San Diego’s Labor Community Makes Journey for Better Jobs a Success

Download the April 2008 issue in PDF format

Lorena Gonzalez, Sec.-Treasurer

When the staff of the Labor Council first started discussing holding a union march to honor Cesar Chavez Day, we came to the conclusion that we’d set a goal of having 250 union members participate in the “Journey for Better Jobs.”

I’m happy to say we shattered that goal by having nearly 1,000 members participate throughout the day.

Representatives from nearly every union in San Diego stood in solidarity as we highlighted several upcoming contract fights.

Our message came through loud and clear. Camera crews from every local television station came out to see hundreds of people lining downtown streets in their bright red t-shirts. Nearly every newscast that day featured our message.

Reporters from less than friendly media outlets such as the Union-Tribune and KOGO, spent the morning racing to keep up with a line that at one point stretched more than five city blocks.

Elected officials and community leaders addressed the crowd at each stop on the Journey.

Of course, the sight to be seen that day was all of our brothers and sisters standing as one.

When I looked at the crowd I saw people who work as stagehands, machinists, hotel workers, janitors, home health care workers, electricians, sheet metal workers, plumbers and pipefitters, sanitation workers and dozens of other professions. Of course, for the day, we were not all members of individual unions, but a collective voice for all the region’s working families.

While other events designated to honor the legacy of Cesar Chavez failed to mention his impact and influence on the labor movement, I am proud to say that ours did not.

The ideals shared by Chavez and the labor movement were prominently featured throughout the day. We never lost sight of the goal of ensuring that everyone who works is able to provide basic necessities for them and their family.

As Chavez said, “The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people.” We were able to show that our fight is not about anything other than maintaining dignity and respect on the job.

I want to thank everyone who helped make the event successful. The Journey for Better Jobs could not have happened without the support of all 119 affiliates of the Labor Council, the hundreds of people who walked the entire route, the dozens of volunteers who gave up their holiday to support the event, the San Diego Police Officers who closed down streets and looked out for our safety and, of course, all the members who were strong enough to stand up to injustice and demand that all workers be treated with dignity and respect. Thank you all!