OUR UNION
1199 International Latino Caucus members Juan Alonzo and Danisha Marrero helped raise money for hurricane and earthquake disaster relief in Puerto Rico.
UNION’S LATINO CAUCUS RESPONDS TO THOSE IN NEED Efforts to aid Puerto Rico and those closer to home are central to Caucus mission. As Puerto Rico recovers from a swarm of earthquakes that have crippled the island as it just beginning to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria, members of 1199’s Latino Caucus are mobilizing to send aid to the hobbled territory and raise awareness around the issues facing Puerto Rico and other Latin countries. The 1199 International Latino Caucus is part of the Union’s larger program that includes the Women’s Caucus, People with Disabilities Caucus, AFRAM, the Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus, and the LGBTQ caucus. Reflecting 1199’s core value of solidarity, caucus groups welcome all members, regardless of race, ethnicity, or ability. The International Latino Caucus—like the broader Union—represents the global Latin diaspora and has noticeably expanded recently, with large contingents showing out at the Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Venezuelan Day Parades in New York City. 1199 has a long history of celebrating Latino and Hispanic pride and standing with 18
January-February 2020
movements representing Latino and Hispanic workers: 1199ers stood with California Farmworkers and their leader Caesar Chavez in their fight for justice; union members were and are vocal opponents of U.S. intervention in Central and South America; union members have been on the front lines of the battle for justice in the current immigration crisis; and 1199ers have, of course, stood with Puerto Rico, whether it’s in disaster recovery or the fight against the U.S. military’s interference in Vieques. Juan Alonzo, a litigation specialist with New York City’s Legal Aid Society, says joining the Latino Caucus was a natural extension of his trade unionism and community activism. Alonzo, who is Puerto Rican and Dominican, was a Community Board member in his uptown Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights. An established Dominican neighborhood, Washington Heights has been undergoing a recent wave of gentrification and struggles with
“In society we are labeled as minorities, but in so many places we are the majority and we need to have a voice in what happens in our communities and in policies that affect us.”
re-zoning that opponents say will displace many long-time, mostly Latino, residents and their families. “Everything I do is part of the work of the caucus,” says Alonzo, referring to the need for Latino representation in local politics. “In society we are labeled as minorities, but in so many places we are the majority and we need to have a voice in what happens in our communities and in policies that affect us. We have to make sure we have a seat at the table so we can make sure all Latino people are represented.” Alonzo and his Union sisters and brothers in the Latino Caucus recently oversaw two recent initiatives to help raise money for Puerto Rico and lend a hand more locally by distributing school backpacks and supplies to underprivileged kids in the Bronx. “A lot of these kids live in shelters,” says Alonzo. “I felt it was a way for us to give back and expand our network by going out into the community.” In early January, officials from 1199’s sister union in Puerto Rico sent a letter of thanks to 1199’s rank-and-filers and officers for their efforts on behalf of Puerto Rico. “We are deeply grateful for your solidarity and prompt response to our request for assistance our members,” wrote UGT President Gerson Guzman Lopez and Secretary Treasurer Myrnalee Lamboy Rivera. The officers acknowledged the food, water, blankets, pillows, and other essentials sent from 1199ers to disaster-affected Puerto Ricans. In the interim, 1199 members have continued to raise funds through events and a wildly popular drawing for Marc Anthony concert tickets. (At press time, this drawing is scheduled for early February.) “We have a lot of struggles as Latinos, but the work we do is not just about Latinos, it’s about showing that we can work together—especially to help people in need,” says Caucus member Danisha Marrero, a Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in Manhattan. “Our caucus is like 1199 as a whole. We represent people who come from different cultures and have different beliefs, but we come together, and we show how much we can do together. We’re like an airport, with many airlines going in a lot of directions, but our hub is 1199.”
