Sophie Gonzales

Sophie Gonzales (January 30, 1920 – January 1, 1995) was an activist and union organizer from San Antonio, Texas. She became the first Mexican-American female organizer of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU). In 1959 she organized the Tex-Son Garment company strike. She served as a union organizer for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA) in El Paso, Texas. She organized the 1965 strike at Hortex Manufacturing Company and the 1971 strike at Levi Strauss.

Early life Gonzales was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1920 and raised on a ranch outside of Von Ormy, Texas. The doll was dressed as Gonzales and she posed for a photo for the local newspaper to taunt the workers. However, the state's anti-union tendencies along with increasing counteraction from the owner and dissenting employees caused Gonzales to withdraw from the strike one year before its unsuccessful end in 1963.

Gonzales' talents were next deployed by the ACWA and the Federation of Union Representatives. From El Paso, Texas Gonzales became involved in important strikes against companies including Hortex Manufacturing Company, Levi Strauss and Farah Manufacturing Company over an 18-year span from 1965 to 1983 when she retired. During this period, she helped lead, organize, and implement effective boycotts. Her tenacity is said to have played a role in inspiring female strikers to join strikes and testify, overcoming their hesitancy to incur criticism from their male managers.

Legacy Gonzales is remembered as an innovative union organizer and champion of female participation in labor union activities. Hailed with a plaque bestowed upon her by the ACWA in 1983, Gonzales is credited in organizing the Tex-Son strike which saw the first cooperation of Caucasian and Latina women in a strike in the country. She was the first female ILGWU union organizer.