This edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, features Sarah McNamara, Associate Professor of History and Latino and Mexican American studies at Texas A&M University, who joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the history of Latina anti-fascist resistance in Florida during the 1930s. McNamara explored the impact of Cuban immigrants on Florida's economy, the emergence of women as political organizers and union leaders and the lasting effects of So-Called “Right to Work” legislation on labor movements.
McNamara highlighted the significant role Cuban immigrants played in transforming Florida's economy from agrarian to industrial in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She explained that these workers, who came to the U.S. as anarchists, communists and intellectuals, saw unionism as a cross-national endeavor and organized between Cuba and Florida. By the 1930s, Cuban cigar workers formed the majority of Florida's GDP, giving them tremendous economic power. However, she said the Great Depression led to mass firings of well-paid Cuban male artisans, replaced by women hired at lower wages.
The shift in workforce demographics led to women becoming political organizers and union leaders. McNamara discussed Luisa Moreno, whom the American Federation of Labor hired to organize Latinas in Florida. Moreno understood the need to combine labor and political organizing to effect sustained change. This culminated in a massive anti-fascist march in 1937, where over 7,000 Latinas and Latinos demanded political representation and support for anti-fascism both at home and abroad.
McNamara also addressed the impact of So-Called “Right to Work” legislation on labor movements in Florida. The state enshrined So-Called “Right to Work” in its constitution in 1943, significantly changing the landscape for unions. Despite this setback, McNamara emphasized the importance of sustained resistance over time, noting that changes in civil rights, human rights and labor rights often result from years of persistent effort rather than single actions.
Listen to the full episode to gain deeper insights into the history of Latina anti-fascist resistance and its relevance to modern labor movements.
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