1959 Tex-Son Strike
Abstract
The 1959-1963 Tex-Son Strike in San Antonio, Texas was a consequential labor movement led by Mexican American women that fought for fair wages and workplace condition improvements within the garment industry. This strike highlights issues of worker exploitation, gender inequality in pay received, and labor rights. Along with outstanding support by unions like the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU). The labor movement empowered Latina women workers and influenced civil rights movements within Texas and internationally within the Latino community.
Introduction
Since the start of the Progressive era women in the working class assured themselves of resistances to the inequalities that they faced when it came to civil liberties of working class American women. Over time the methods of resistance such as protesting and strikes caused many union based workers to fight for their rights to fair labor in America. During the late 50’s to early 60’s civil rights leaders could be affiliated as a union member based on principles in the civil rights movement that speak to the purpose of a workers union. San Antonio, Texas these sentiments of the civil rights movement will be a driving force for the primarily 90% mexican-american female workers that would go on strike from the Tex-Son garment factory with the help of unions and their community. Sophie Gonzales was the first Tejana to be a union member leader, and she used her power of influence to oppose the unfair labor company procedures, and demanded for a livable wage, with job security[1].They even had Bexar County Commissioner Albert Pena Jr. a leader in the civil rights movement as an ally to their protest for workers rights. However there will always be authoritarian push back to a civil protest and soon these protesters will be met with violence.[2]
The media channel WBAP-TV was ready to present these women as a rioting mob when the violence had broken out during the strikes, however these brilliant women were not going to allow for this false narrative to undermine their cause.[3] As a result of the false media perception of the protest that took place at Tex-Son, International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) would produce a film by the title “Mother is on strike” to clear up this misconception. From the film produced by the workers union to support the women involved in the strike to share what is happening on the ground. Starting with the evidence of violence that the female strikers faced from the police officers, then expose the true embarrassment of scab work and how the authorities handled protection between that party and the protesters. Second part of this film shows the community coming together to help the women strike and a push for boycotting Tex-Son garments being bought in stores.[4] Although the women of the Tex-Son strike where making strides in their community support of the strike, their was still forces of resistance and divergence that will be contributed from print media like the Texas newspapers that lessen the value of the hard work the women are doing to make a difference for themselves and their families.[5]
The 1959 Tex-Son strike exemplifies many other contributions made by both Hispanic and Anglo women. Such as Micaela Valadez who argues in her examination of the strike, Mexican women played a central role in redefining labor activism in San Antonio, by challenging traditional gender norms and setting the stage for future struggles in the region.[6] The strike, bolstered by the support of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU), served as a pivotal platform for these women to assert their agency within the broader labor movement. The ILGWU, one of the most prominent labor unions of its time, was founded in 1900 to represent workers in the women’s garment industry, advocating for better wages, safer working conditions, and workers' rights. Its involvement highlighted the solidarity between labor organizations across different industries. Recognizing the plight and determination of these women, O.H. Wadi, the President of the local Bus Drivers’ Union, and Charles Hutton, the union’s Secretary, extended their support, underscoring the shared struggles of workers in the fight for justice and dignity.[7]
Moreover civil activism as a result of the low wages and unsafe working conditions that were occurring at the Tex-Son garment factory would cause a cultural shift. According to Museo del Westside, Mexican and Anglo women joined forces to protest unfair wages and poor treatment, creating a powerful instance of interracial solidarity.[8] The strike faced significant challenges, including anti-labor tactics such as threats and intimidation by the management as well as cruel and untruthful media portrayal. The Dallas Craftsman noted that despite these obstacles, the strikers maintained high morale and determination, a very deserved testament to their resilience. Symbolic imagery was a notable tactic used by the garment strikers. Imagery such as two men riding on a horse-drawn carriage to critique the Tex-Son’s management’s outdated and exploitative practices, expressing that the horse-drawn carriage was a metaphor for the regressive pay. Those signs suggest that “TEX-SON WANTS to take its workers BACK to the HORSE and BUGGY DAYS.”[9]
Irene Ledesma, emphasized how pivotal figures such as Gregoria Montalbo and Sophie Gonzales provided crucial leadership during the Tex-Son strike. Using her first hand experience in exploitative labor work in Chicago, Montalbo played a vital role as a leader in both bargaining during negotiations and picket line committees.[10] Montalbo’s ability to bring in fundraising and her organizing skills were very crucial in sustaining the strike. Additionally, Gonzales, who was the first Mexican - American female organizer for the ILGWU, became a leading symbol of resilience. Gonzales was famous for warding off voodoo dolls that were meant to be a scare tactic against the strikers.Despite the various efforts, the strike ultimately fell apart. Tension rose among the leadership and the strikers, with the union losing faith in the movement and eventually pulled funding. Both Montalbo and Gonzales left the strike. What started out with hundreds of female garment workers, dwindled down to just 11 strikers as the movement’s flame was snuffed out. In the end, the strike didn’t meet the demands of the workers, but did cause the San Antonio branch of Tex-Son to go bankrupt and relocate to Dallas, Texas.[11]
The 1959 Tex-Son Garment Workers’ Strike serves as a vital case study in understanding the dynamics of women led labor activism in the South. The strike’s leadership, the use of imagery in their protesting strategies, and emphasis on solidarity between diverse groups of women broadcast the strike’s impact on the history of labor movements. Micaela Valadez argued that because the strike challenged traditional narratives, primary sources such as photographs, newspaper articles, and archival records, offered a narrative that reflects the struggle for just labor conditions.
Additionally the Tex-Son strike produced by the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) civil liberties extended to our boring neighbors in Mexico. Latino communities across the border support their people of their culture with Sophie Gonzales in attendance. They look very proud to be a part of the movement and show to have some inspiration of the same methods that men and women in Texas who support as allies of the work these women strikers fight for.[12] Final thoughts bring upon the strikes tactics that took the company down. That would be the allied support from men in Texas that were supporting the women in the community they had a sign that they would wear that had you question your ethos and to think twice on buying the boycotted garments, because that would take away from the children of the garment works push for a better living when their mom is payed an actual livable wage.[13] These latinas that worked really hard on their protest and boycotts were internationally inspirational for receiving such wide community support for protecting civil liberties in the face of adversity.
Endnote
[1]Jessica Cantú, “Tex-Son Garment Workers’ Strike,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed October 23,2024,https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/tex-son-garment-workers-strike [2]The Hockley County Herald (Levelland, Tex.), vol. 34, no. 24, ed. 1, February 27, 1959, 10. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1168770/m1/10/
[3]WBAP-TV (Television station: Fort Worth, Tex.). News Script: Strike. February 27, 1959. University of North Texas Libraries. The Portal to Texas History. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc960111/
[4]Mother is on Strike(International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union, 1952, https://ilgwu.ilr.cornell.edu/archives/filmVideo/index.html
[5] Ledesma, Irene. “Texas Newspapers and Chicana Workers’ Activism, 1919-1974.” The Western Historical Quarterly 26, no. 3 (1995): 309–31. https://doi.org/10.2307/970655
[6] Micaela Valadez, Remembering the Tex-Son Strike: Legacies of Latina-led Labor Activism in San Antonio, Texas
[7] The Dallas Craftsman (Dallas, Tex.), May 15, 1959,
[8] Museo del Westside, Labor, Women & Activism, accessed November 13, 2024
[9]University of Texas at Arlington Libraries, Two men sitting on a horse-drawn carriage with Tex-Son sign, 1959
[10]Irene Ledesma, “Montalbo, Gregorgia Goya,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed October 25, 2024
[11]Irene Ledesma, “Gonzales, Sophie,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed October 25, 2024
[12]International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, Local 180 (San Antonio, TX) Records, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. "Tex-Son strike." UTA Libraries Digital Gallery.1961.AccessedOctober23,2024 https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/img/10004174
[13]University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. “Tex-Son workers’ Strike.” Photograph. International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, Local 180 (San Antonio, TX) Records, 1959. https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/specialcollections_ilgwulocal180/30
Bibliography
●Cantú, Jessica. "Tex-Son Garment Workers’ Strike." Handbook of Texas Online.
●International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union. Mother is on Strike. 1952.
●International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, Local 180 (San Antonio, TX) Records. "Tex-Son Strike." UTA Libraries Digital Gallery. 1961.
●Ledesma, Irene. "Gonzales, Sophie." Handbook of Texas Online.
●Ledesma, Irene. "Montalbo, Gregoria Goya." Handbook of Texas Online.
●Ledesma, Irene. “Texas Newspapers and Chicana Workers’ Activism, 1919-1974.” The Western Historical Quarterly 26, no. 3 (1995): 309–31.
Discussion Questions
●The Progressive era was an essential time for workers to fight for their rights to a fair work environment.Fast forward to the time after the New Deal act was passed. How do the women of the Tex-Son Strike differ in the approaches they took for their strike then the women that fought against the early 1900’s sweatshops in the progressive era?
●How did the media play a role in the coverage of the strike? Are there any historical similarities of women having to defend the truth in the face of countless accusations placed on outspoken women? How has that era had a lasting effect on how authority treats women fighting for their rights?
●How were the men in this movement influenced to become an allied force with these working women? How did those relationships look? And how did Latino culture play a part in the process of having male allies as a possibility?
●In what ways did the strategies and imagery used by the Tex-Son strikers, such as the metaphor of the horse-drawn carriage, communicate their critique of the management and amplify their message?
●How did the involvement of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union and local union leaders, such as O.H. Wadi and Charles Hutton, affect the organization of the Tex-Son strike?