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	Vol.7, No 39, November 4, 1999
	Union founder: workers still struggle By Patrick Fujiike Daily Forty-Niner Farm workers have better lives but 13 states still lack workers' compensation, said labor union founder Dolores Huerta to about 250 people in the University Student Union on Tuesday. "In some states, workers' compensation is voluntary," said Huerta, secretary treasurer and co-founder of the United Farmer Workers Union. In the speech, part of Dia de Los Muertos celebrations on campus, Huerta talked about the hard life farm workers have had. "Back then, farm workers earned only 85 cents an hour," she said. "In the 50s, farm workers were not covered by Social Security." But the present situation of the workers is better because of the battles they have won, Huerta said. "Many martyrs died just so farm workers could get a better life," she said. Huerta shared with the audience what inspired her to join the struggle to fight for the rights of farm workers. "I was a school teacher before I co-founded the UFW, and I would always see poor, hungry children going to school," she said. "So I decided to do something about it." So she worked with Cesar Chavez to form the United Farm Workers Union. "It was established to give the farm workers a voice in their efforts to get more rights," Huerta said. Students said they enjoyed hearing Huerta talk about the farm workers' movement. "I thought it was exiting to hear Dolores Huerta talk about her experience with the farm workers," said Claudia Abrego, a sociology major at Long Beach City College. Mayra Nava agreed. "I thought it was interesting," said Nava, an undeclared freshman at Cal State Long Beach. "I liked hearing about the struggles." Huerta also commented on the wage gap between the rich and the poor. "In our society right now we have a big wage gap between the rich and the poor," Huerta said. "The gap between the rich and the poor is growing every day." Huerta told audience members they have to try to change these things. "We can use moral force and logic to try to change the current wage gap," she said. "In this last election we elected more than 20 Latinos to political positions," Huerta said. She also talked about other ways people can bring about change. "We can change these things through boycotts," Huerta said. "All change comes from the people."		Sparks to fly onstage   Union founder: workers still struggle   Ex-Clinton aide visits campus   Krispy Kreme to sweeten Long Beach taste buds   KLON drive 2nd most successful Remedial editorial protest   LETTER TO THE EDITOR ...Get your game on!   The Charlatans U.K. stage classic comeback   Renowned poet recites work Water polo takes on Air Force   FROM THE BEACH Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.