What’s at Stake for Latina Workers on November 5: The Election, Unions, and Economic Prosperity
By Paula Valle
With Election 2024 just around the corner, the role of labor unions in the U.S. has taken center stage. Polling from Pew Research shows a clear consensus: a majority of Americans believe the decline in union membership is detrimental to both the country and working people. This sentiment is especially significant for Latinas, who face some of the highest wage disparities in the U.S. despite their essential role to both our economy and communities. Nationally, Latinas earn just 64 cents for every dollar earned by non-Hispanic white men, with the disparity even more severe in California. Despite their educational achievements, Latinas are consistently underpaid, which impacts not only their households but also their communities and the economy at large. As a result, union representation has become an essential pathway to economic equity.
In advance of Latina Equal Pay Day 2024, Latina labor leaders gathered in a virtual meeting convened by the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO to discuss how to address the persistent Latina pay gap. Lorena Gonzalez, President of the California Labor Federation, invited participants to explore how union membership can be one answer to closing the gender wage gap for Latina workers. The gathering included a research briefing from Sonja Diaz, Co-Founder of Latina Futures 2050 Lab (Latina Futures), highlighting that union membership increases Latinas’ earnings to 76 cents on the dollar. The meeting also explored the unique role Latina union leaders play in raising issues to the forefront of national and state policy agendas.
Diaz underscored the long-term impact of the Latina wage gap, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. She highlighted that “Latinas left the labor force more than anybody else in the first part of the pandemic, and their reentry to the workforce will determine the economic prosperity of their multi-generational households, and the health of the American economy.”
This virtual briefing marked the beginning of a larger conversation, with Latina labor leaders like Susie Martinez, Gloria Alvarado, and Charmaine Morales leading the charge. Union contracts, collective bargaining, and legislative efforts remain crucial tools in the fight for Latina equal pay. California-based legislative allies such as Assemblywoman Liz Ortega and Senator Maria Elena Durazo continue to push for systemic changes to address this crisis.
“Union membership is not just a lever for fair pay; it’s essential to establishing workplace equity and protections that enable Latinas to thrive.” said California State Senator María Elena Durazo. “This is about securing livelihoods and enabling Latinas to fully participate in the economic progress of our communities.”
Beyond wage increases, unions provide essential protections, including fair workloads, robust health benefits, and anti-discrimination policies. These protections are vital, as Latinas often bear a disproportionate share of caregiving responsibilities while facing workplace challenges.
As swing states like Pennsylvania prepare for record voter turnout, union leaders are actively mobilizing Black and Latino voters, aiming to bring labor issues to the forefront. Labor unions have intensified efforts to engage voters of color, with national leaders underscoring the need to center workers’ rights in the election conversation. This engagement is critical, as research from Latina Futures shows that Latina voters make up 12% of registered women voters in 2024, underscoring their potential to influence policy on labor and economic equity.
However, the fight for pay equity cannot rest solely on the shoulders of these leaders. It requires collective action that centers on equal economic opportunity for women of color workers.
As the union landscape evolves, women of color are increasingly stepping into leadership roles, driving change for workers across the country. Leaders like April Sims, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and Susie Martinez, the first Latina elected Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the California Labor Federation, embody this transformative movement. They are joined by other powerful voices, such as Lorena Gonzalez of the California Labor Federation, who collectively represent a new era in union leadership that prioritizes equity and opportunity for women of color.
Amplifying Latina stories and ensuring that unions stay central to the fight for better wages and working conditions are key to achieving lasting change. This fight requires all of us to get involved. Equal pay for Latinas starts with a union contract – and it’s time we make that a reality.
