated with the AFL-CIO.CLUW has four goals:*Promoting affirmative action in the workplace*Strengthening the role of women in unions...
was chartered in 1974. But it was the large influx of Latino workers brought about by the chartering of the United Farm Workers
United Farm Workers
The United Farm Workers of America is a labor union created from the merging of two groups, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee led by Filipino organizer Larry Itliong, and the National Farm Workers Association led by César Chávez...
in 1966 that led to a push by Latino labor union activists for a separate organization of their own.
Several years passed, however, before the growing militancy and political muscle of the emerging Latino movement moved AFL-CIO president George Meany
George Meany
William George Meany led labor union federations in the United States. As an officer of the American Federation of Labor, he represented the AFL on the National War Labor Board during World War II....
to agree to a Latino constituency group. In 1972, the AFL-CIO brought together hundreds of Latino labor activists and members of local Latino labor committees to form LCLAA. The organization's founding conference was held in Washington, D.C., on November 16, 1973. LCLAA's first president was Ray Mendoza, a member of the Laborers' International Union of North America
Laborers' International Union of North America
The Laborers' International Union of North America is an American and Canadian labor union formed in 1903. As of March 31, 2010, they have about 632,000 members, members, about 80,000 of which are in Canada.The current general president is Terence M...
.
LCLAA has three primary goals. The first is to work with unions and community groups to organize Latino workers into unions. The second is to advance the social, economic, political and civil rights of Latinos by building coalitions with and among other unions and other national groups. The third goal is to promote Latinos' participation in the American democratic process.
LCLAA engages in a wide variety of projects in the furtherance of these goals. It has a significant lobbying and legislative presence in the nation's capital, and coordinates the work of state-level legislative work on certain issues such as immigrant rights and access to social services. LCLAA also conducts research on a number of policy issues affecting Latinos and non-citizen immigrant workers (whether Latino or not). It is currently very active in the U.S. immigration policy debate. LCLAA also conducts voter registration, education and mobilization efforts throughout each election cycle.
Structure
LCLAA is governed by its members in accordance with the constitutions of the LCLAA and AFL-CIO. Membership is open to any union member, active or retired. The membership meets biannually in even-numbered years (a policy and education conference is held in even-numbered years.) representatives to the national meeting are elected by local LCLAA chapters, international unions, AFL-CIO state federations, certain large AFL-CIO central labor councils and certain qualifying local AFL-CIO unions on the basis of a complex proportional representation formula.The membership elects nine national officers. The officers include a president, secretary-treasurer, executive vice president and six vice presidents to four-year terms.
The membership also elects an executive board of 36 members to four-year terms as well. In addition to the elected members, the nine officers of the organization also automatically sit on the board. All past-presidents (as of 2006, there are five living past-presidents) and the executive director of LCLAA are ex-officio members of the board as well. The board governs the affairs of LCLAA between membership meetings. It meets at least once a year, although it may meet more often than that, and may also make organizational or structural changes in the organization during the period between membership meetings.
The officers recommend, and the executive board approves, the appointment of an Advisory Board. The duties of the Advisory Board, however, are not spelled out in the LCLAA constitution.
LCLAA may establish, at its discretion, state and local councils. These councils are required to affiliate with their respective state and local AFL-CIO bodies. State and local councils do not exist in all areas, however, and the LCLAA constitution provides for at-large membership where they do not.
In 2006, the following were elected officers of LCLAA: Milton Rosado, a member of the United Auto Workers
United Auto Workers
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers , is a labor union which represents workers in the United States and Puerto Rico, and formerly in Canada. Founded as part of the Congress of Industrial...
, president; Aida Garcia, a member of the Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union is a labor union representing about 1.8 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States , and Canada...
, executive vice president; and Maria Portalatin, a member of the American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals...
, secretary-treasurer.
In 2010, Hector E. Sanchez became LCLAA's executive director.
Trivia
AFL-CIO executive vice president Linda Chavez-ThompsonLinda Chavez-Thompson
Linda Chavez-Thompson is a second-generation Mexican American and union leader. She was elected the executive vice-president of the AFL-CIO in 1995 and served until September 21, 2007. She is also a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and a member of the board of trustees of United Way...
was an LCLAA vice president from 1986 to 1996.