Primero de Mayo Workers’ Center

WORKERS' CENTER

Primero de Mayo.

The Primero de Mayo Workers' Center, an area of COPAL led by immigrant workers, elevates the voice and leadership of our community that seeks to build a society where we can work and live a dignified life.
The Center focuses its efforts on four areas of support:
Labor Defenders

We accompany workers affected by wage theft and labor abuse to obtain justice.

Labor Leadership

We accompany our members to develop their skills as agents of social change

Knowledge is Power

We offer professional development opportunities in the areas of GED, computer classes, English, and OSHA.

Job and Career Exploration

We offer support to people who are looking for a job or exploring short-term training.

In May 2021, COPAL launched the South Minneapolis-based Workers’ Center Primero De Mayo to organize with frontline Latino workers to recover lost wages, pursue employment discrimination cases, apply for unemployment benefits, and connect to career training and placement services.

As of June 30th

9

discrimination cases

68

NUMBER OF CASES

34

resolved cases
$ 0
RECORERED WAGES
$ 0
PENDING
0
MEMBERS

In May 2021, COPAL launched the South Minneapolis-based Workers’ Center Primero De Mayo to organize with frontline Latino workers to recover lost wages, pursue employment discrimination cases, apply for unemployment benefits, and connect to career training and placement services.

Too often, immigrants face barriers to settling down and working towards a better life, suffering from oppressive institutions and exploitative working conditions.

Today in Minnesota, immigrants not only are facing these systemic barriers, but are also disproportionately affected by the health and economic effects of COVID-19. As the pandemic develops, studies show that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are most negatively impacted as a result of the pandemic, with African and Latino communities at the top of this list. While these groups faced precarious economic disparities long before the arrival of the pandemic, the current health crisis has shone a light on how much these conditions have worsened.

All these factors have driven ACER and COPAL, two community-led organizations, to develop two Workers’ Centers based in Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis to address the immediate and long-term economic challenges of the African and Latinx communities. In the spirit of collaboration and solidarity, ACER and COPAL have been reaching out to unions, community organizations, government agencies, as well as community leaders and individuals to shape and partner in this endeavor.

Primero de Mayo Workers Center

ACER

ACER

is an issue-based community organization developing sustainable policy solutions that address concerns impacting the African community, creating access to education, jobs, health, housing, and the means to build wealth. www.acerinc.org 
Voto Latino de MN COPAL

COPAL

COPAL

COPAL is a Latinx-led grassroots organization that creates communal democracy across several impact areas to build racial, gender, social and economic justice across community lines. 

 

To help our neighbors weather this crisis, these Workers’ Centers will focus on connecting our communities to jobs and workforce trainings, educate and advocate for worker’s rights, and develop systems to support the equitable creation of wealth for individuals and small businesses. The Centers will be an ongoing resource to support people during the crisis, as well as to help people get back to work once the crisis has passed. 

Worker Center Achievements

Here's a timeline of the events of the last year.

Check it out
Workers' Center First Retreat COPAL

meet the advisers

Nelly Bautista COPAL

NELY BAUTISTA

Pablo Huinil COPAL

Pablo Huinil

José Adalid Zavala COPAL

José Adalid Zavala

Humberto Miceli COPAL

Humberto Miceli

Columba Reyes COPAL Member

Columba Reyes

Supporters:

Latino Economic Development Center

Here are some job opportunities for you

Explore our current job opportunities. You can apply by sending us an email with your resume.
Click on each item so you can see more details of the job opportunity.

 

Upcoming events

June 2023

Inaguracion Centro de Trabajadores Primero de Mayo

Contact Us

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Address

3521 E. Lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55406

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