Sam Rodriguez oral history interview, November 19, 2013

Item — othertype: Oral History

Identifier: RodriguezS_L2013-15

Staff Only

Sam Rodriguez oral history interview

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Scope and Contents

Interviewed by Rachel Bernstein. Rodriguez begins by about his family background in Spain, describing his father as an anarchist and his mother as a fascist. He talks about his family leaving Spain in 1939 and living in various countries. He talks about getting his education from his father. He recalls starting a business selling food after high school and his first job in printing shop where he becomes a printer in a few years. He discusses taking job at airport in 1969 as cargo handler for Northwest Airlines. He recalls deciding to run for union office after filing a grievance and being elected shop steward. He recalls organizing two thousand food workers at Marriott and being fired by the union. He discusses being a grand lodge rep and the demands of the position. He talks about organizing activities after his retirement and recalls working on the Obama campaign in Ohio.

Dates

Creation: November 19, 2013

Creator

Rodriguez, Sam, 1937- (Interviewee, Person)

Restrictions on Access

Oral history available for research.

Biographical Note

Sam Rodriguez was born in Spain in 1937. His family left Spain in 1939 and lived in a number of different countries before coming to the United States. He attended only two years of formal school, getting his most of his education from his father. After school, he started a business selling food and then worked in a printing shop becoming a printer. In 1969 he took a job as an airport cargo handler for Northwest Airlines. He filed a grievance with the shop steward and decides to run for the office, getting elected. He organized two thousand foods service workers at Marriott. He eventually became a grand lodge rep. He retired in 1997 and has continued to organize.