(The Seattle Post-Intelligencer published the following story on its website on October 10.)
SEATTLE — Linda Chavez-Thompson joined the work force at 10, weeding cotton fields in South Texas for 30 cents an hour.
Nearly 50 years later, she stands as perhaps the most powerful woman in the U.S. labor movement — the executive vice president of the AFL-CIO.
After leaving school at 16, Chavez-Thompson worked her way up the ranks of organized labor, starting in 1967 as a bilingual secretary in a local union hall.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer spent some time with Chavez-Thompson on the eve of her visit to Seattle for the Biennial Convention for the Coalition of Labor Union Women.
What was the tensest moment in your career?
1980 in Texas. I had just become the executive director of the council for three unions in San Antonio, Texas.
One day these workers asked to have a meeting in the union hall at 5:30 in the morning. … They proceeded to tell me that they were going to strike, which is illegal (for this type of work) in Texas.
The lives of 33 people and their families, while they were violating the law in Texas, were in my hands. I don’t think I slept for a week…
I don’t think I would ever want to do it again. (Though) it was awesome.
What is the single biggest misconception of the U.S. labor movement?
I think the image people have is that when we strike, we break windows and we bust towers and we picket and we do all these things, which I am not saying has not happened in the past.
The image now is that unions are now looking out for the interests not just of their members but for all workers …
Are you concerned that California elected a man accused of harassing women?
I am totally appalled about what has happened in California. But it shows one thing: People wanted change.
Any aspirations on your part for higher office?
I love being the kingmaker. I don’t like being the king.