Thursday, Sept. 15 marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month—a time for the UFCW to pay tribute to Hispanic Americans and their positive contributions to our union, communities and country. This year’s theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.”
The origins of this celebration date back to President Lyndon Johnson, who first established Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the celebration to cover a 30-day period from September 15 to October 15. Hispanic Heritage Month was enacted into law in 1988, and the start date of September 15 was chosen for the celebration because it marks the anniversary of independence for a number of Latin American countries.
Observing Hispanic Heritage Month allows us to recognize and support the work Hispanic Americans are doing in helping this country and our union grow. Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the UFCW will pay tribute to the culture and history of Hispanic Americans and their positive impact on the labor movement and promote voter turnout leading up to the midterm elections. If you have members who would like to share their stories about what this month means to them, please reach out to Julie Anderson at janderson@ufcw.org.
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