Centro De Trabajadores Unidos

CTU Invited to Speak at May 1st Labor Rally

Ana Guajardo, executive director of Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, speaks to a crowd gathered to commemorate May Day in Chicago. She delivers a message to labor explaining how immigrant rights are worker rights. CTU mobilized 5 buses from Chicago's southeast side to take part in the May 1st march.

Centro de Trabajadores is proud to congratulate attorney Laurie Burgess who was chosen as the Pro Bono Attorney of the Month: May 2010 by Illinois Pro Bono. www.illinoisprobono.org

Thank you Laurie for all the GREAT work that you do!

Centro de Trabajadores Unidos Supports the Passage of SB3568

UPDATE:  The bill has passed both the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate!

It awaits Gov. Quinn's signature to become law!

Click here to read more.

Latino Union, Chicago Workers' Collaborative, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, and Working Hands Legal Clinic have been pushing for the passage of Illinois Senate Bill 3568 sponsored by Senator William Delgado and co-sponsored by 20 senators as part of the Just Pay for All Campaign.  This legislation is a proposal to address the epidemic of stolen wages that day laborers and workers experience throughout the state.

The bill proposes provisions to the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (IWPCA), the wage theft law enforced by the Illinois Department of Labor and the Illinois Attorney General.  The redundancy and inefficiency of existing enforcement mechanisms has become an obstacle to workers’ recovering their unpaid wages in a timely manner and has failed to deter unscrupulous employers from engaging in abusive practices. The amendment includes increased civil and criminal fines and penalties, a wage theft enforcement fund, lawyer fees for private attorneys to represent workers with small claims, and an expedited process that will allow for adjudication and resolution of claims to decrease from years to months.

Please visit www.justpayforall.org for more information.

Former and Current Employees of Macias Produce, La Fruteria, and Fisherman's Choice Successfully Resolve their Campaign

After a year long campaign Centro de Trabajadores Unidos claims victory as the owner of Macias Produce, La Fruteria, and Fisherman's Choice settles dispute by accepting to comply with all state and federal laws as well as signing onto the Code of Conduct.

This press conference announces the victory of the workers and the commitment of the owner to comply with the Code of Conduct.

On December 3, 2009 Former Employees of Gaytan Construction File Lawsuit to Recover Owed Wages

CTU organizes former workers of Gaytan Construction as they seek to recover approximately $100,000 in stolen wages by Gaytan Co. They announce their submission of a federal lawsuit to recover their stolen wages.

On October 28, 2009 CTU introduces a Code of Conduct in South Chicago.

The press conference is held at a local business whose owner is accused of unethical practices in the workplaces, including violation of wage laws. The Code of Conduct is an agreement business owners sign onto, insuring a standard set of workplace practices that guarantee workers fair pay, access to days off of work, establishes a process to file grievances without retaliation, and access to worker's compensation when workers are injured in the workplace. The Code of Conduct will expanded to the other businesses of the community.

Centro de Trabajadores Unidos participates in launch of Semanal Laboral, a national project in conjunction with various unions, community organizations, worker centers, the Mexican Consulate. The project informs the Mexican immigrant community on their rights in the workplace during the week before Labor Day at the Mexican Consulate.  

The entire workshop was repeated in the afternoon in various communities. 

CTU brings Labor Week to South Chicago on September 3rd.

Below are pictures of the workshop at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

Centro de Trabajadores Unidos partners with the Mexican Consulate in Chicago, to offer information on labor right once a week to Mexican immigrants who are receiving services at the consulate.