February 21, 2014

Empire Zinc Strike in Hanover, New Mexico

Christmas spirit during the Empire Zinc Strike in Hanover, New Mexico, 1951. Did you know the 1954 movie "Salt of the Earth" was based on this strike?

Los Mineros Photograph Collection
Call # MP SPC 186.5: 39 Chicano/a Research Collection, Arizona State University Libraries


My dad use to talk about the Empire Zinc Strike. He told me that this strike was about the miners demanding better wages and living conditions. They saw the difference how the white people got paid and how the Mexican or Mexican Americans got paid. So, they went on strike and were fighting for better wages. The Empire Zinc company came to an agreement with the strikers to provide better wages and benefits, ending the strike. The company also began to proved hot water to their homes.They made a movie about this strike. "Salt of the Earth". This movie was filmed in the actual town of Hanover. My dad worked for this company, but he wasn't there when this strike took place. He had already moved to California.




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