On February 6th, the Salvation Army in Riverside partnered with Operation Warm to provide 200 coats and shoes to local children in need. As the winter season has been here, this effort ensures that kids have access to warm, high-quality garments, giving families one less thing to worry about. 

Our Labor Council was invited to join the event and provide resources for young people and their families. We were proud to speak with parents and children about union benefits, distribute workers’ rights materials and pins, and emphasize why knowing your rights from a young age is crucial. 

Since this event focused on children living in poverty, we took the opportunity to highlight a hard-fought truth: child labor is illegal thanks to unions. Worker protections—especially for young workers—were fought for with blood, sweat, and tears. We need to share them! But those rights mean little if workers don’t know about them. It’s important to reinforce the reality that all workers have rights, to both children and parents. 

Many of the children we met will enter the workforce as teenagers, where they’re often vulnerable to exploitation. Their lack of experience in the workforce makes them victims to labor law violations, that’s why educating young workers early is essential. The more we spread awareness, the better protected they’ll be. 

Below are guides specifically made for young workers in both English and Spanish—because knowing your rights is power.