Policy Action Project

As a founding member of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and its only Midwest representative, the Latino Union plays a key role in advocating for immigration reform.  Based in Illinois, home to key legislators such as Luis Gutierrez, Dick Durbin, Rahm Emmanuel, and Barack Obama, the Latino Union provides an important and unique perspective on policies related to immigration, labor, and civil rights. To further advocate for the rights of immigrant and low-wage workers, the Latino Union spearheads the Illinois Coalition of Worker Centers.

In Chicago and Cicero, the Latino Union serves as a resource for local communities attempting to proactively address issues related to corner day labor.  The organization shares national best practices in order to promote community dialogue and the rights of working people, while increasing immigrant worker participation civic life and access to government agencies.  In cases of community disputes, the Latino Union collaborates with workers, community residents, local government officials, police, and the legal community to increase accountability and develop procedures that prevent the criminalization of working people.

Collaborating with members of the Illinois General Assembly and several community allies and labor unions, the Latino Union has also played an active role in improving conditions for low-income workers across the board by passing a statewide minimum wage increase.  This law will allow hundreds of thousands of working men and women to provide for their families.