Sister Ida Torres — labor leader, beloved community member, mentor and friend — passed away over the weekend. Leaving behind a community that both grieves her loss and celebrates her life, Sister Ida was one of the founding members of the NE Summer School for Women in Unions and Worker Organizations and an impactful leader whose presence can be felt across the labor movement.
In 2011, Sister Ida was honored with the Clara Lemlich Award for Social Activism. From the Labor Arts website:
Ida Torres Ida Ines Berrocal-Torres was born and raised in New York City, into a union family. She learned about the importance of the labor movement at the dinner table, through the words of her father, a co-founder of the Maritime Workers union, and her mother, a “Shop Chair Lady” at the ILGWU. Her union activism took her to the United Office and Professional Workers of America, where she started as a telephone operator.
Torres’ career in the labor movement continued as she became a finance clerical employee at District 65, and in 1954, office manager at RWDSU Local 3 United Storeworkers, the union representing Bloomingdale’s department store workers. In 1965, the 4,000 Bloomingdale’s workers in New York City went on strike, and Torres became actively involved in the fight for justice at the department store. After the 15-day strike ended, Local 3 members rallied around her. She rose through the ranks, becoming a vice president in 1977, secretary-treasurer in 1984, and finally, president in 1998, an office she held until her retirement.
Torres also went on to serve as the treasurer of the New York City Central Labor Council, and was instrumental in the founding of the Coalition of Labor Union Women as well as the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women. Torres has also been active in the NACCP, the National Conference for Puerto Rican Civil Rights, the Hispanic Labor Committee, and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. The fight for workers’ rights and the civil rights struggle have intertwined for Torres.
Hearing news of her passing, Union Women Summer School alumnae took to sharing memories of her influence and kindness:
“Ida shared her experience with me, her struggles, and how important it is for women to help each other… it was truly an experience I will never forget!”
“…To our Ida, who always set the bar high in all aspects of her life and ours! I join the chorus saluting Ida’s vision of her always putting down ladders for so many …and ask all to join me as we put up a virtual ladder to the sky and the heavens above as we forever commune with our activist angel Ida!”
Wake and funeral information via the Daily News:
Family will receive friends at Frank E. Campbell The Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Ave., Wednesday and Thursday, 2-4 & 7-9 pm. Funeral Mass Fri., 10:30 am, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, East 51 Street & 5th Ave.
