Women’s History Month Profiles: May Chen

For Women’s History Month, we’re taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women’s history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today’s profile is May Chen of UNITE HERE.

May Chen was a community activist and part-time organizer during the garment workers’ strike of 1982, when nearly 20,000 immigrant women took on the industry. Chen rallied to assist the Chinatown workers, and took a full-time job with the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) Immigration Project and Local 23-25. She assisted with the founding of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance and was elected first vice president. Chen rose through the ILGWU and its successors to become international vice president and manager of Local 23-25.