Petronila Infantes

Petronila Infantes (29 June 1911 – 8 October 1991) was a Bolivian anarchist and trade unionist. She was the founder of the Culinary Workers Union, and a leader in the women's anarchist movement in Bolivia.

Biography Infantes was born in La Paz on 29 June 1911. At a very young age she went to live in Eucaliptus. She worked with her father for an American company there, but he died when she was very young. then later as a cook, trained by her mother. During her first marriage she had a son, José Enrique, and a daughter, Alicia.

Activism

One of the anti-discrimination protests that Infantes was involved in revolved around a ban in 1935 on the tram system for people with heavy luggage or clothing that might come in contact with others. Many of the women affected were cholas and many worked as cooks, they were tired of being discriminated against and formed the all-female Culinary Workers Union as a response to the discriminatory practices of the tram companies. The tram companies had to overturn the ban, due to public pressure. However politics was not free of discrimination and Infantes recalled how at a conference in 1929, Bolivian upper-class women who were present objected to cholas giving a presentation.

The work of the Culinary Workers Union led to the recognition of cook as a profession, to an eight-hour working day and to the provision of free childcare for working mothers. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Infantes continued to co-ordinate the work of the FOF. When Infantes was arrested whilst protesting, her young daughter was placed in the goal cell with her.

Legacy Many trade unions, such as the National Federation of Domestic Workers of Bolivia, recognise Infantes as one of their pioneers.