This edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, features Erik Bernardino, an Assistant Professor of History at Bates College, who joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the 1938 Pecan Sheller Strike in San Antonio. Bernardino explored the strike's origins, the role of labor activist Emma Tenayuca and the lasting impact of this pivotal moment in labor history.
The strike emerged from dire working conditions and poverty wages in the pecan shelling industry. Bernardino explained that the Southern Pecan Shelling Company, which produced about 15 million pounds of pecans annually, deliberately shifted from mechanization to hand-shelling to exploit cheap labor. Workers, predominantly Mexican American women, earned as little as 16 cents a week during the Great Depression. When the company announced a further 5 percent wage cut in 1938, approximately 12,000 workers walked off the job.
Tenayuca, a 21-year-old labor activist, emerged as a key figure in the strike. Despite her Communist Party affiliation being used against her, Tenayuca's leadership galvanized workers and garnered public support. Bernardino highlighted how female workers played a crucial role, often bringing children to picket lines and willingly facing arrest to undermine police intimidation tactics. The strike's success led to union recognition, closed shop agreements and wage increases, though it also accelerated industry mechanization.
The Pecan Sheller Strike's legacy extends beyond its immediate gains. Bernardino emphasized how it showcased the power of marginalized workers, particularly women and Mexican Americans, to effect change. The strike's impact on labor organizing in the Southwest and its role in challenging discriminatory practices make it a significant yet often overlooked chapter in American labor history.
Listen to the full episode to explore this pivotal moment in labor history and its relevance to modern workplace struggles in greater depth.
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