"Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere."
— Rodney LaBruce Adapted from Martin Luther King Jr.

Legislative, Legal, and Public Advocacy ApproachesPrepared by Rodney LaBruce & the Unified Advocacy and Leadership Coalition (UALC)

Executive Summary

Ending labor exploitation is not about asking for charity — it’s about demanding basic dignity, fairness, and justice for every worker. From the plantations of slavery to the fields of the Bracero Program, from meatpacking plants to fast-food kitchens, Black and Brown workers have long been subjected to a brutal history of economic abuse in America.

Even today, some ask, "Is labor exploitation still a problem? Haven’t we passed laws to fix that?" It’s a fair question — but it overlooks the reality that millions of low-wage workers, especially in Black and Latino communities, still experience wage theft, unsafe conditions, retaliation, and systemic loopholes that erode their rights.

Some will argue that the solution is simply better education — but research shows that’s not enough.

Black Americans with degrees from highly respected universities are statistically less likely to obtain higher-paying jobs than white Americans with only a high school diploma.

Education alone does not erase systemic discrimination in the labor market — and it certainly does not erase the exploitation that thrives in low-wage industries.

Latino immigrants and African Americans continue to be among the most exploited groups in the workforce — earning lower wages, working longer hours, and facing higher rates of injury and death, regardless of education level.

This paper outlines a bold, enforceable plan to end labor exploitation — not with empty promises, but with transformative action.

As César Chávez once said:

"History will judge societies and governments — and their institutions — not by how big they are or how well they serve the rich and the powerful, but by how effectively they respond to the needs of the poor and the helpless."

We must move beyond symbolism. Labor justice must be real, measurable, and permanent.
This is not a "get-fixed-quick" scheme. It is a determined movement to correct systemic abuse, restore dignity to work, and renew the American promise of opportunity for all.

The time for ignoring exploitation is over. The time for action is now.

Introduction

The demand to end labor exploitation is as old as the nation itself — rooted in the founding contradiction of America: a land built by exploited labor, yet promising liberty and justice for all.

For Black and Brown communities, exploitation has been a feature, not a flaw, of the economic system. From slavery to convict leasing, from agricultural labor camps to modern-day wage theft in construction and service industries, exploitation has systematically trapped communities of color in cycles of poverty.

Through the Rodney LaBruce for Congress campaign and the Unified Advocacy and Leadership Coalition (UALC), we are prepared to lead this fight.

We propose a three-pronged strategy — legislative action, legal challenges, and public advocacy — to dismantle labor exploitation at its roots.

Policy Goals and Restitution Demands

We propose a comprehensive package of policies to attack the structures that allow labor exploitation to persist directly:

1. Worker Restitution Fund

• Create a federal fund to compensate victims of wage theft, unsafe conditions, and retaliatory firings.
• Retroactive compensation for workers harmed over the past 20 years.
• Funded through penalties imposed on employers who violate labor laws.

2. Wage Theft Criminalization

• Elevate wage theft to a criminal offense at the federal level — not just a civil violation.
• Mandate prison time and corporate fines for repeated offenders.

3. Universal Worker Protections

• Extend federal labor protections to agricultural workers, domestic workers, and gig workers — historically excluded groups.
• Eliminate "independent contractor" abuse loopholes.

4. Health and Safety Enforcement

• Dramatically expand OSHA’s enforcement capacity, especially in industries with high Black and Latino workforces.
• Implement mandatory heat protection standards for outdoor workers.

5. Immigration Reform for Worker Protection

• Create a pathway to legal status for undocumented workers who report exploitation.
• Prohibit employers from using immigration status as a weapon against workers asserting their rights.

Legislative Strategy

New laws, strong enforcement, and proactive leadership will be critical.

1. The Worker Protection and Restitution Act

A comprehensive bill that will:

• Establish the Worker Restitution Fund.
• Criminalize wage theft federally.
• Expand OSHA protections.
• Extend labor protections to all workers, regardless of immigration status.

2. Strengthening State and Local Labor Rights

• Encourage state legislatures and cities to pass Local Worker Bills of Rights modeled after federal legislation.
• Push for local wage theft task forces — starting with cities like Dallas.

Legal Strategy: Taking Labor Exploitation to Court

The courts can be a powerful weapon for change.

1. Class Action Lawsuits

• Organize lawsuits on behalf of large groups of exploited workers, especially in construction, agriculture, food service, and retail.

2. Corporate Accountability

• File lawsuits against major corporations that benefit from abusive subcontracting practices.
• Demand back pay, punitive damages, and public accountability.

3. Constitutional Challenges

• Challenge exclusionary labor laws (such as the agricultural worker exemption) as violations of equal protection under the Constitution.

Public Advocacy: Winning the Court of Public Opinion

Changing laws is not enough — we must change minds.

1. National Labor Justice Day of Action

• Organize rallies across the country to highlight wage theft, unsafe work conditions, and systemic exploitation.

2. Media Campaign

• Launch storytelling campaigns through podcasts, YouTube videos, and social media, highlighting workers’ experiences in TX-30 and beyond.

3. Coalition Building

• Build a broad labor justice coalition by partnering with unions, worker centers, immigrant rights groups, and faith communities.

Conclusion: The Path Forward

Ending labor exploitation is a moral necessity and an economic imperative.

When we protect workers, we grow communities.
When we stop wage theft, we build generational wealth.
When we ensure safe workplaces, we uphold human dignity.

Through legislative action, legal challenges, and public advocacy, the Rodney LaBruce campaign and UALC will fight to dismantle labor exploitation piece by piece — and to build an economy that works for everyone.

This is not a "get-fixed-quick" scheme.
This is a strategic, determined movement to finally fulfill America’s broken promise of justice for workers.

The fight for labor justice starts now.