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Person

Hector Figueroa

Nationality:

American
Occupation:

Former Labor Union Official

Hector Figueroa was president of 32BJ SEIU, a New York local of the Service Employees International Union that represents building cleaners, security guards, doormen and airport workers in 11 states and Washington, D.C., until he died in 2019. 1

Under his leadership, the union grew by 50,000 members, supported the Green New Deal, and liberal expansionist immigration policies. 2 3 He was instrumental in helping to launch the national Fight for 15 campaign to hike the minimum wage. 4

But he clashed with others in the labor movement for his support of tax breaks to lure Amazon to open a headquarters in New York City. 5

Background

Hector Figueroa was president of 32BJ SEIU, a New York local of the Service Employees International Union that represents about 170,000 building cleaners, security guards, doormen, and airport workers. 6

The 32BJ SEIU is the largest property-services workers union in the United States and represents employees in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Florida, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. 7 Workplaces where members are employed include airports, the Empire State Building, Broadway theaters, and the Pentagon. 8

Figueroa was born on April 3, 1962, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. 9 He died on July 11, 2019, at age 57 from a heart attack in New York. 10

The New York Times described him as having the “demeanor of a college professor” while speaking for blue collar workers. 11

Family

Hector Figueroa was the son of Luis and Castita Figueroa. His father was a school principal. His mother was a teacher and principal. 12 Figueroa’s parents established a teachers’ union in Ponce, Puerto Rico that went on strike in 1974.13

Education

Figueroa attended the University of Puerto Rico, but he left after students protested tuition increases. 14

Figueroa moved to New York in 1982 to live with an aunt in the Bronx. He attended New York University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. He also studied economics at the New School for Social Research in Manhattan. 15 16

Labor Career

After college, Figueroa went to work as a researcher for the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union in New York, beginning his career in labor organizations. 17 At the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union — a predecessor union to Workers United — he spoke in favor of immigrants’ interests in labor unionism. 18

Figueroa helped organize textile workers in North Carolina. He also organized protests against the North American Free Trade Agreement in the 1990s. 19

In 1995, he became involved with the SEIU’s “Justice for Janitors” campaign. 20 He took a job with the SEIU in Washington, D.C. before he returned to Puerto Rico to lead a successful campaign to organize government worker unions in his home territory. 21

Figueroa went back to New York City, taking the position of secretary-treasurer of SEIU 32BJ in 2000. After a dozen years, he was first elected president of the SEIU 32BJ union in 2012. 22

Union Leadership

During Figueroa’s seven years leading the SEIU local, the union expanded by 50,000 members. 23 Of the almost 50,000 new members, 30,000 were from organizing a membership drive and 18,000 came from a merger with another union. 24

Figueroa established a political action fund to push SEIU’s agenda. 25

Figueroa supported fast-food workers in New York demanding a $15 per hour minimum wage. This grew into a national Fight for 15 campaign. 26

As union leader, Figueroa also advocated for “comprehensive immigration reform,” including federal legislation to confer legal status on illegal immigrants. 27 Under Figueroa leadership, the union supported federal Green New Deal legislation. 28

In 2018, Figueroa’s union negotiations pushed the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to raise the minimum wage to $19 an hour for about 40,000 workers at the three main airports serving New York City. 29

Figueroa supported New York City’s plan to provide tax breaks to encourage Amazon to create a second corporate headquarters in Queens, New York. Other union organizers opposed this. 30 Prominent unions, such as the Teamsters and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, opposed the city’s proposed deal with Amazon. The retail giant eventually backed out. 31 Figueroa vocally criticized left-wing leaders that opposed the Amazon location and said it would have created 25,000 union jobs. 32

Figueroa criticized then-President Donald Trump’s policy on immigration, saying, “Trump is about waging war on ALL immigrants regardless of status or contributions to our economy, culture & politics.” 33

Legacy

The 32BJ SEIU union issued a statement after Figueroa’s death that said: “In his many years of service to our union, to the labor movement, and to our communities, he consistently joined together a clear vision about the empowerment of working people with compassion and energy.” 34

Then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said, “Héctor was a champion for working people, minorities, the poor, the voiceless.” 35 New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said, “Hector dedicated his life to fighting for better wages and conditions for all workers.” 36 Then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) called Figueroa the “voice of empathy, of conviction, of principle.” 37

Figueroa was a member of the board of directors for the Urban Green Council. After his death, the organization created the Héctor Figueroa Leadership Award to be given to individuals the council determines were “sustainability champions”; were “change-makers who bridge divides”; and are dedicated to the common good. The council announced that “priority consideration” would be “given to diverse candidates and women.” 38

References

  1. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  2. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  3. Toure, Madina. “Héctor Figueroa remembered as ‘a hero of the labor community.’” Politico. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2019/07/12/hector-figueroa-remembered-as-a-hero-of-the-labor-community-1098744
  4. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  5. Toure, Madina. “Héctor Figueroa remembered as ‘a hero of the labor community.’” Politico. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2019/07/12/hector-figueroa-remembered-as-a-hero-of-the-labor-community-1098744
  6.  McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” The New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  7. Toure, Madina. “Héctor Figueroa remembered as ‘a hero of the labor community.’” Politico. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2019/07/12/hector-figueroa-remembered-as-a-hero-of-the-labor-community-1098744
  8. Reyes, Raul A. “Organized labor ‘can grow, be strong,’ says union leader Hector Figueroa.” NBC News. September 3, 2018. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/organized-labor-can-grow-be-strong-says-union-leader-hector-n905061
  9. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” The New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  10. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  11. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  12. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  13. Toure, Madina. “Héctor Figueroa remembered as ‘a hero of the labor community.’” Politico. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2019/07/12/hector-figueroa-remembered-as-a-hero-of-the-labor-community-1098744
  14. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  15. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  16. Calder, Rich. “Labor union leader Héctor Figueroa dead at 57.” New York Post. July 12, 2019. https://nypost.com/2019/07/12/labor-union-leader-hector-figueroa-dead-at-57/
  17. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” The New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  18. Calder, Rich. “Labor union leader Héctor Figueroa dead at 57.” New York Post. July 12, 2019. https://nypost.com/2019/07/12/labor-union-leader-hector-figueroa-dead-at-57/
  19. Toure, Madina. “Héctor Figueroa remembered as ‘a hero of the labor community.’” Politico. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2019/07/12/hector-figueroa-remembered-as-a-hero-of-the-labor-community-1098744
  20. Calder, Rich. “Labor union leader Héctor Figueroa dead at 57.” New York Post. July 12, 2019. https://nypost.com/2019/07/12/labor-union-leader-hector-figueroa-dead-at-57/
  21. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  22. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” The New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  23. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  24. Acevado, Nicol. “Prominent Latino labor leader Héctor Figueroa has died at 57.” NBC News. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/prominent-latino-labor-leader-h-ctor-figueroa-has-died-n1029301
  25. Sanders, Anna. “Hector Figueroa, president of building service workers union 32BJ SEIU, dead at 57.” New York Daily News. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-hector-figueroa-32bj-seiu-dead-heart-attack-20190712-extqoracdvedlen4a5tkts5nca-story.html
  26. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  27. Toure, Madina. “Héctor Figueroa remembered as ‘a hero of the labor community.’” Politico. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2019/07/12/hector-figueroa-remembered-as-a-hero-of-the-labor-community-1098744
  28. Toure, Madina. “Héctor Figueroa remembered as ‘a hero of the labor community.’” Politico. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2019/07/12/hector-figueroa-remembered-as-a-hero-of-the-labor-community-1098744
  29. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  30. McGeehan, Patrick. “Hector Figueroa, Union Leader With Impact, Dies at 57.” New York Times. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/hector-figueroa-union-leader-with-impact-dies-at-57.html
  31. Toure, Madina. “Héctor Figueroa remembered as ‘a hero of the labor community.’” Politico. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2019/07/12/hector-figueroa-remembered-as-a-hero-of-the-labor-community-1098744
  32. Calder, Rich. “Labor union leader Héctor Figueroa dead at 57.” New York Post. July 12, 2019. https://nypost.com/2019/07/12/labor-union-leader-hector-figueroa-dead-at-57/
  33. Sanders, Anna. “Hector Figueroa, president of building service workers union 32BJ SEIU, dead at 57.” New York Daily News. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-hector-figueroa-32bj-seiu-dead-heart-attack-20190712-extqoracdvedlen4a5tkts5nca-story.html
  34. Toure, Madina. “Héctor Figueroa remembered as ‘a hero of the labor community.’” Politico. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2019/07/12/hector-figueroa-remembered-as-a-hero-of-the-labor-community-1098744
  35. Acevado, Nicol. “Prominent Latino labor leader Héctor Figueroa has died at 57.” NBC News. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/prominent-latino-labor-leader-h-ctor-figueroa-has-died-n1029301
  36. Toure, Madina. “Héctor Figueroa remembered as ‘a hero of the labor community.’” Politico. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2019/07/12/hector-figueroa-remembered-as-a-hero-of-the-labor-community-1098744
  37. Toure, Madina. “Héctor Figueroa remembered as ‘a hero of the labor community.’” Politico. July 12, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2019/07/12/hector-figueroa-remembered-as-a-hero-of-the-labor-community-1098744
  38. Press Release. “Hector Figueroa Leadership Award.” Urban Green Council. September 2022. Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/content/community/h%C3%A9ctor-figueroa-leadership-award
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