TDU

Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) emerged in the 1970s as a socialist reform faction within the Teamsters.  They targeted Teamster corruption and "business  unionism" that colluded with employers and enforced hierarchies that excluded rank and file workers and benefited union officials.  They saw worker frustration in the canning industry as an opportunity to intervene and challenge the Teamsters. They began working on Watsonville before the strike to challenge the leadership of Local 912. These activists worked with the Watsonville Strike Support Committee.  Strategically they focused on empowering rank and file workers and solidarity among workers, such as cannery workers and farm workers.  

Esperanza Torres came to Watsonville from Michoacan. She and her husband Enrique lived across from Watsonville Canning and both worked at the plant.  In her interview, Torres talks about how she got involved with TDU through Joe Fahey and Frank Bardacke, conflicts within the union, and strike activities.  Her interview is primarily in Spanish with her son translating.  Torres went on to work as an organizer for the teamster union Local 890 for many years after the strike.

Oral histories:  Edit and add Torres.

Oral histories:  Fahey?

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