Unit 2: Labor Rights

Overview

In this subsection of Latinx social justice, we will focus on Labor rights.

In examining the historical contributions of Latinos within the U.S., one cannot overlook their indispensable roles in labor, particularly in industries that feed America, such as dairy and agriculture. Latinos not only grow our food but contribute in large numbers to food processing, packaging, and delivery of meat, poultry, and produce. They are also an important part of the workforce in construction, particularly drywall; in the essential work of direct health care delivery; in the service and tourist industries of hotels, restaurants, and resorts; in landscape and park service work, and much more. Millions are educated professionals, who are doctors, lawyers, educators, and businessmen and women. 

Regrettably, despite their fundamental significance as workers, numerous Latinos encounter systemic labor rights discrimination. This issue is especially pronounced for those undocumented, who often suffer from under- and non-payment of work, as well as sexual harassment. The endeavors of the United Farm Workers Union, spearheaded in the 1960s by the distinguished activists Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, is one of several organizations that have fought for decades for the rights of workers. Much can be learned from studying their struggles and accomplishments. They continue to focus on the intertwined challenges of immigration status and labor rights. An exploration of both historical and prevailing federal and state labor laws elucidates their direct implications for Latino workers and why activism is still needed, as laws can, sometimes leave workers without adequate safeguards. 

Below you’ll find specific lesson plans explaining how the labor rights movement started, dissecting specific court cases that contributed to Labor Rights movements, and exploring how Connecticut contributed to the success or set back the Labor Rights for the Latinx community.

Objectives

  • Define the problem related to labor rights, highlighting the challenges and disparities faced by Latino workers. 
  • Assess the significance of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huertas’s “The United Farm Worker’s Union” within the broader context of the Labor Rights Movement. 
  • Analyze the intersection of immigration status and labor rights, including how immigration policies impact the workplace experiences of Latino workers.
  • Recognize the federal and state labor laws and how such laws impact Latino workers.