1. The Loneliness of Working Class Feminism: Women in the “Male World” of Labor Unions, Guatemala City, 1970’s By Deborah Levinson-Estrada

2. Background Guatemalan coup 1954-Became state policy to imprison and kill labor activists Guatemalan coup 1954-Became state policy to imprison and kill labor activists But during the 1950’s-1960’s Guatemalan industry was growing rapidly so labor unions were being rebuilt despite the terror But during the 1950’s-1960’s Guatemalan industry was growing rapidly so labor unions were being rebuilt despite the terror State fought back and by the end of 1980, “most urban working-class leaders were dead or in exile” State fought back and by the end of 1980, “most urban working-class leaders were dead or in exile”

3. 1970’s Labor Unions Labor unions were mostly made up of men Labor unions were mostly made up of men Being in a union was considered masculine Being in a union was considered masculine If women did participate, they were usually “followers” while the men were “leaders” If women did participate, they were usually “followers” while the men were “leaders” “What has it taken for women to become labor activists and what are the connections between gender and activism?” “What has it taken for women to become labor activists and what are the connections between gender and activism?”

4. Reasons women didn’t join labor unions A husband or relative the woman was living with wouldn’t allow it A husband or relative the woman was living with wouldn’t allow it Women’s work outside the home was considered temporary so they didn’t need to get involved as deeply as joining a union Women’s work outside the home was considered temporary so they didn’t need to get involved as deeply as joining a union Union activists had to be confrontational with their employers and that behavior was considered to be indecent for women Union activists had to be confrontational with their employers and that behavior was considered to be indecent for women

5. ACRICASA A Japanese-owned thread company in Guatemala that made acrylic thread for the Central American Common Market A Japanese-owned thread company in Guatemala that made acrylic thread for the Central American Common Market Opened in 1973 Opened in 1973 Working conditions were pretty bad Working conditions were pretty bad “The machines got everything they needed to function 24 hours a day without hitches or failures, but we did not.”-Sonia Olivia “The machines got everything they needed to function 24 hours a day without hitches or failures, but we did not.”-Sonia Olivia

6. Complaints about ACRICASA All Workers All Workers Low pay Low pay 12 hour shifts 12 hour shifts No face masks against dust No face masks against dust No transportation to plant (2K from a main road) No transportation to plant (2K from a main road) Women Women Absence of toilets Absence of toilets Japanese supervisors would slap women workers Japanese supervisors would slap women workers Women who worked the night shift felt especially vulnerable having no transportation Women who worked the night shift felt especially vulnerable having no transportation

7. Start of the ACRICASA Union A group of men began organizing a union in Feb. 1975 A group of men began organizing a union in Feb. 1975 A spy infiltrated the organizing committee so several of the original organizers were fired A spy infiltrated the organizing committee so several of the original organizers were fired Law mandated that there needed to be a 9 member executive committee to form a union Law mandated that there needed to be a 9 member executive committee to form a union After these first firings there weren’t enough men willing to risk their job for the union so the group of men had to find a woman After these first firings there weren’t enough men willing to risk their job for the union so the group of men had to find a woman

8. Sonia Olivia She had been working at the plant since it opened She had been working at the plant since it opened She was offered a leadership role in the union committee She was offered a leadership role in the union committee She was able to accept because she didn’t live with any relatives She was able to accept because she didn’t live with any relatives Right away she and the other committee members found a lawyer to “secure an injunction” to prevent people from getting fired for being in the union Right away she and the other committee members found a lawyer to “secure an injunction” to prevent people from getting fired for being in the union There were over one hundred workers that then joined the union, mostly they were women There were over one hundred workers that then joined the union, mostly they were women

9. It took 9 months for the union to gain legal recognition It took 9 months for the union to gain legal recognition After the contract was won, workers still had to continually pressure the company to abide by it After the contract was won, workers still had to continually pressure the company to abide by it Night shift workers went on a 15 day strike for overtime pay. They camped outside of the factory that whole time Night shift workers went on a 15 day strike for overtime pay. They camped outside of the factory that whole time Sonia Olivia was a day worker but she wanted to fight with the rest of the union so she went on strike with them Sonia Olivia was a day worker but she wanted to fight with the rest of the union so she went on strike with them The strike ended when management called the police to come and tear gas the people. But when the police got there, a unionist threatened to blow up the factory if the police got involved, so the police left and management had to pay overtime The strike ended when management called the police to come and tear gas the people. But when the police got there, a unionist threatened to blow up the factory if the police got involved, so the police left and management had to pay overtime

10. Childcare 1947 labor code stated that factories with over forty women workers must provide childcare 1947 labor code stated that factories with over forty women workers must provide childcare Sonia Olivia had a newborn baby and no one at home, so she absolutely needed the childcare, but management wasn’t complying with the rules Sonia Olivia had a newborn baby and no one at home, so she absolutely needed the childcare, but management wasn’t complying with the rules To “make a point”, she would show up to work with her son and whenever he needed anything, she would stop working to take care of him. “I made him my top priority”-Sonia Olivia To “make a point”, she would show up to work with her son and whenever he needed anything, she would stop working to take care of him. “I made him my top priority”-Sonia Olivia

11. After a few days of this, another woman followed suit and brought her child to work After a few days of this, another woman followed suit and brought her child to work The management then bought a few cribs and supplies and took a woman off the floor to watch the children The management then bought a few cribs and supplies and took a woman off the floor to watch the children That was the daycare center, but it was only open during the day That was the daycare center, but it was only open during the day To make another point, Sonia Olivia left her child there all night after she left work To make another point, Sonia Olivia left her child there all night after she left work They had to keep the girl there to watch Sonia’s son They had to keep the girl there to watch Sonia’s son The management finally gave in and had a 24 hour daycare center The management finally gave in and had a 24 hour daycare center

12. State’s reaction In July 1978, nine of the male unionists and twenty-six females were taken to prison for being “subversive” In July 1978, nine of the male unionists and twenty-six females were taken to prison for being “subversive” Then in October, the union leader Gonzalo Ac Bin was assassinated Then in October, the union leader Gonzalo Ac Bin was assassinated Early in 1979, Olivia and her son were kidnapped Early in 1979, Olivia and her son were kidnapped Olivia was beaten and detained for 15 hours until they released her on the condition that she leave the country Olivia was beaten and detained for 15 hours until they released her on the condition that she leave the country

13. Improper female behavior In pursuing their demands, the women would have to protest in dramatic ways to see results In pursuing their demands, the women would have to protest in dramatic ways to see results The first grievance specific to women that was changed was the installation of indoor toilets, however, supervisors clocked the amount of time workers spent in the bathroom The first grievance specific to women that was changed was the installation of indoor toilets, however, supervisors clocked the amount of time workers spent in the bathroom “One day a woman who stayed in the bathroom for four minutes got reported to the manager. She informed the union representatives and they accompanied her into the manager’s office. There a quarrel began during which she suddenly became silent. She stood up, left the room, retuned with a soiled sanitary napkin, placed it on the manager’s desk, and, red in the face stated, ‘If you want to know why I was in the bathroom so long, here’s why!’” The management immediately quit clocking the workers “One day a woman who stayed in the bathroom for four minutes got reported to the manager. She informed the union representatives and they accompanied her into the manager’s office. There a quarrel began during which she suddenly became silent. She stood up, left the room, retuned with a soiled sanitary napkin, placed it on the manager’s desk, and, red in the face stated, ‘If you want to know why I was in the bathroom so long, here’s why!’” The management immediately quit clocking the workers

14. Another example of these women fighting “private” and “feminine” matters is the law about holiday pay for Mother’s Day Another example of these women fighting “private” and “feminine” matters is the law about holiday pay for Mother’s Day ACRICASA gave holiday pay to all married women with children but refused to recognize the single mothers ACRICASA gave holiday pay to all married women with children but refused to recognize the single mothers “A group of workers argued inside the manager’s office-”If you don’t give me this holiday because I am not a mother, I will lie on your desk and you bring a doctor in here to decide in front of everyone whether I am a mother,” and management, embarrassed, gave in immediately.” “A group of workers argued inside the manager’s office-”If you don’t give me this holiday because I am not a mother, I will lie on your desk and you bring a doctor in here to decide in front of everyone whether I am a mother,” and management, embarrassed, gave in immediately.”

15. Women’s activism? The women unionists realized a lot of the gender differences but there were many inequalities between males and females that they never questioned such as men receiving higher pay and how even though most of the members in the union were women, most of the leaders were men The women unionists realized a lot of the gender differences but there were many inequalities between males and females that they never questioned such as men receiving higher pay and how even though most of the members in the union were women, most of the leaders were men

16. Along that same line Sonia Olivia was one of the only women who took advantage of the childcare facilities that ACRICASA offered Sonia Olivia was one of the only women who took advantage of the childcare facilities that ACRICASA offered Most of the women felt that it was wrong to bring a child to a dangerous plant Most of the women felt that it was wrong to bring a child to a dangerous plant These women were living with relatives, some of which were women, who would stay at home and take care of their children while they were at work These women were living with relatives, some of which were women, who would stay at home and take care of their children while they were at work Women continued to insist that childcare was for the informal sector rather than the formal sector Women continued to insist that childcare was for the informal sector rather than the formal sector

17. Gendered Activism, Gender Troubles “Union literature sometimes used the adjective ‘virile’ to describe job actions, and a typical editorial in a union newspaper challenged workers whose union activities had been lax: “Don’t you have hair on your chests?” “Union literature sometimes used the adjective ‘virile’ to describe job actions, and a typical editorial in a union newspaper challenged workers whose union activities had been lax: “Don’t you have hair on your chests?”

18. Popular Imagery vs. Realizations Men trade unionist were the city’s best breadwinners Men trade unionist were the city’s best breadwinners Most steadfast defenders of family Most steadfast defenders of family And the ultimate fathers And the ultimate fathers Union activity usually got them killed Union activity usually got them killed Always kept them too busy to spend time with their children Always kept them too busy to spend time with their children And occasionally endangered their children’s lives And occasionally endangered their children’s lives

19. Sexual Abuse At some factories, women would have to sleep with their manager to be able to keep their jobs At some factories, women would have to sleep with their manager to be able to keep their jobs Men workers would organize to stop this Men workers would organize to stop this They were defending the women, but also their masculinity They were defending the women, but also their masculinity The managers were “messing with ‘our’ classes women” The managers were “messing with ‘our’ classes women” “Class struggle over women’s bodies” “Class struggle over women’s bodies”

20. Outrage at abuse of women was formed by: 1. “Class machismo” 1. “Class machismo” 2. “Notion that men had to defend women” 2. “Notion that men had to defend women” 3. “Influence of class solidarity, which embraced sympathy for female coworkers” 3. “Influence of class solidarity, which embraced sympathy for female coworkers”

21. Even though these men would help out their female workers, they wouldn’t go as far as keeping them equal in the union Even though these men would help out their female workers, they wouldn’t go as far as keeping them equal in the union Union activism was “macho” Union activism was “macho” When a woman joined, men made it clear that the women were there to do women’s work-cooking, cleaning up, and taking notes When a woman joined, men made it clear that the women were there to do women’s work-cooking, cleaning up, and taking notes

22. “2 Kinds of Women Unionists” 1. Masculine-women in a union were doing “men’s” work. “Because of class realities men could not reject these women, but because of gender concepts they could not accept them as women” 1. Masculine-women in a union were doing “men’s” work. “Because of class realities men could not reject these women, but because of gender concepts they could not accept them as women” 2. Followers-”a school teacher’s union went on huge strike of 18,000 in 1973. The women in the strike were considered maternal and “selfless, fighting for the children” 2. Followers-”a school teacher’s union went on huge strike of 18,000 in 1973. The women in the strike were considered maternal and “selfless, fighting for the children” Popular thought was that you had to be either a “real man” or “real woman” to be a unionist Popular thought was that you had to be either a “real man” or “real woman” to be a unionist

23. Although it was ok for women to be in unions if they were “real women”, men hardly ever let their wives become involved in unions Although it was ok for women to be in unions if they were “real women”, men hardly ever let their wives become involved in unions Wives were generally allowed to help out with things like cooking, but they weren’t allowed to listen to what was going on, and their husbands would rarely ever explain either Wives were generally allowed to help out with things like cooking, but they weren’t allowed to listen to what was going on, and their husbands would rarely ever explain either

24. Conclusions “There are no genderless working class struggles in Guatemala” “There are no genderless working class struggles in Guatemala” “While for men trade union activism was associated with their gender identity, for women of the ACRICASA union, and others, the situation was the opposite” “While for men trade union activism was associated with their gender identity, for women of the ACRICASA union, and others, the situation was the opposite” “Women factory workers’ activism contradicted the social ideal of femininity” “Women factory workers’ activism contradicted the social ideal of femininity” A woman would have to ignore her traditional woman’s role to be a member of a union- They couldn’t get married, be a traditional mother, and had to be “macho” A woman would have to ignore her traditional woman’s role to be a member of a union- They couldn’t get married, be a traditional mother, and had to be “macho”

25. “Women’s involvement in the union and in the popular movement was rooted in the multiplicity of their being, and not only in matters related to the household and family, or to their sense of self as maternal. The women union workers had a relationship to the world of reality and not only to the world of men and women.” “Women’s involvement in the union and in the popular movement was rooted in the multiplicity of their being, and not only in matters related to the household and family, or to their sense of self as maternal. The women union workers had a relationship to the world of reality and not only to the world of men and women.” “To be union activists, women would have to carry on two struggles-one against the company and the state, and another against sanctioned models of gender behavior-while men have had to wage the first and not the second.” “To be union activists, women would have to carry on two struggles-one against the company and the state, and another against sanctioned models of gender behavior-while men have had to wage the first and not the second.”