Maria "Bernice" Romero Oral History Interview

Maria "Bernice" Romero shares her work experiences working at Mountain Bell from 1972 until 2003 where she worked first as a phone operator using a "cork board" in Durango, CO and then as a Repair Clerk and finally as an Outside Technician. Romero was also a member of the Communication Workers of America CWA locals in Durango, CO and Albuquerque, NM. Romero describes her Labor and political activism advocating against discrimination of women, Hispanics, and Gay and Lesbian persons in New Mexico. She reveals the discrimination she experienced early on in her job as an operator in Durango CO as well as her own fight to work in a job that traditionally hired men only. She is currently active with CWA RMC 70010, retired CWA members. Interview by Gema Gonzalez.

The Working People's History of New Mexico Project (WPHNM) is an oral labor history project created to gather the labor stories of working people in New Mexico. While part of the interviews focus on the specific jobs that the interviewees performed, the interviews also explore labor-management relations as well as union, workers council, and social activism participation.  The interviews contain information about family and social relationships and offer themes of social and historical interest in New Mexico and the US.