Cannery Women, Cannery Lives: Mexican Women, Unionization, and the California Food Processing Industry, 1930-1950

Women have been the mainstay of the gruelling, seasonal canning industry for over a century. This book is a collective biography. Thousands of Mexicana and Mexican American women working in canneries in southern California established effective, democratic trade union locals run by local members. These rank-and-file activists skilfully managed union affairs, including negotiating such benefits as maternity leave, company-provided day care, and paid holidays -- in some cases better benefits than they enjoy today. The dramatic and turbulent history of their union is a major contribution to the new labour history.Vicki L. Ruiz is the author of 'Cannery Women, Cannery Lives: Mexican Women, Unionization, and the California Food Processing Industry, 1930-1950', published 1987 under ISBN 9780826309884 and ISBN 0826309887.