THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: A HISTORY OF LABOR ACTIVISM BY WOMEN: DOLORES HUERTA, EMMA TENAYUCA, MARIA ELENA DURAZO AND ELIZABETH “BETITA” MARTINEZ.
Labor Day is always celebrated by a look at labor victories over the years. In this time of Trump authoritarianism, the struggles still continues. We salute heroes of the past and present who have made an indelible imprint in advancing the goals of fair play, social justice and fair wages for our community: Dolores Huerta, Emma Tenayuca, Maria Elena Durazo and Elizabeth “Betita”Martinez. We all know Dolores from her work as Vice- President of the United Farm Workers Union, and Emma Tenayuca led the 1936 Pecan Shellers Strike in San Antonio. Maria Elena Durazo for many years was Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO before moving on to further the rights of workers through the electoral process. And the late Elizabeth “Betita” Martinez was a long time activist, who began her career as part of the Civil Right Movement of the 1960s and then went on to champion workers rights as a journalist and political activist.
Wow,m what an incredible group of women fighting for our labor rights!
Tia Tenopia