El Paso union giant Juan Aranda Jr., remembered as great leader

Aranda Jr.

Long-time El Paso union leader Juan Aranda Jr., who for years represented workers at the former Asarco copper smelter in El Paso, died recently at age 90 after a long illness.

Texas state Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, in a Facebook post, called Aranda a giant in El Paso's labor movement.

"Better known in our community as 'El General,' (Aranda) was a major force in building El Paso's steelworkers' union," Rodriguez said.

Hector Arellano, 70, a retired electrician and long-time leader of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 583, said Aranda was called "The General because he is the man we (union organizers) would all follow for directions."

He was a tough negotiator who was not afraid to speak his mind, said Arellano, who represented electrical workers at Asarco when Aranda was representing the majority of the smelter's workers.

"He had no college degrees. But he had common sense, and a heart for the working people," Arellano said.

"People seem to have forgotten about him. He helped so many in organized labor," Arellano said. He also was very active in organizing union members to work for political candidates, he said.

Aranda, who was born in Mexico, served in the Army during World War II, and eventually got a job at Asarco, where he worked for 27 years, said his son, David Aranda.

He organized the first union at the Asarco smelter, his son said.

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El Paso union giant Juan Aranda Jr., remembered as great leader