Alaskeros
Encyclopedia
The Alaskeros were Filipino
seasonal migrant worker
s in the United States
. They worked in salmon
canneries
in Alaska
during the summer, and on farms on the west coast
during the rest of the year. The Alaskeros were instrumental in the formation of the first Filipino-led union
in the U.S., the Cannery Workers and Farm Laborers Union Local 7 (Seattle, WA).
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
seasonal migrant worker
Migrant worker
The term migrant worker has different official meanings and connotations in different parts of the world. The United Nations' definition is broad, including any people working outside of their home country...
s in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They worked in salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
canneries
Canning
Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. Canning provides a typical shelf life ranging from one to five years, although under specific circumstances a freeze-dried canned product, such as canned, dried lentils, can last as...
in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
during the summer, and on farms on the west coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
during the rest of the year. The Alaskeros were instrumental in the formation of the first Filipino-led union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
in the U.S., the Cannery Workers and Farm Laborers Union Local 7 (Seattle, WA).
External links and sources
- "The Alaskeros: pioneers from afar", by Ed Schoenfeld. Juneau Empire.
- "Cannery Workers and Farm Laborers' Union 1933-39: Their Strength in Unity", by Crystal Fresco, Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project.
- The Filipino Americans: Their History, Culture and Traditions, by Veltisezar Bautista. Chapter 11: The Alaska Pioneers. 2005, 2nd edition. Bookhaus Publishers.
Archives
- Cannery Workers and Farm Laborers Union, Local 7 Records, 1915-1985; Predominantly 1933-1982. 46.31 cubic feet. At the Labor Archives of Washington State, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
- Carlos Bulosan Papers, 1914-1976. 4.65 cubic feet, 17 microfilm reels. At the Labor Archives of Washington State, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
- Chris D. Mensalvas Papers, 1935-1974. .25 cubic feet, 1 sound cassette. At the Labor Archives of Washington State, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
- Chris D. Mensalvas Photograph Collection, 1937-1956. 1 folder of photographic prints. At the Labor Archives of Washington State, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.