Trabajadoras Campaign: Empowering & Protecting Latinas at Work

To enhance focus on the needs of Latina women in the U.S., the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) has announced the start of a campaign entitled “Trabajadoras.”  The mission of this campaign is to raise awareness about how Latina women fare in U.S. society. This campaign combines research, policy, advocacy and mobilization around the challenges Latinas face, including a bilingual community and media outreach effort that will empower Latinas with the information and resources necessary to improve conditions in their workplaces and communities. LCLAA’s “Trabajadoras” campaign will increase awareness about worker protections and safety with a particular focus on Latina women in the workforce.

THE NEED
Latina workers face many challenges and are disproportionately vulnerable to violations of wage and hour laws and safety regulations.  Latina working women represent 12.8 percent of women in the U.S. workforce and their jobs are among the most dangerous and least compensated in the nation; Latina working women earn on average 60 cents for each dollar that white men earn. Furthermore, their experience on the job often entails sexual harassment, poverty-level pay and minimal access to healthcare. Of these women, unauthorized Latina workers fare even worse. These women face daily and systemic exploitation, dangerous working conditions, low wages, sexual and physical violence at the workplace as well as the threat of deportation for reporting any violations.

LCLAA CAMPAIGN
Looking at workplace issues through a gender lens.  To advance an agenda that ensures workers’ rights for all and increase awareness about worker protections and safety, LCLAA is looking at the intersection of workplace issues with gender, ethnicity and immigration.  This campaign combines research, policy, advocacy and mobilization around the challenges Latinas face, including a bilingual community and media outreach effort that will provide them with relevant information and resources to help them improve their working conditions.  This effort will also integrate a civic engagement component to ensure the priorities of Latinas and their families are heard in our democratic process.

TRABAJADORAS WEBPAGE & RESOURCE CENTER
LCLAA created a user-friendly and bilingual webpage that provides access to English and Spanish language information and resources on labor issues affecting women.

SAVE THE DATE!
On March 27, 2012, LCLAA will release “Trabajadoras,” a report in which LCLAA will shine a light on how Latina workers are faring in the U.S. and the efforts needed to bring their status to the standard in the U.S..

You are invited to join LCLAA as a participant and/or sponsor to show your support and commitment to justice and dignity for Latina workers.  At the luncheon, LCLAA will honor leaders in our communities who have stood up against injustice to improve the quality of life of Latino workers.