OPINION: We Took The Road Less Traveled

LABOR FORUM by Wennie Sancho

To be a genuine labor advocate and a labor union organizer, is not a walk in the park. Unionism is a risky task. The bravery and resilience of labor advocates who risk their lives, livelihoods and personal safety to fight for the workers’ rights, should be commended. The selfless dedication and sacrifices made by labor advocates including time away from family, financial struggles and personal hardships.

I wish I could write a diary about the struggle and sacrifices of labor advocates, but that would be self-serving being a labor advocate myself. Rather, in my almost four decades of experience as a labor leader, I would like to recall in general the often-invisible struggles of labor advocates including the emotional toll of dealing with workers injustice and the frustration of facing resistance from powerful interests.

Every labor advocate has his own story to tell, his motivation, challenges and triumphs when they led the Frontline of a labor strike. I would like to picture the labor advocate as an unsung hero, standing alone fighting against a powerful force. The labor advocate represents the power of solidarity and collective action in achieving social justice.

We should honor the untold stories and sacrifices of labor advocates. Some of them were branded as communists, a label that carries dangerous implications in times of political unrest.

Sometimes if it had been worth it. All our sufferings and sacrifices has been for nothing?

Was it a thankless job? But my thoughts are on those workers we helped and the struggle we have won, the labor unions and other organizations we founded that are still thriving today.

In the final analysis, though weary, I am proud to be a labor advocate. Our works had not been thankless. It had been a labor of love, a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for resilience, courage and compassion. We knew our legacy would live on inspiring future generations of labor advocates to fight for justice and equality for the workers. Labor Advocate’s are the chosen few who took the road less traveled.*