Latino challenges: Same as they ever were

Recently, I rediscovered the hand-written draft of a speech I gave in late 2002 about Latino workers in Salt Lake City, the entire region of Utah and the rest of the United States. Rereading it 14 years later, it is perhaps not so startling that the words are still relevant and suggested action urgent. With the exception of progress in health care coverage, every single challenge identified remains. This underscores the widespread political temptation of pandering and calculated positioning to polarize and appease partisan bases. Less glamorous, but more significant is the conscientious crafting of immigration and economic reform for the holistic good of the country. So much has happened and changed during the last 14 years, but advances are thwarted by systems and laws that prevent a better alignment of basic human values and particular American ones. Latino challenges are human challenges, the same as they ever were:

I have been asked to speak about the challenges facing Latino workers here in Salt Lake City and Utah. There are myriad challenges, many of which are what we all face to make a living, get an education, raise families, and find fulfillment in our lives. Still, there are obstacles relatively unique to Latinos.

“Fíjate bien en los uniformes, en las tropas, en los cuarteles, en las banderas…, porque todo eso está a punto de desaparecer….” –padre de Jorge Luis Borges

Some of you now understand one obstacle facing Latinos. We need to fully fund programs to teach English to those who cannot speak it. Three other problems of particular concern are: 1) Immigration issues, 2) Low wages, and 3) Irresponsible employers.

Immigration is an inescapable issue for many Latinos. Estimates of the number of undocumented people in the U.S. range from seven to fourteen million. Most of these people are working. They construct buildings, landscape our homes, clean our offices, care for the elderly, and cook our food. They pay taxes and make important contributions. They are often overqualified for the work they do.

Why do people come here without documents? A woman at Centro Cívico Mexicano told me about her son. “My son was making $3.50 a day working in Mexico. Here, they pay him $6.50 an hour. Do you think he is not going to come here?”

Most of you probably know something about the SLC International Airport raid that occurred on December 11, 2001. Humble, hard-working Latinos were rounded up and incarcerated for at least a week at great taxpayer expense simply for having the audacity to do work most citizens did not want to do. The community, led by Vicky Newton, rallied peacefully in support of the detainees. We were united that day and that month, horrified that the U.S. government that the Deseret News claims has been known to turn a blind eye to so-called economic migrants, human beings simply trying to work.

Somos contribuyentes, no delincuentes. Undocumented workers toil in the shadows, live in fear, and suffer exploitation. The low wages they earn depress the wages of many others. Some extremists would deport them all, but rational minds know that would wreak social and economic havoc on all of us. The time has come for regularization, amnesty, earned adjustment, or legalization—the word is not important, the just action is.

Immigration is somewhat related to the next issue which is that of low wages and job insecurity. According to a 2001 Population Survey done by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median weekly earnings for Latinos during the fourth quarter were $419 compared with $486 for Blacks and $621 for Whites. Latinos tend to work in industries more vulnerable to recession and layoffs. The downturn of construction here has had a detrimental effect on Latino workers. This reduces the consumption on which our economy thrives.

We should look for ways to increase the wages of low-level workers, for that increase will result in more money being spent right here in our local economy. A strong economy is critical to the well-being of all workers. Makes one long for the days of Clinton prosperity.

A cause of many layoffs is the increased vigor of the Social Security Administration in notifying employers about questionable SS numbers. Seven hundred fifty thousand no match letters this year will put millions of jobs held by Latinos in jeopardy. This is an imminent crisis in the Latino community that will have broad social, economic, and cultural repercussions. The only solution is regularization.

There is considerable social strain from low wages and job insecurity. Many Latinos work two jobs, occasionally both full-time but more frequently a full-time and a part-time job. Sometimes this is a necessity because of ordinary household bills and various expenses. Families and children suffer. I will not tell people how to conduct their lives or how to raise children; however, I will say that it is not healthy to have to spend so much time away from family and loved ones. We as a community and government should reform our system.

A final problem I want to mention is that of irresponsible employers and flawed laws. In April 2001, many Latino workers went on strike at the then uncompleted Gateway mall. There were problems concerning nonpayment of wages, unfair labor practices, and violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Carpenters’ Union and Jobs with Justice worked hard to help the Latino workers and their families through rough times. Wage claim assignment forms were filed with the Utah Labor Commission and an unfair labor practices complaint with the NLRB [National Labor Relations Board].

The workers received monetary compensation through the Labor Commission and won their case before the NLRB. Nevertheless, the Labor Commission awards by law included no penalty against the employer, no interest on wages legally owed many months before, and no attorneys’ fees or other compensation for the time-consuming and paper intensive process.

The Hoffman Plastics decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in March 2002 eliminated the option of the NLRB to order backpay for undocumented workers victimized by unfair labor practices. The end result for the Gateway workers was a little money and a paper victory before the NLRB. The Utah legislature should amend state law to deter employers from irresponsible behavior and sanction those that persist. There is no excuse for the erroneous decision of the Supreme Court.

Finally, I want to talk about general economic policy. Adam Smith is famous for his declaration that the invisible hand of individuals acting in their self-interest leads to a greater good for the whole. Smith, however, was aware that economics was only one aspect of the activities of man in society. Some cite Adam Smith and repeat “free market” as if it were an excuse for ruthless behavior or the supreme expression of human happiness. Imbeciles. Adam Smith extolled a well-governed society in which universal opulence extended itself to the lowest ranks of the people. That is the lesson to heed from The Wealth of Nations.

Nisa Sisneros, her husband Henri, and I have had many conversations about economic issues. We live in a prosperous society, yet many receive little benefit from that prosperity. We work more and harder as a society, and though we may make more money, we have less time available for leisure, family, and friends. Our productivity has increased dramatically over the last few decades. Our challenge as a society is this: Why can’t we convert that productivity and prosperity into living wages, increased benefits, better training, universal health care, and a shorter workweek? The answer is “we can.” The bottom line is “we should.”