How Black and Latina Union Leaders Are Reshaping the Fight for Workers' Rights

For the past five years, Black and Latina women who work in the hardest labor industries have begun taking leadership roles in some of the country’s unions. This shift in more Black and Latina union leaders has allowed negotiations to focus and prioritize on benefits that support families and women. Some of the key benefits secured include parental leave, healthcare, and protections against harassment. Gone might be the days of the ‘white male in a hard hat’ poster boy! 

“The #MeToo movement, I think, has really emboldened women across the board, including in labor, to say, you know what? I’m not going to be sitting on the sidelines,” said Liz Shuler, who became the first woman in history to lead the AFL-CIO, a federation of 60 national and international unions.

This statement was reported by AP News.

Meet Three Black and Latina Union Leaders In The United States

Becky Pringle

Becky Pringle was born in North Philadelphia. The 69-year-old high school science teacher has more than three decades of classroom experience and has distinguished herself as a strong advocate for the rights of educators and communities of color. She currently serves as president of the National Education Association (NEA), the largest union in the country.

Before becoming NEA president, Becky served as the association's vice president and, prior to that, as secretary-treasurer. Since joining, she has been fighting institutional racism and battling patterns of injustice that affect students. Becky aims to expand access and educational opportunities by demanding changes in policies, programs, and practices. The association’s goal is to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all individuals, regardless of race.

Bonnie Castillo

Bonnie Castillo is the first Latina to serve as executive director of National Nurses United, which boasts nearly 225,000 members, making it the largest organization of registered nurses in the U.S. Before holding this position, she served as director of the union’s Registered Nurse Response Network, which dispatches volunteer nurses to disaster zones.

During the pandemic, Castillo highlighted the critical issues facing the national healthcare system, shedding light on the lack of protections for frontline workers. On her Medium blog, Castillo writes articles related to the healthcare sector, including the impact of AI on workers and patients.

April Verrett

April Verrett became the first Black woman to serve as president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in May. The SEIU represents 2 million diverse members in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Her rise to the presidency is an example of how barriers can be broken and a precedent set for inclusive leadership.

April's union roots go back to her grandmother, who was a union steward with SEIU Local 46. A native of Chicago’s South Side, she has worked to defend workers' rights while promoting diversity and equity, particularly in the fight against racism. She has also served on various committees, including the Alzheimer’s Task Force and a group focused on job recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If we want to generate power among those who are perceived to have the least power, then we have to create space for our people from those identities to lead,” Verrett told The Associated Press.

Keturah Johnson

Keturah Johnson began working as a ramp agent in 2013 and, after decades of service, transitioned to cabin crew. In 2022, she was named international vice president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), led by Sara Nelson, representing more than 50,000 flight attendants across 20 airlines.

The veteran, who also serves as national treasurer for Pride at Work and sits on the Executive Board of the Union’s Veterans Council, is working to make the aviation industry a safe and inclusive place for all workers, including immigrants, trans people, Black and Indigenous individuals, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Black and Latina Women Are Driving Union Growth

A report published by the National Partnership for Women & Families found that the union membership rate for women remained almost unchanged in 2023, at 9.5 percent. However, both Black and Latina women contributed to increases in union memberships.

The number of Black women in unions rose by 0.2 percent, from 10.3 percent to 10.5 percent, while Latina union membership saw the largest increase among women, growing by 0.3 percent, from 8.5 percent to 8.8 percent.

Unionized Women Earn More: Closing the Wage Gap for Latinas and Black Women

For women still fighting the wage gap, this increase in union membership is crucial, as union members can earn higher wages compared to non-union workers. Latina union members who work full-time earn approximately $1,041 per week, while non-unionized Latinas make about $776 per week. Annually, this difference amounts to around $14,000.

Non-unionized women working full-time typically earn 17 cents less for every dollar a man makes, whereas union members earn 12 cents less per dollar.

The U.S. Department of Labor revealed that Black and Latina women are more likely to experience larger wage gaps. In addition, they constantly face racism and sexism, motivating them to seek help from union leaders. We are all aware that on the ladder of earnings, Latinas earn the lowest of any other marginalized group.

Another report published by the U.S. Census Bureau showed a wage gap for women with post-secondary education or graduates from top-tier universities. The study compared women and men with the same educational levels, revealing a wage difference of about 29 cents for every dollar earned by a man.

There is still a long way to go before the wage gap and other rights are respected, regardless of race or gender. However, when inclusion reaches leadership positions by lifting Black and Latina union leaders to the top, the gap narrows, allowing a new vision to challenge the traditional decision makers and switch up the power dynamics that exist in the work place.

The Political Threats To Black and Latina Women Union Leaders and Union Employees of Color

The Trump administration has implemented several policies that could significantly impact labor unions and their leaders, particularly affecting Black and Latina women union leaders to be in positions of negotiating for workers' rights and decision making. These changes may influence union operations, workers' rights, and the broader fight for DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion). 

The rollback of DEI efforts and initiatives backed by civil rights protections set up decades ago for the workplace threaten the progress made toward inclusivity and equal opportunity. Trump’s Project 2025 agenda could make it tougher for members to win gains in contracts and stack the deck in favor of company CEOs. Corporations could ‘union bust’, allowing employers to retaliate against employees by discipline or termination. Corporations could even create their own sham unions that sway with the corporate agenda. 

So as you can see Black and Latina union leaders must carefully navigate this new presidential administration's actions yet keep the front lines strong simultaneously.

Are you a Latina union member? Tell us what you think of this article, does it align with your experience?