[♪♪♪] >> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... [♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ OF UNIVISION CHICAGO.

WE ARE EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING AT 5:00 A.M. AND 6:00 A.M.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT FOR THE THIRD YEAR KIDS ARE HEADED BACK TO SCHOOL IN THE SHADOW OF A COVID PANDEMIC.

WE GET ADVICE HOW TO KEEP YOUR KIDS FROM BRINGING HOME MORE THAN MATH HOMEWORK THIS FALL.

>> AND THE CITY OF CHICAGO PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN LABOR ORGANIZING EFFORTS AND WITH MORE WORKPLACES LOOKING TO ORGANIZE WE TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF UNIONS.

>> A LANDMARK PILSEN MUSIC VENUE IS PUTTING ON A BLOCK PARTY TO CLOSE-OUT THE SUMMER.

>> THERE ARE INCREDIBLE MUSICIANS.

JUST GREAT.

>> AND WE INTRODUCE YOU TO CHICAGO BAND ASI ASI.

>> CLASSES ARE BACK IN SESSION THIS WEEK AT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL AS IN MANY SUBURBAN DISTRICTS.

AND AS THE COVID PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO EVOLVE THIS YEAR, COMES WITH NEW COVID PROTOCOLS.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, C.P.S.

ANNOUNCED ITS MODIFIED COVID PLAN INCLUDING NO VACCINATION REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS OR FACULTY THOUGH THEY ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED.

NO REGULAR MASKING REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS OR FACULTY.

SPECIAL PROTOCOLS FOR UNVACCINATED PEOPLE CLOSE CONTACTS OF A CONFIRMED COVID CASE.

THREE OR MORE CASES OF COVID IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM WILL TRIGGER MASKING REQUIREMENTS.

VACCINATED STUDENTS AND FACULTY WHO ARE EXPOSED WILL BE REQUIRED TO MASK FOR 10 DAYS.

AND WEEKLY TESTING WILL STILL BE OFFERED BUT REQUIRES NEW CONSENT FORMS.

2022 ALSO CAME WITH A NEW HEALTH WORRY: YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

MONKEYPOX.

WHICH IS PRIMARILY SPREAD BY SKIN TO SKIN CONTACT AND BODILY FLUIDS.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CHILD'S RISK OF ILLNESS THIS SCHOOL YEAR ARE Dr. JUANITA MORA AN ALLERGIST AND IMMUNE NOL GIFT AT THE CHICAGO ALLERGY CENTER AND Dr. GERALDINE LUNA MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND I START WITH YOU Dr. LUNA AS WE ARE MOVING CLOSER TO PREPANDEMIC NORMAL PRACTICES HOW WORRIED SHOULD PARENTS BE ABOUT COVID AS SCHOOL BEGINS?

>> ALEX, THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

AND JUST FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW FOR FOLKS OUT THERE AND PARENTS, IT'S PRETTY MUCH SUPPORTING ALL THE CHANGES THAT THE C.D.C.

IS DOING PRETTY MUCH BASED ON ALL THAT ROBUST INFORMATION IS THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS NEW CHANGES ARE TO ADAPT BETTER SO THE CHILDREN ARE SAFE FIRST OF ALL, RIGHT?

AND THEIR GROUNDS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS WITH CLASSMATES.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE CAPACITY OF SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS TO SUPPORT THIS IMPLEMENTATION ARE THERE IN PLACE.

ALEX, AS LONG AS YOU VACCINATE YOUR CHILD AND NOW MORE REALISTIC AND MORE TRUE, THAN EVER, ARE NEW GUIDANCE AT SCHOOLS ARE VERY SAFE TO KEEP YOUR CHILDREN AS LONG AS PARENTS FOLLOW, REMEMBER IT IS A MULTIMARIO LEYVAERED MITIGATION STRANGE AND THE -- STRATEGY AND THE CASES IN SCHOOLS ARE LOWER AND WE EXPECT THEM TO CONTINUE TO BE THE LOWEST AS WE VACCINATE CHILDREN AND PROTECTED TO SCHOOL.

>> RIGHT.

AND SPEAKING OF VACCINATION, Dr. MORA, PARENTS OF UNVACCINATED SCHOOL AGED KIDS MIGHT BE WONDERING IF IT'S NECESSARY TO VACCINATE THEM AT THIS POINT.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY, ALEX, THAT C.D.C.

IS DEFINITELY RELAXING A LOT OF THE RESTRICTIONS.

THE SIX-FEET PHYSICAL DISTANCING.

THE MASK WEARING AND THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO OBVIOUSLY A KID WHO TESTS POSITIVE IN A CLASSROOM, THE REST OF THE CLASSROOM CAN STAY AND DON'T THE KIDS DON'T NEED TO STAY AND THE THIRD THING THEY ARE DOING IS THAT IF A KID IS UNVACCINATED AND EXPOSED TO SOMEONE POSITIVE, THEY CAN STAY IN THE CLASSROOM AS LONG AS THEY WEAR A MASK.

I'M TELLING PARENTS WE HAVE GIVEN MILLIONS OF VACCINES TO CHILDREN.

AND IT IS SAFE AS WE'RE BRINGING DOWN OUR GUARD AND GETTING BACK TO NORMAL LET'S PROTECT OUR KIDS AND GIVE THEM THE VACCINE SO THAT WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL SCHOOL YEAR.

IT NOT ONLY PROTECTS THEM BUT PROTECTS THEIR GRANDPARENTS, THEIR COMMUNITY, OUR COUNTRY.

BECAUSE KIDS ARE OFTEN VECTORS OF TRANSMISSION.

AND IT WILL KEEP THEIR SCHOOLS OPEN, ALEX.

>> RIGHT.

WE HAVE SEEN AN OUTBREAK OF MONKEYPOX IN CHICAGO.

Dr. LUNA SHOULD PARENTS BE CONCERNED ABOUT TRANSMISSION TO CHILDREN ESPECIALLY IN SCHOOLS?

>> WE'RE PREPPING FOR THAT AND SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY HAVING IMPLEMENTED PROTOCOLS TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE, TO CONTAIN TO ISOLATE IF ANY CASE IS IDENTIFIED TO START CONTACT TRACING AND TO VACCINATE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY EXPOSED, HOWEVER, ALEX, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEM CHILDREN'S CASES WITH MONKEYPOX HERE IN CHICAGO.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING VERY PROMISING AND THE VACCINES ARE NOW BEING ROLLED OUT.

SO WE HOPE TO SEE [INAUDIBLE] DOWNSLOPING.

NOW WE'RE SEEING DOWNSLOPING OF THOSE CASES AND EVERY TIME WHATEVER WE SEE IN EUROPE IS LATER ON REFLECTED HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO WE HOPE THAT THE CHANCES OF SEEING A CHILD IN CHICAGO WITH MPV ARE LESS THAN ZERO AS THE WEEKS CONTINUE TO ROLL OUT WITH THE VACCINE.

ALEX, IT'S SAFE, CLASSES ALREADY HAVE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.

>> AND LET'S HOPE WE STAY AT ZERO.

MASKING EVERYDAY, NO LONGER REQUIRED IN C.P.S.

SCHOOLS.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT PARENTS HAVE THEIR CHILDREN STILL MASKNE WAY?

>> I THINK EVERY FAMILY IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE IS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED THEY MIGHT CONSIDER MASKING THE CHILD.

ESPECIALLY FOR A GRANDPARENT UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY OR RADIATION FOR CANCER OR SOME A BROTHER OR SISTER OR NEWBORN CHILD IN THE HOME AS WELL, TOO.

MIGHT BE AN INDICATION.

AND HONESTLY, WE ARE ALL SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT THE FAMILY DECIDES AS WELL, TOO.

AND SPEAKING TO SUPERINTENDENTS IN SCHOOLS THEY HAVE A NO BULLYING RULE AS WELL FOR THE KIDS WHO DECIDE TO MASK.

IT'S GOING TO BE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S GOING TO BE A CASE TO CASE DECISION.

>> DEFINITELY.

THERE'S ANOTHER WORRY, WE'RE HEADING INTO FLU SEASON.

Dr. LUNA, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE FLU THIS YEAR?

AND WHAT ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE FLU SHOT?

>> ALEX IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET OUR CHILDREN WITH THEIR SCHEDULE AND ROUTINE BEFORE GOING TO SCHOOL.

THAT'S THE IMPORTANT AND THAT IS WHY IT'S SO MUCH EFFORT IS BEING PLACED IN AN EQUITY LENS TO HAVE CHILDREN CONNECT TO GET THE PROTOCOLS ALL THE VACCINES, CO-PROTECTED NOT ONLY COVID.

WE KNOW CHILDREN NEED MORE PROTECTIONS OUT THERE.

FLU SEASON IS COMING UP NOW, VERY QUICKLY.

IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER IN SEPTEMBER.

AND IS VERY DETRIMENTAL IN CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY.

IT ATTACKS THOSE TWO EXTREMES IN AGES.

THE IMPORTANT THING IS GET YOUR CHILD VACCINATED.

CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU THINK THERE'S CONTRAINDICATION FOR THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE THAT MIGHT KEEP YOUR CHILDREN FROM GETTING THAT LIFE-SAVING VACCINE.

COVID AND FLU AND ALL THE OTHER ONES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO SEND OUR CHILDREN PROTECTED TO THEIR CLASS.

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT.

AND GOING BACK WITH COVID VACCINE, AS WE KNOW, THIS VACCINE FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE BECAME AVAILABLE EARLIER THIS SUMMER BUT THE RATES ARE STILL VERY LOW FOR THAT GROUP.

WHAT MESSAGE, Dr. MORA DO YOU HAVE FOR PARENTS WHO ARE STILL VAX RELUCTANT?

>> I TELL THEM PLEASE VACCINATE YOUR KIDS ESPECIALLY NOW THEY ARE HEADING BACK INTO THE NURSERIES AND PRE-K'S ET CETERA.

WE HAVE AGAIN GIVEN MILLIONS OF VACCINES IN THESE AGE GROUPS AND MYSELF INCLUDED I'VE GIVEN THEM TO KIDS AS YOUNG AS SIX MONTHS.

AND THEY ALL HAVE DONE WELL.

AND PARENTS FEEL AT EASE BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO BE PROTECTED.

LET'S NOT FORGET WE'VE LOST 1,000 KIDS TO THE PANDEMIC NOT ONE MORE.

KIDS OFTEN AGAIN ARE VECTORS OF TRANSMISSION.

LET'S STOP THE PROMULGATION OF COVID-19.

THREE KIDS HAVE GOTTEN LONG-HAUL COVID SYMPTOMS, SO THIS IS PROTECTING THEM, PROTECTING THEIR FAMILIES, PROTECTING THEIR COUNTRY, SO LET'S GET THE KIDS VACCINATED.

>> WE HAVE JUST ONE MINUTE.

Dr. LUNA, BUT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE POLIO VIRUS THAT MAY HAVE HAD A RESURGENCE IN NEW YORK CITY.

IS THAT SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALSO BE CONCERNED ABOUT HERE?

>> SO, ALEX, PRETTY MUCH WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN PEOPLE MY GRADING FROM OTHER -- MIGRATING FROM OTHER PLACES.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN CHICAGO WE HAVE NOT SEEN THOSE CASES SINCE 1957.

WE HAD A BIG EPIDEMIC HAPPENING IN 1956.

SO LAST CASE REPORTED IN ILLINOIS WAS IN 1970 AND IT WAS A PERSON THAT CAME FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY WHERE POLIO UNFORTUNATELY IS ENDEMIC IN THAT POPULATION.

WE ARE AS ALWAYS, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, INCREASING MEASURES MAKING SURE WE'RE CHECKING OUR WATER SYSTEMS AND CHECKING SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS WE HAVE IN PLACES THAT HAVE GOTTEN MUCH, MUCH BETTER NOW THAT WE HAVE THE VIGILANCE AND SURVEYING SYSTEMS IN PLACE.

>> OUR TIME IS UP.

Dr. LUNA BUT THANK YOU.

ALSO FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION.

Dr. MORA AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> PLEASURE, THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT HERE IN CHICAGO.

[♪♪♪] >> CHICAGO UNION ORGANIZING HAS PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN EVERYDAY LIFE RANGING FROM LABOR DAY TO EIGHT-HOUR WORKDAY.

BUT IT IS NOT ALL HISTORY WITH WORKERS IN A VARIETY OF FIELDS TRYING TO UNIONIZE, AND CHANGE LABOR LAWS IN THE STATE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON THE LABOR MOVEMENT HERE IN CHICAGO ARE DON VILLAR SECRETARY TREASURER FOR THE CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR AND LENNY SANCHEZ AN ORGANIZER WITH THE RIDESHARE AND DELIVERY DRIVER COALITION JUSTICE FOR APP WORKERS AND JOSE ALCALA, PRESIDENT OF PAINTERS LOCAL 184 DISTRICT COUNCIL 14.

WELCOME GENTLEMEN AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASING LABOR ORGANIZERS BOTH NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY.

DON, HOW IS CHICAGO TRADITIONALLY BEEN HOME FOR ORGANIZERS?

>> ALEX, YOU KNOW CHICAGO WE LIKE TO CALL OURSELVES A HOMETOWN IN THE AMERICAN LABOR MOVEMENT.

FROM 1877 IN THE GREAT RAILWAY STRIKE WHERE WORKERS IN CHICAGO IN PILSEN THEY GOT UP AND FOUGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS.

IN 1886, WHEN WORKERS AT THE HAYMARKET AND THEIR FOYT FOR AN EIGHT-HOUR DAY AND A WEEKEND AND THAT STARTED HERE IN CHICAGO AROUND THE WORLD THEY CELEBRATE HAYMARKET ON MAY DAY.

IN 1896, IN PULLMAN, WHERE THE RAILWAY WORKERS STRIKE THERE.

AND THAT LED TO WHY DO WE CELEBRATE LABOR DAY?

LABOR DAY IS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN PULLMAN IN THE GREAT STRIKE.

AND THEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY, CHICAGO AND THE WORKERS IN CHICAGO PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN WITH THE WORKERS RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT TODAY AND YOU ARE SEEING THAT WITH THE WORKERS RIGHTS AMENDMENT WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO EN SHINE THE RIGHT TO HAVE A VOICE AT THE WORKPLACE AND THE RIGHT TO HAVE A UNION IN ILLINOIS' CONSTITUTION.

>> THERE IS BIG HISTORY OF UNIONS HERE IN ILLINOIS.

ESPECIALLY IN CHICAGO.

AND AS WE KNOW ILLINOIS IS SURROUNDED BY RIGHT TO WORK STATES WHICH MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES TO UNIONIZE.

JOSE, HOW IS ILLINOIS DIFFERENT AND DO YOU EXPECT ANY LEGAL CHANGES WHEN IT COMES 0 ORGANIZED LABOR?

>> NO, NOT AS WE HAVE SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR HERE AND GREAT LEADERS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO FED AND DON VILLAR BEHIND US WE WON'T HAVE CHANGES THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO CHANGE AND MAKE THAT CHANGE TO THE CONSTITUTION WITH THE WORKERS RIGHT AMENDMENT THAT WILL GIVE YOU BARGAINING RIGHTS WHEN YOU GO TO DO YOUR WITH PAY, ALSO HELP YOU WITH YOUR SAFETY, YOU SEE ANYTHING YOU CAN SAY SOMETHING.

THEY CAN'T MESS WITH YOU.

IF WE DON'T GET THAT CHANGE THEN IT MIGHT BECOME A RIGHT TO WORK STATE AND WE DON'T WANT THAT.

A LITTLE BIT ON THE HISTORY OF CHICAGO SO YOU KNOW, CHICAGO WAS BUILT BY LATINOS IN 1967 TO THE PRESENT.

AND THE JOHN HANCOCK TO THE SEARS TO THE STAN ORDER OIL, MAG MILE, THE DRY WALLERS AND FINISHERS WERE MEXICAN AMERICANS AND LATINOS.

JUST SO YOU KNOW HISTORY.

WE BUILT THE CITY FROM THE GROUND UP.

>> INTERESTING DEFINITELY.

AND LENNY YOU WORK WITH INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES ORGANIZING WORKERS WHO AREN'T UNIONIZED?

>> WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN FIX YOUR -- NOW WE HEAR YOU.

>> SO INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS IT IS A MAJOR HURDLE AND UNIONIZING.

AND WITH THE WORKERS THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON BEING UBER, DOORDASH, GRUBHUB, LYFT ET CETERA THIS IS THAT YOUR TRADITIONAL WORKFORCE THAT IS FOUND UNDER ONE ROOF A WAREHOUSE, A FACTORY OR A FARM.

WE'RE SPREAD OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND IT HAS AN INSANE TURNOVER RATE -- RETENTION RATE OF 4% YEARLY IN THIS INDUSTRY.

SO THE DEFINING BODY CONTACTED EVERYBODY THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH ORGANIZING EVERYBODY BUT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST AND COALITION IS A BIG STEP TOWARDS DOING THAT.

>> JOSE YOU WORK WITH PAINTERS.

HOW IS UNIONIZING WITH PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE TRADES DIFFERENT THAN LIKE, THE EFFORTS AT PLACES LIKE STARBUCKS AND AMAZON?

>> WELL, THAT STARBUCKS AND UBER OBLIGATE WORKERS THEY ARE TRYING TO GET WHAT WE HAVE.

WHEN YOU JOIN A UNION AND THE PAINTERS UNION AFTER 300 HOURS YOU GET FULL INSURANCE.

VISION, DENTAL AND MEDICAL.

AFTER 300 HOURS.

AND AFTER THREE YEARS, YOU MAKE CLOSE TO $90,000.

A YEAR.

THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE NOW.

THE GIG WORKERS THEY ARE TRYING TO COME IN, AND TRYING TO GET INSURANCE AND GET COVERAGE AND THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO AND THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LABOR UNION AND A GIG UNION AND HOPEFULLY THE GIG WORKERS AND THE SHARE RIDE WORKERS CAN NOW DO THAT AND STARBUCKS PEOPLE CAN COME AND IN THE FOLD AND JOIN IN AND GET MEDICAL INSURANCE, GET PENSION AND GET WELFARE.

>> LENNY, WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE HAVE YOU GOTTEN FROM LIKE LARGE RIDESHARE COMPANIES LIKE LYFT OR UBER?

HAVE YOU HAD ANY SUCCESS?

>> VERY LITTLE.

THEY REALLY ARE ROBOTIC COLD-BLOODED COMPANIES THAT DON'T CARE.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM EXPERIENCE.

I'VE HAD A PASSENGER PULL OUT A GUN ON ME AND THE SOLUTION WAS TO NEVER PAIR ME WITH THAT PASSENGER AGAIN.

AND FROM ALL THE EXPERIENCES OF SPEAKING WITH SO MANY DRIVERS THAT HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF ATTACKS AND CARJACKINGS AND A FAMILY MEMBER SURVIVED AND WAS MURDERED THE COMPANIES ARE COLD-BLOODED AS IT GETS.

THE ONLY WAY WE ARE GOING TO GET ANYWHERE IS IF WE'RE UNIFIED AND FIGHTING TOGETHER FOR WHAT WE DESIF.

>> DON, IN THE PAST THERE HAS BEEN EFFORTS TO DIVIDE WORKERS ALONG RACIAL LINES TO PREVENT UNIONIZING.

WHAT KIND OF TACTICS DO YOU SEE NOW WHEN COMPANIES FIGHT UNIONIZATION EFFORTS?

>> TODAY, ALEX, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE SEEING ESPECIALLY FOR A LOT OF OUR LATINX AND OUR PEOPLE OF COLOR, THERE WAS A REPORT THAT CAME OUT BACK IN APRIL THAT LATINO WORKERS HAVE A HIGHER RATE OF DEATH OR INJURY ON THE JOB BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMIGRANT STATUS OR BECAUSE OF THEIR MINORITY STATUS THAN EVERYBODY ELSE.

THAT PUTS WORKER SAFETY IS AT RISK ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY PIT US AGAINST EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF OUR IMMIGRATION STATUS OR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THAT HAS BEEN THE HISTORY WHERE WORKERS HAVE BEEN PIT AGAINST EACH OTHER AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT TODAY.

AND JUST WHAT LENNY WAS MENTIONING OFTENTIMES WORKERS WHO ARE THE GIG WORKERS, THEY TEND TO BE WORKERS WHO ARE MARGINALIZED.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT STATUS, THEY BECOME VICTIMIZED AND THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THE LABOR MOVEMENT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AND WORKPLACE SAFETY AND TO GIVE THEM A VOICE AND TO FIGHT AGAINST THAT DISCRIMINATION THAT MARGINALIZATION OF WORKERS.

THE VALUE IN ALL WORK AND VALUE IN ALL WORKERS.

>> UNION MEMBERSHIP HAS DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY IN RECENT DECADES.

DO YOU THINK THAT TREND WILL REVERSE AND I WILL GO BACK WITH YOU LENNY JUST FOR THIS LAST QUESTION?

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN 20 SECONDS.

>> 100% FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AND TALKING TO DRIVERS FOR YEARS NOW, THE SUPPORT FOR UNIONIZATION IS VERY STRONG AND IS VERY POPULAR AND VERY COMMON.

AND I'M CONFIDENT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

>> GUYS I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

THANK YOU LENNY SANCHEZ, JOSE ALCALA AND DON VILLAR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> .

>> UP NEXT, A BRAND NEW BLOCK PARTY COMES TO PILSEN.

STAY WITH US.

>> A NEW EVENT IS COMING TO PILSEN, THE THALIA HALL BLOCK PARTY WHICH WILL BRING LIVE MUSIC AND VENDORS IN FRONT OF THE HISTORIC MUSIC HALL.

IT'S ORGANIZERS SAY THEY ARE HOPING IT WILL BECOME AN ANNUAL TRADITION.

>> IT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE ON ALL PORT.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A COMBINATION OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT LOCAL TOURING ACTS, AND DJ'S THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

THAT INCLUDES A LOT OF LOCAL VENDORS AS WELL AND DIFFERENT FOOD OPTIONS.

WE LOVE FOOD, WE LOVE MUSIC AND WE WANTED TO TAKE OUR FAVORITE THINGS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER.

PUT IT ON THE STREET AND MAKE IT FREE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME AND CLOSE-OUT THE SUMMER.

WE ARE KICKING THE DAY OFF WITH PERFORMANCE OF MEXICAN DANCE AND SONG.

WE HAVE LUNA DAY THE LOCAL SINGER SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER WHO WILL BRING R&B VIBES.

WE HAVE RUDY A BILINGUAL ARTIST WHO LIVES IN PILSEN.

WE HAVE EVE WOODS WHO WILL BE BRINGING US MORE FUNK AND SOUL VIBES.

AND WE HAVE TOURING ARTISTS THE SACRED SOULS WHO ARE OUR LIVE HEADLINERS WHO ARE VERY MUCH THE THROW BACK SOUL VIBE.

WE'RE CLOSING OUT THE NIGHT WITH THE ROSA DJ COLLECTIVE.

THEY DO A LOT OF DANCE PARTIES WE FIGURE MIGHT AS WELL TAKE OUR LAST STAND IN THE EVENING DANCING OUR BOOTIES OFF.

WE WANT TO FEEL LIKE A BLOCK PARTY.

IT'S NOT A HUGE FOOTPRINT BUT IT IS RIGHT ON OUR BLOCK.

IT'S VERY MUCH SOMETHING THAT WE HOPE THAT A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE ABLE TO JOIN US FOR AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING THAT IS PARTICULARLY CHICAGO AND PARTICULARLY PILSEN.

>> IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GOING THE THALIA HALL BLOCK PARTY WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY AUGUST 27, FROM 2-10:00 P.M.

ADMISSION IS FREE BUT A SUGGESTED DONATION OF $5 WILL BENEFIT THE PILSEN FOOD PANTRY.

MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> THE SONGWRITER OF THE BAND ASI ASI BUT THE ONLY THANK FERNANDO DE BUEN SHARES WITH THEM IS THE LANGUAGE OF MUSIC.

FERNANDO DE BUEN WHO MOVED TO CHICAGO SAYS THAT DISCONNECT, ADDS TEXTURE TO THE MUSIC WHICH LAYERS PSYCH DELL LICK AND SURF SOUNDS TO CREATE A BLEND OF INDY ROCK.

[♪♪♪] >> I HEARD THIS SOMEWHERE AND IT RESONATED WITH ME.

99% OF WRITING MUSIC IS LIKE FAILING UNTIL THE 1% WHERE YOU DON'T.

[♪♪♪] WHEN I WAS WRITING SOME MUSIC I TRIED THE EXERCISES LIKE SITTING IN A ROOM FOR 12 HOURS STRAIGHT AND WRITING AS MANY SONGS AS YOU CAN.

12 SONGS OR WHATEVER AND MOST OF IT WAS ABSOLUTE TRASH.

BUT THE SEED FOR THIS ONE SONG CAME OUT.

[♪♪♪] THE SONG MEANS LIKE DISCOVERIES.

I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC LIKE STORY OR IDEA BEHIND IT.

IT'S MORE LIKE A FEELING OF IT LIKE THE MOMENTS WHERE YOU ARE LIKE YOU SPEAK TOO SOON KIND OF A THING.

SO THE LYRICS REFLECT THAT IDEA.

WE WORKED REMOTELY A LOT ON THIS PARTICULAR SONG.

WE WOULD SIT DOWN ON ZOOM SHARING AUDIO AND RECORD THE DEMO AND BUILD IT UP AND DO DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS.

THEN WHEN WE CAME HERE TO THE STUDIO TO RECORD IT, IT WENT FROM BEING A THING RECORDED IN SEGMENTS OR ZOOM, IN BEDROOMS TO LIKE THE FULL BAND AND NOW IT HAS A MUCH MORE LUSH SOUND BECAUSE OF THAT.

[♪♪♪] >> I'M ORIGINALLY FROM MEXICO CITY BUT I MOVED TO CHICAGO 10 YEARS AGO.

I LEARNED TO WRITE SONGS IN SPANISH I'VE TRIED TO WRITE IN ENGLISH AND IT'S TERRIBLE LIKE REALLY BAD.

AND THEN ALSO YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE WRITING THIS RECORD AND WHEN ASI ASI STARTED PLAYING, YOU KNOW, IT'S PATH ADMINISTRATION THINGS CHANGED BUT IT WAS AN ACTIVE LIKE VOICE AGAINST DIVERSITY.

AND I THINK WE ALSO TOOK A STANCE OF NO, ACTUALLY 0 IT IS -- KAY TO SING IN SPANISH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SPEAK SPANISH IN THE WORLD AND THIS COUNTRY.

SING IT IN SPANISH BECAUSE WHY NOT?

[♪♪♪] >> SOUNDS GOOD.

ASI ASI ALBUM WAS RELEASED THIS WEEK.

>> WELL THAT WILL BE OUR HOE FOR THIS WEEKEND.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

AND TUNE INTO UNIVISION CHICAGO EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

WE LEAVE YOU NOW WITH MORE MUSIC FROM ASI ASI.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

BUENOS NOCHES.

[♪♪♪]