CLS Partner CTUL Supports Workers in Labor Trafficking Case

Chicano and Latino Studies recognizes the difficult and extremely important support from the Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (Center for Workers in Struggle or CTUL) for workers bringing forth labor trafficking charges. The following is a statement from their press release after a recent win in court.

On January 20th, 2020, Ricardo Batres was sentenced to 270 days in the workhouse and five years of probation, convicted of labor trafficking and insurance fraud while working on projects of large developers in the Twin Cities metro area, like Lennar Homes. This is the first case of labor trafficking to be tried in Hennepin County, and the first case to be brought to light in construction in Minnesota.

This is a good first step towards change, bringing to public light the rampant and systemic abuses that are happening in non-union construction work. Following the conviction, the Worker-Driven Social Responsibility Network published a report highlighting the systemic abuses happening in non-union construction work in the Twin Cities, and pointing to a long-term solution that would give workers in the industry a voice through Building Dignity and Respect Standards Council.