By Deborah Martinez Martinez, Ph.D.
In 1968-69, workers of the Colorado Brighton-based carnation greenhouse struck for better wages and working conditions. The woman-led union collaborated with the United Farm Workers and many other organizations. The strikers supported farm worker legislation—three bills—in the Colorado State Legislature.
Falcón, Ph.D.
The strike and the legislation is part of the narrative of the Chicano Movement and is well-told by Priscilla Falcón, Ph.D. professor emeritus of the University of Northern Colorado in her new book STRIKE: National Florist Workers VS. Kitayama.
The story of the National Florist Workers Organization can serve as a model to current protesters in support of human rights for farmworkers. The strikers were supported by University of Colorado students, and Iliff School of Theology students as well as multiple religious and human rights organizations, both local and national. Teamsters and G.I. Forum, both national organizations, supported the strikers.
One of the unusual aspects of the strike was Kitayama’s use of taxpayer dollars to intimidate the strikers using local and state law enforcement. Documentation by the strikers revealed daily visits by the Weld County sheriff’s deputies staked out at Kitayama’s, sometimes for six to eight hours at a time as well as time spent at the facility by the Colorado State Patrol.
The strike gradually became more violent, ending with the five women, including leader Guadalupe Briseño, being tear-gassed while chained to the Kitayama gates.
Dr. Falcón interviewed National Florist Workers president Guadalupe “Lupe” Briseño for the book. Dr. Falcón allows the voices of the protesters and Lupe Briseño to shine through using transcripts of primary source materials.
She visited Pueblo April 24 to speak to college students at Colorado State University and also to present to Pueblo community at the Rawlings Library in the eventing. The evening event was hosted by El Movimiento Sigue.
The book is available through the publisher at www.VanishingHorizons.com.
