I am saddened to learn of the passing of farmworker labor leader and activist Dolores Huerta at the age of 96. Her passing marks the loss of a historic American labor leader who for decades worked tirelessly to improve working conditions for farmworkers in the United States.
Among her accomplishments were the following:
- Co-founding the United Farm Workers (UFW)
- Leading the farmworker movement, which brought national attention to the poor wages, unsafe working conditions, and lack of protections faced by farmworkers.
- Organizing the Delano Grape Strike and Boycott, a landmark labor action that pressured growers to improve wages and working conditions for farmworkers.
- Helping secure important worker protections, including job security, health benefits, retirement plans, clean drinking water, rest breaks, field sanitation facilities, and pesticide protections.
- Advocating for the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, the first law in California recognizing farmworkers’ collective bargaining rights.
- Championing civil rights.
- Receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, awarded by President Barack Obama in 2012.
Dolores Huerta lived a life of courageous service as a voice for reason, compassion, and fairness. She will be missed.
-David Jinkens, MPA
Good Government Advocate