WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents 1.2 million essential workers across North America, released a statement following the passing of labor leader Dolores Huerta, founder of the United Farm Workers and an inspiration to workers everywhere.
UFCW International President Milton Jones said:
“The entire UFCW family mourns the loss of labor icon Dolores Huerta today. An inspiration for workers and labor activists everywhere, she organized farm workers through walkouts, boycotts, and strikes that secured unprecedented victories for working people. Throughout her life, she fought tirelessly for immigrant workers, breaking barriers and advancing the rights of workers everywhere. Her legacy reminds us that the fight for labor rights and immigrant rights are one and the same.
“This past summer, Dolores continued to lend her voice to the labor movement, speaking at the AFL-CIO Convention in Minneapolis, the site of ICE operations that terrified workers and left two protestors dead. At the end of her speech, she led us in a chant of ‘Sí se puede,’ or ‘Yes, we can,’ the rallying cry she coined. She brought an energy and hope to the crowd that was nearly impossible to recreate, even in her 90s.
“Now, as immigrant communities face renewed attacks, Dolores’s legacy must serve as a rallying cry for all of us to stand with our immigrant siblings and continue the fight for justice and dignity for every worker. We must carry forward her tenacity and determination in the fight for workers’ rights. May she rest in peace.”
CONTACT: Finn Storer, press@ufcw.org