Power from the Past

Memory Work Research Initiative

Black and white flyer reads – “We Need a Change! We need Jim Quinn-Gail Cronyn- Daniel Ruiz- Alex Rivera in Local 11” — “Vote Quinn, Cronyn, Ruiz, Rivera (with check marks by the names)” and “Jim Quinn, Gail Cronyn, Daniel Ruiz & Alex Rivera believe in the members. The members should control and govern their union!” IN the top left hand corner of the image is a caricature drawing of two men in suits exchanging money under the table with the label “hard bargaining?”

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In 1978, members of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees union Local 11 challenged their union’s ban on non-citizen officers and its long-serving leadership. Key issues for the opposition (reflecting in these campaign flyers) were declining union membership and density, lack of attention to the concerns of the Spanish-speaking majority of members, and a sense that leaders were too cozy with employers.