Important Thoughts on Tomorrow’s Hispanic Heritage

As we observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of our Latinx members and labor leaders throughout history … it’s important to think about tomorrow’s heritage and how it’s shaped.

The fight for social and economic justice often manifests itself at the ballot box. Candidates and initiatives that affect many aspects of our lives are decided by vote, but the the powerful and growing Hispanic population lags behind other demographic groups in voter registration and mobilization.

A compelling report from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics institute looks at this phenomenon in great detail. Here’s an excerpt from their report:

“Despite the increased role of Latino voters in determining elections, and even through Latino’s share of the electorate has rapidly grown in the last decade, a large turnout gap between Latino voters and those of other racial groups remains.”

Is the problem lower registration rates or lower mobilization of registered voters? Read the entire report here.

Check out Local 1000’s Latin@ Committee! This group is responsible for the review of policies and programs established by the State directly impacting Latino and Latina members of Local 1000. Additionally, the Committee is looking to expand its outreach to its members by hosting regional meetings and functions that will bring in Latino/a members, the Latino community and supporters of Latino issues