Replies

Gustavo Torres, executive director of Casa de Maryland, speaks to workers gathered for Monday's opening of the Wheaton day laborer office.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2005/09/28/PH2005092801289.html

Mission

CASA of Maryland's mission is to improve the quality of life, social and economic well being of the Latino community at local, regional and national levels. Founded in 1985 in Takoma Park, Maryland by Central American refugees and their North American allies, CASA has grown from several volunteers to a staff of 45 with a $3.9 million operating budget.

Program / Activities (NTEE Code)

Minority Rights
Adult, Continuing Education
Legal Services

Chief Executive Profile

Mr. Torres is a nationally recognized advocate for immigrants and workers. Since 1994, Mr. Torres has served as the Executive Director of CASA of Maryland, Inc.. Under his leadership, CASA has grown into a nationally recognized multi-service Latino advocacy and support agency. Mr. Torres also served as the founding president of the Maryland Latino Coalition for Justice, a statewide grassroots lobbying organization. In December 2001 Mr. Torres received the Ford Foundation's prestigious "Leadership for a Changing World," which honored 12 grassroots leaders nationwide. This award is akin to the McArthur Genius Awards and it honors grassroots leaders. In 2002, Mr. Torres was named one of 15 Washingtonians of the Year by the Washingtonian Magazine.

Additional Comments

In 2004, CASA was named the National Council of La Raza Affiliate of the Year, which recognizes one out of over 300 affiliates for their exemplary work in serving the Hispanic community. In addition, in December 2004, in collaboration with the Homeless Person's Representation Project, CASA produced the Baltimore Day Laborer Report, which described the challenges faced by Baltimore's day laborer population, and which led to legislation introduced by City Council President Sheila Dixon and passed unanimously by the Baltimore City Council supporting the establishment of a Center for day workers in Baltimore.

******

Casa of Maryland employees and members of the Communications Workers of America came to an agreement Thursday on a union contract that would ensure Casa employees a minimum salary of $30,000 a year.

‘‘The reality is we have been training and hiring people that have community organizing expertise,” Torres said. Unionizing, he said, was a natural move for them and provides Casa with the opportunity to work with CWA to work on political issues as well as internal matters.

‘‘We share the mission of Casa,” Collins (Ron Collins, a negotiator for CWA’s District 2) said, adding that Casa pushes for the rights of area workers — many of them day laborers and domestic workers — to receive decent wages.

Gustavo Torres
Executive Director of CASA de Maryland

"We also work closely with Justice for Janitors to help workers organize themselves and improve their workplace conditions through collective bargaining."

For two decades, SEIU’s Justice for Janitors movement has helped low-wage workers achieve social and economic justice.

This effort has capped off one of the largest successful organizing drives ever by private-sector workers in the Southern half of the United States.

SEIU - Service Employees International Union®, CLC

They are still illegal immigrants and should be deported immediately!

Unions, democrats, socialists, illegal aliens. All rolled into an indistinguishable pile of rabble. CWA is becoming insignificant. They need to find more members to pay dues. The union leadership needs more Cadillacs and finery so they can drive by the picket lines in style.