By Barbara Bumatay Picayo
Early Life and and Influences
Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association, is a prominent labor activist and leader of the Chicano civil rights movement. Born on April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico, she was raised by her mother and grandfather in Stockton, California. After years of hard work in canneries and restaurants, Huerta’s mother, Alicia, eventually owned her own hotel and restaurant. Alicia was known to treat her employees with compassion and would often house low income workers at reduced rates or free of charge. Young Dolores was greatly influenced by this community activism and kindness by her mother. Huerta was also shaped by the racism and discrimination she and her family faced.
After earning an associate teaching degree from the University of the Pacific’s Delta College, Dolores worked briefly as a teacher. However, seeing many hungry farm children in school, Huerta felt she could make a greater impact by organizing farmers and farm workers.
A Passion for Organizing Farmworkers
Dolores Huerta discovered her passion for organizing while leading the Stockton Community Service Organization (CSO). While there, she founded the Agricultural Workers Association, initiated voter registration drives, and advocated for barrio improvements. In 1955, she met César E. Chávez, the CSO Executive Director. The two quickly realized they shared a vision for organizing farm workers, despite it not aligning with the CSO’s mission.
Together, they created the National Farm Workers Association. Huerta, had to overcome challenges to gain respect as a woman organizer. But she quickly established Aid For Dependent Families (AFDC) and disability insurance for farm workers in the State of California in 1963.
In 1965, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), another major agricultural union, contacted the NWFA for help. They wanted the group to co-lead a strike of Filipino and Chicano workers in the grape industry in Delano, California. During the strike, the AWOC and NWFA merged into a new unified union. It was called the United Farmworkers of America (UFW). As Vice President, Dolores was UFW’s only elected female leader. The Delano Grape Strike lasted five years. At one point, Dolores moved to New York City to organize a nationwide boycott, resulting in over 17 million Americans refusing to buy grapes. This pressure led employers to start signing contracts with the union, with Dolores playing a key role in these negotiations.
Huerta also played a key role in enacting the Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, the first U.S. law granting California farm workers the right to collectively organize and bargain for better wages and conditions. Despite limited financial resources, farm workers leveraged significant economic power through successful grassroots boycotts and campaigns. As the United Farm Workers’ principal legislative advocate, Dolores became one of its most prominent spokespersons.
An Advocate for Women’s Rights
As one of the few female leaders in the movement, Dolores Huerta was a crucial advocate for women laborers. She pushed for gender equality and highlighted the unique challenges faced by women workers, often clashing with César Chávez over these issues. For her, childcare, protection from sexual harassment, and gender equality policies were vital for the industry's survival.
Through her advocacy, Dolores connected with the feminist movement, meeting Gloria Steinem and exploring the links between gender equality and labor rights. She spoke at the National Organization for Women (NOW) and helped establish the Coalition of Labor Union Women. Gloria Steinem credits Huerta for making it acceptable for women to join picket lines and make their voices heard.
Celebrating her 94th birthday on April 10, 2024, Dolores Huerta is recognized for all her work as a labor activist and political leader. Even more impressive, she raised 11 children through it all. Huerta was married twice, to Ralph Head and Ventura Huerta. She joined her lifelong partner, Richard Chavez (Cesar Chavez’s brother) in her early 40s until his passing in 2011.
Through her foundation, The Dolores Huerta Foundation, she continues to advocate for farmworkers, immigrants, women's rights, the LGBTQ+ community and other causes.
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