IAM District 947 represents over 300 workers from nonprofit organizations in California, including the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), and Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC). These groups provide legal support, education, youth leadership programs, and emergency response services to immigrant and underserved communities. Many IAM members working at these nonprofits are immigrants or children of immigrants.
Jennifer Marin Esquivel, IAM District 947 Business Representative, said, “We have members who joined these non-profits because they’ve lived or witnessed firsthand injustices. They’ve seen their own families and communities impacted by immigration policies. They know what’s at stake.”
Guillermo Quintanilla, an IAM Local 201 member and CARECEN Lead Migrant Coordinator, added, “Yes, it can be scary… but that doesn’t mean that we’re going to stop. That doesn’t mean that we’re going to let ourselves be intimidated. We’re going to continue this good work… We know that we are on the right side of history.”
Some nonprofit organizations represented by the IAM have removed employee profiles from their websites due to safety concerns as the political climate has become more hostile. Quintanilla noted: “We know that the IAM Union stands with us, fights with us, and has our back, which makes all the difference. We know we are not alone in this.”
An anonymous IAM Local 201 member described the risks involved: “It’s hard to lead informational workshops when I’m receiving threats and constantly wondering whether those threats will come true, or if I’m putting my family or others in the community at risk. But I still have to do this work because people need to hear their rights.”
Despite these challenges, IAM nonprofit workers remain committed to their mission. Their activities include organizing “Know Your Rights” workshops, participating in legal observation efforts, distributing food to vulnerable families, and responding quickly during detentions or deportations.
Marin Esquivel stated: “Our members are part of rapid response teams. They’re the ones running toward the threat, not away from it. They go to day labor centers and rallies, they record raids, they educate their neighbors. They are on the ground every single day.”
Rocio Veliz of CARECEN explained how union membership has strengthened their advocacy: “Now that we’re part of the IAM, there’s a deeper sense of commitment. We can lean on each other. We’ve been able to push for stronger protections, educate more families, and advocate for policy changes – together.” Veliz also emphasized solidarity: “When one community is under attack – Black, LGBTQ+, immigrant – we all need to speak up. Silence is complicity.”
IAM District 947 is advising locals and allied unions to include immigrant protections in union contracts—such as paid time off for immigration-related appointments and requirements for employers to notify unions about enforcement actions.
Sal Vasquez, President of District 947 said: “The idea is simple… You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your wages or your safety to support your community or secure your own legal status. Our contracts should reflect that.”
Odette Moran from CAUSE commented on finding strength through union membership: “In these uncertain and heavy times, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed – but being in a union and community means we don’t face it alone… Even when the rain feels relentless, we find strength in holding one another.”
Earlier this year at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (source), Maximo Londonio—a member of IAM Local 695—was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection before being released months later after advocacy by his union.
Brian Bryant stated at a rally supporting Londonio: “Union rights are immigrant rights! We will be here for whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.”
Christian Fernando Flores highlighted his involvement with union contracts: “The most empowering thing I’ve done as an organizer was getting deeply involved in breathing accountability into a living document: the union contract.”
Robert “Bobby” Martinez said: “The work our IAM Union non-profit members do isn’t just about providing services – it’s about living our union’s core values… Their daily fight to protect vulnerable communities reflects who we are: a union that stands for dignity, equity, and justice for all people.”
Bryant added: “From coast to coast… When one of us is targeted, we all show up. When one of us is silenced, we all speak out.”
Mayral Lopez spoke about building leadership through union support: “The union has created new spaces for leadership… Knowing our rights helps everyone – even beyond the non-profit world.” She continued: “Because union values don’t just belong in one workplace. They belong in every part of our community.”
Veliz summarized her view on being part of a union: “To me, being union means protection… It means support. It means we’re not alone – and that we’re stronger when we stand together.”
The experiences shared by IAM nonprofit members demonstrate how unions play a role beyond traditional workplaces—offering protection and empowerment within broader communities.
