The world lost a giant today with the passing of labor leader Dolores Huerta. She was 96.
Ms. Huerta worked against incredible odds and powerful employers to give farmworkers dignity and a voice on the job. She co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) with Cesar Chavez and Gilbert Padilla, which later merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) to become the United Farm Workers (UFW). Her role in the Delano grape strike in 1965 brought international attention to the plight of farmworkers.
Born in New Mexico in 1930 to parents of Mexican descent, Ms. Huerta’s family moved around before settling in Stockton, California. She became a teacher and then a civil rights advocate for Mexican Americans and Latinos via the Community Service Organization. In 1958 she joined the labor movement via the Agricultural Workers’ Association and in 1962 co-founded the NFWA, which became the UFW after the 1965 merger with AWOC. She rose to prominence with the grape and lettuce strikes of the 1960s and the 1970s against companies like Gallo and Franzia, leading to negotiations between farmworkers and them.
Ms. Huerta’s tireless advocacy for farmworkers led to passage of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, which recognized farmworkers’ right to collective bargaining. Her lobbying and leadership helped to better the lives of farmworkers and empower them on the job.
Over the years, Ms. Huerta became a voice for Latina women, encouraging them to run for office and take greater control of their lives. A lifelong human rights advocate, she founded the Dolores Huerta Foundation in 2002 as “a continuation of the non-violent civil rights movement of the 1970s.” The Foundation advocates for social justice for underrepresented populations through grassroots organizing and civic engagement.
Ms. Huerta’s legacy is undeniable, giving a much-needed voice to farmworkers and inspiring millions including women, immigrants, workers, and members of marginalized communities. She will be greatly missed for her unwavering dedication to making the world a better place for all. She lived her life according to her famous saying, “sí, se puede” (“yes we can”). AFM Local 47 sends our condolences to her family and friends.
