Labor activist, newly appointed UC regent to be honored

This 73-year-old woman has spent the better half of her life
fighting for better labor conditions and justice for
underrepresented workers. She has stood alongside activists such as
Rev. Jesse Jackson and César Chávez, and has been
arrested on more than 20 accounts as a result of union
activities.

Dolores Huerta, the activist who not too many years ago stood
outside of the UC Board of Regents meetings protesting their
decisions, will be honored at UCLA on Tuesday for being granted a
seat on the other side of the doors.

Huerta was appointed to the board by former Gov. Gray Davis in
early September.

“I think that it is extremely helpful that we have a
member of the regents that is so well-regarded not only with the
labor community, but the community at large,” said Kent Wong,
director of the UCLA Labor Center.

Among the guests invited to the ceremony are Los Angeles Mayor
James Hahn and Miguel Contreras from the Los Angeles County
Federation of Labor.

“It is great to have a chance to have such an incredible
symbol for workers come here to UCLA,” said Linda Delp,
project director for the UCLA Center for Labor Research and
Education, referring to the recent strikes involving grocery store
workers, Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers
and teaching assistants.

Huerta has extensive experience with labor issues. In 1962, she
worked with Chávez and co-founded the National Farm Workers
Association, which later became the United Farm Workers of
America.

Since then, she has been involved in negotiations that have
bettered the working conditions and wages of numerous workers.

She was instrumental in California’s decision to provide
disability insurance and unemployment benefits for farm workers
across the state. She was also a key player in creating the first
medical and pension plans and the first credit union for farm
workers.

During her years as an activist and a legislative advocate,
Huerta lobbied both in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., organized
and directed boycotts and strikes and led campaigns for political
candidates.

Her political influence, combined with the power of organized
worker unions, resulted in the Agricultural Labor Relations Act, a
federal law granting farm workers the right to collectively bargain
for higher wages. The law was the first of its kind.

Her years of activism have not gone unnoticed. In 1984, Huerta
received the Outstanding Labor Leader award from the California
State Senate and in 1993 she was inducted into the National
Women’s Hall of Fame.

To carry on her legacy, Huerta has started a foundation designed
to provide opportunity for leadership development, especially among
women. Another one of the Huerta Foundation’s goals is to
strengthen the participation of the underrepresented in the
political process.

The event will be held at 4 p.m in the Kerckhoff Hall Grand
Salon and is open to the public.

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