Posted on September 26, 2006

1. Tell us about your father. What did he do for a living?

My father brought us to this country from Mexico in the 1960s. A friend of his helped him get a job driving a truck for Sunkist. He loved to drive big trucks. I used to spend days driving around with him (sitting up front in the truck and spending the lunch break with the crop pickers). After driving trucks for a while, he became a mechanic. Trucking was a good business to be involved with back in the 60s. He was able to make a good living.

2. How did he influence your work ethic?

My Dad worked very hard, which certainly had a positive impact on me. As long as he did his job – bringing oranges from the crop to the packaging warehouse – he was his own boss out there. I enjoyed driving around with him and was able to learn the trucking business from an early age. One of the things my Dad taught me is to always keep an eye on others by protecting the health and safety of those around you. In my business, I think that’s very important.

3. What work values do you hope to instill in your children?

First, I tell my children to always be thankful when they have a job. Without a job, they’re going to have a tough time. Second, I tell them that as long as they work hard, they’ll be able to get ahead. Even with hard work, though, I always remind them of the need to keep an eye on the company and its ability to shut them down.

4. What can workers do to ensure unions remain strong for their children and grandchildren?

Unions depend on the strength of their members. I encourage people to work hard and constantly educate themselves on what the union stands for. It’s all about a big family taking care of each other and that’s the only way we can keep it strong. For middle class families, it’s up to our kids and grand kids to keep the labor movement going strong. Even for people with higher degrees – doctors, lawyers, etc. – there’s still a place in the union. Workers – regardless of their profession – should always know that.

Next Post: Job Security
Previous Post: Anti-Union Pressure