Jack Otero

This book describes different passages of my life, from humble beginnings in Cuba to my retirement days. The lessons I learned from my dear mother during my childhood prepared me for the struggles and perseverance needed to succeed in life. My mother was my idol. I miss her dearly. Here I write about my emigration to the U.S., my ITRR railroad employment and early career in organized labor. And, later, my "discovery" by BRAC Grand President George Harrison, which set in motion a 55-year career that included high-level leadership positions in the domestic and international trade union movements , pioneer creation of Hispanic labor LCLAA, in national politics with the DNC and government service during the first Clinton Administration with USDOL/ILAB and the ILO. My working career ended after 12 years of successful business partnership with my good friend and colleague, the late Jim Savarese. The book reports extensively on family issues in the U.S. and Cuba and describes my involvement in a number of labor conflicts and disputes at home and abroad, with emphasis on my ITF work in Latin America. There are passages about the adverse impact of Communism on my mother and other family living in Cuba, including the tragic loss of my older brother Jose Antonio. Finally, I reflect on my life's personal highs and lows, especially my failed marriage to Gina, the mother of my four children; and my current 26-year happy marriage to my wife and friend Carin Moran. As a proud naturalized U.S. citizen, this book is testament to the fact that anything is possible in America. I am a glaring example. As a poor immigrant from Cuba I was able to break many barriers and achieve various historical successes in labor, politics and business. America is, indeed, the land of opportunity. God bless America!