Hispanic Initiative
The Hispanic workforce has growing importance and presence in the economy and society. The Labor Education Program at the University of Illinois recognizes that there is a great need for increased knowledge about workers’ rights, labor relations and related matters in the Hispanic community.
Therefore, LEP is committed to providing constructive education in the following three areas: (1) Leadership development for Hispanic workers throughout the state of Illinois, (2) Educational programming, in Spanish and bilingual formats, on worker’s rights, labor unions, constructive labor-management relations, and labor studies and (3) educational programs that help a new generation of Hispanic labor leaders to effectively address the concerns of Hispanic workers and build a bridge to the broader society.
The Initiative is lead by a Steering Committee composed of labor leaders and community leaders who share a vision around strategic educational initiatives for the Hispanic community.
Each year the Initiative will open with a fall conference on the University of Illinois at Chicago campus. The goals for the conference are to discuss problems Hispanic workers face in the workplace. Unions with Hispanic workers and community organizations that deal with workers’ problems are invited to attend.
In 2007 the conference addressed immigration history and the labor movement, the impact of globalization on collective bargaining, unionism, and important language in collective bargaining agreements.