• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

Photo

Dolores Huerta, a well-known labor rights activist, was appointed by former Gov. Davis.

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.