Vol. VII 1\0. 3

IN THIS EDITION: FARM WORKERS RESIST TEAMSTER PESTS, p. 2-3 THE GROWERS' PRIVATE ARMY, p. 10 12 FARM WORKERS DIE IN ANOTHER MASSACRE, p. 4 . ASPARAGUS GROWER SPEAKS HIS MIND, p. 11 ORGANIZING THE 'PARO', p. 5 'WITH LA CAUSA ALL THE WAY!' p. 12 EASY TAX MONEY FOR THE GROWERS. p. 6 TIDBITS, p. 13 WHO PICKED ~HE TEAMSTERS? p. 7 'DON'T PAY TEAMSTEA DUES,' SAYS CHAVEZ, p. 16 'TEAMSTERS ARE BANDITS', p. 8-9 Farm workers resist Teamster extortion 'WE CAN STOP· THEM AT

CALEXICO, Ca.-Black eagle the paro. "Right now news of the flags flew over empty fields in the paro is spreading across the Imperial Valley late February as , nation, for it is something that thousands of farm workers held a causes admiration. one-day "paro" (work stoppage) "People say, 'How can it be and a week-long asparagus strike possible that workers who already in a new major thrust against the have a contract are out on strike?' Teamsters' Union contra~ts held And the answer is ...because by the vegetable growers of the these contracts are not valid . area. contracts, and exist only because An estimated 8000 workers of the conspiring between the refused to work February 18 in growers and their puppets." response to a call by the United Most of the lettuce and veg­ Farm Workers of America. etable growers in the Imperial After the paro, nearly a thou­ Valley signed contracts with the sand asparagus workers struck Teamsters on July 26, 1970, in with picket lines at labor con- what the California Supreme

When they [the growers] want us to stop working, 'they do it. They don't care about our needs, but only their production. And now we "Stop the Buses!"-Strikers picket the 12 buses of labor contractor Constantino "Penguino" Martinez. want to show them that farm workers are united By the third day of the asparagus strike, Martinez stopped bringing his buses to Calexico. and that we can stop them at any hour we please."-Ricardo Villapando

tractor buses at the fields, Court later described as "the demanding higher wages to fight ultimate form of favoritism ­ inflation as well as free elections­ substituting the employer's to determine which union would choice. of unions for his em­ represent them. ployees' desires." "This is the beginning of a whole series of strikes," said "Join us!" UFW president Cesar Chavez, "that will be taking place until Weeks bef~re the paro, work­ such time as the growers and the ers' committees organized by the Teamsters make up their minds UFW visited labor contractor that the workers are going to be buses.every morning to talk with represented by their own union." workers about their problems with the Teamsters and the cost 'We can stop them' of living. sters and the cost of living. On the day of the paro, the Since 90% of the workers who fields were empty, the contractor work in the Valley cross over daily buses parked sHently in Calexico, from Mexico, the paro began at 2 the packing sheds quiet. Agri­ o'clock in the morning with a UFW members Pedro Carmona (left) and Magdalena Reyes (center) help launch "EI Paro General" by business in the Imperial Valley picket line at the border. distributing leaflets at the border at 3 :00 a.m. February 18. came to a halt. Under the bright flourescent "When they (the growers) lights of the Immigration Service and I'll have to go back without want us to stop working, they do Building, huelgistas with red money this time, but that's OK." it," UFW organizer Ricardo flags, leaflets, and copies of El "The family? They're getting Villalpando told another farm Malcriado shouted, "Join us, by, begging, well for beans and worker. "They don't care about don't work today!", and, "Take tortillas because the kids are in our needs, but only their pro- our flag 'for the good of our school. But the paro is a gre'at opportunity because the com­ panies can't stand to lose so much "How can it be possible that they pay us the money for long." "I'll stay here with this flag, same $1.30 a box as they did six years ago? In talking to all the companeros to the first two months of this year alone make them see that we all have to everything in the stores has become so. join together."

expensive! Six years... do you know what six Hit Teamster abuses years means?" - Bias Rubio Picketers told the workers that this was the day to protest the duction. And now we want to families! Down with the Team­ Teamster robbery of their money, show them that farm workers are sters!' . and that formal declarations united ahd that we can stop them Every time a farm worker against Teamster abuses could be at any hour we please. joined the picket line, a cheer given at the UFW hiring hall. Not a single instance of a went up. More than a thousand farm worker being fired for not "I just got here from Ti­ workers who now work under showing for work was reported juana," Elpidio Ponce told pick­ Teamster contracts went to the after the paro,' something UFW eters as he joined the line, hiring hall beginning at 2:30 a.m. organizers say has never hap­ "where I go every eight days to to sign cards authorizing the pened before. see my family. So it caught me by UFW to represent them. surprise to see that it's time 'to 'How can it be?' take up La Causa again." Many stayed to give detailed "I don't have a penny, nothing, sworn statements about their problems with the Teamsters to "Today we have seen the but I don't care, I can survive for The asparagus strike leaves Abatti's asparagus fields empty. beauty of the organized power of a couple of days or so, somehow. the Union's legal staff. They farm workers, Chavez told a You see, I came ready to work were assisted in this task by Staff worke~s' rally on the afternoon of With my asparagus knIfe and all, 'lIembers from the Service Cen- 2 E I Malcriado March 29, 1974 ANY HOUR WEPLEASEJ

fer, the Calexico Clinic and many hadn't planned on working that Huelga!! Strike!! John Jackson told El Malcriado the aspragus would have to be volunteers. day for a long time. Others that the asparagus ranchers of the ploughed under if it wasn't claimed it was a holiday provided The next morning 350 aspar­ Valley met the night before the picked. "Either they work now or In these statements (see pages for in the Teamsters contracts, for agus workers jammed the hiring strike began and agreed to raise they never work", he said, "and I 8-9), they accused the Teamsters George Washington's birthday. hall and with a hand vote declared wages by ten cents a box, to don't want it to be an ultimatum, of such abuses as: "If so, it's the first time in the a strike. Since asparagus has to $1.40. He said they had planned but as a manager I have no -deducting dues from work­ history of agricuture that Wash­ be harvested within a very short to do this for a long time. choice. ers' paychecks without per­ ington's birthday is a holiday," period of time after it-ripens, they "We've worked out responsi­ Few machines ever appeared in mission said UFW organizer Manuel expected to inflict heavy losses on ble wage negotiations," he said, the fields. -forcing workers to sign Chavez. "Last year they didn't the growers. "which will allow for the cost of Teamster cards with threats' even see fit to make Jesus Immediately after the vote the living increase they are talking Grower injunction of losing their jobs Christ's birthday a holiday!" workers went to the buses of the about. I don't think they -tricking workers into sign­ The Teamster contract for the labor contractor who work with understand this, though." On February 20, the third day ing the cards by saying they Imperial Valley does not list the asparagus growers, emptying Although Jackson said the of the strike, four growers were for some other pur­ Washington's birthday as a hoi­ them one at a time and then current wage was $1.40 a box, obtained a temporary court order pose. day. A Teamster spokesman in convincing the drivers to take the scabs in the Jackson and Abatto severly limiting picketing at the -refusing to hold member­ Salinas said he didn't think most buses out of town. fields (some brought in from fields and bus pick-up points. In ship meetings or give out of the people participating in the At dawn the picket lines moved Arizona) told EI Malcriado they their suit to obtain the order they any copies of the contracts paro were farm workers. In early to the fields where mQre workers were being paid from $1.60 to charged that the picketing the Teamsters signed with March it was reported in Calexico left the fields in large and small $1.80 a box. "intimidated" their workers but the growers that the Teamsters were planning groups. "Probably the growers will failed to cite any specific in­ -refusing to pay medical to ask growers for permission to Two days later, -Don Currier offer you a much better wage to stances. They said they were benefits that were promised try a work stoppage in the area for ("EI Don") was the only con­ work for them now," a UFW each losing $50,000 a day: -giving workers the run­ publicity purposes. tractor breaking the strike, as the strike leaflet warned. "but we ask Speaking for himself as well as around on their grievances A spokesman for the Bruce others were unable to get aspara­ you class brothers and sisters do his fellow workers, Juan Alavardo against the growers Church company, one of the gus workers and even stopped not go. "For as all farm workers and Benjamin Murrieta, Pascual bringing their buses in the know, they use their system to Amador said they had left the morning. their advantage-paying higher fields belonging to Jackson be­ ~'Probably the growers will offer you a much wages when they are forced to do cause "the picketers told us it Demand pay raise so and aftewards exploiting us better wage to work for them now I but we ask was for the good of everyone." you class brothers and sisters not to go. For as again whenever they please." "We didn't want to break the The workers de.manded an picket line. We are not members all farm workers know; they use their system to increase in pay to $2.00 a box of Machine threat of the UFW but we believe their their advantage-paying higher wages when asparagus for piece-rate or $3.00 efforts are good." they are forced to do so and afterwards an hour. "How can it be possible On the first day of the strike .'There were no threats made that they pay us the same $1.30 a Jackson told reporters he would and we weren't afraid of the exploiting us again whenever they please." box as they did six years ago?", have to bring in machines to cut people along the side of the road. - UFW leaflet asked farm worker Bias Rubio. the asparagus. "We prefer hand No one cursed at us. The man on "In the first two months of this labor." he said, "because the the bullhorn said, 'Why work so year alone everything in the quality is better for the market, hard to make the contractor fat largest in the Valley, claimed his Picket the fields stores has become so expensive! but we'll use the machines if we and rich? When he is an old man company had enough workers. Six years... do you know what six have to." the contractor will be rich and fat "They can kiss our ass," he said, At the hiring hall picket lines years means?" Three days later he repeated "and all go back to Mexico where [Continued on page IS] were organized from among the Leading asparagus grower the same statement, adding that they came from, for all we care," workers who joined the paro to he said. "There's enough fan out to the contractor buses in welfa're people around we can Calexico and talk with workers drag off to work if we have to. not reached by the picket line at That's all, I'm busy." the border. Most of the buses carrying any workers were soon 'Pay no more Teamster dues!' empty. At daybreak the picket lines The day of the paro closed with moved to lettuce and asparagus a rally in the Calexico city park fields in the Valley, where entire where Cesar Chavez addressed crews of 20 or 30 workers left the over 500 workers. He attacked fields to join the paro. the refusal of the growers to raise 17 workers were arrested in a wages for' farm workers in recent field belonging to grower Ben years as prices have soared. Abatti as they left after con, "We are poorer in 1974 than vincing a lettuce crew to join the we were in 1973," he said. paro. They were jailed for three "Think about this every time you "The man on the bullhorn said, "Why work so hard to make the-contractor fat and rich? When

he is an old man I the contractor will be rich and 'fat and you will be dead because you are being pushed so hard." -- Pascual Amador days because the Imperial Valley pay Teamster dues. Those same sheriff's department delayed in dues are being used against you. filing its reports. We cannot win or move ahead They were finally arraigned on until all of you, beginning tomor, Wednesday in a courtroom full of row say with one voice, we'll pa strikers and released on lowered no more dues and if they force us bail on their own promise to to pay dues it's better to go on return for trial. strike! " A holiday? Chavez closed by calling for •a meeting of asparagus workers A number of growers and the next morning at 5 o'clock. "If contractors didn't even try to the asparagus stalks are high today," he said, "by tomorrow send out their buses for workers Sheriff deputy arrests Aurora Morales February 18 in a lettuce field belonging to Ben Abatti. during the paro. Some said they they're going to be like trees." E I Malcriado March 29, 1974 3 ANOTHER MASSACRE

BORDER PATROL VAN CRASH KILLS 12 FARM WORKERS, SIX CRITICALLV INJURED

EL CENTRO, Ca. Less just 40 miles west of El Centro of us awake. The California Highway Patrol, are not expected to beyond the than two months after labor con­ and slammed into the rear-end of "Sonle of the compa?reros the National Transportation Safety immediate details of the crash, tractor Jesus Ayalis bus, massa­ a semi tractor-trailer parked in a didn't fit so they went on top of Board, the FBI, and the Immigra­ and readers are advised to read cred 19 Imperial Valley lettuce truck rest area. the rest of us. . tion Service have all begun the next issue of EI Malcriado for workers in Blythe, a U.S. Border "The only thing that I can investigations into the accident. a wider analysis of the situation. patrol mini-bus collided into a Crowded van remember is that at the time of. These investigations, however, parked truck killing 12 farm the accident they told me, 'Get workers and critically injuring six. Preliminary reports indicate down! Get down!' And so I got The 61-year old border patrolman that the driver may have fallen down by myself. But the pain and driving the vehicle was also asleep at the wheel. No skid my desperation were so great that killed. marks were found at the scene of I lost consciousness." the crash and, apparently, the mini-bus' brakes were working. Another cover-up~ The farm workers were "IlIe­ Two days after the crash, EI "We were all squeezed together in that bus ....Some of the: gals", (Mexican citizens in the Malcriado reporters interviewed EI Malcriado reporters found companeros didn't fit so they went on top of the rest of U.S. without proper immigration Vicente Ramirez, one of the that the 18 farm workers were us ....The only thing that I can remember is that at the time papers), being taken to a Border survivors, at the EI Centro squeezed into three parallel ben­ of the accident they told me, 'Get down! Get down!' And Patrol camp near Chula Vista for - Community Hospital. ches, each six feet long, in a so I got down by myself. But the pain and my desperation deportation. They had been Ar­ Ramirez said, "We were all space less than five feet wide, were so great that I lost consciousness." --Vicente rested in Oregon, California and squeezed together in that bus. I along with 180 pounds of lug­ Ramirez Idaho. th'ink there were seventeen of us. gage. The U.S. Border Patrol says Since I was in the corner of the the capacity of the bus is 18 farm The crash occurred March 7 in bus with my head bent over, well, workers, but U.S. law permits midafternoon. The mini-bus veer­ I couldn't see anything. We were only sixteen school children to ed sixteen feet off Interstate 8, driving along peacefully, and all ride in a similar bus.

4 EI Malcriado March 29, 1974 "When you see the flags fly in front of the Botica Popular, it's the sign to begin the paro." EL

The growers in the Imperial workers. Immediately the energy Valley are equipped with the of the Union' went into caring for latest in electronic' communi­ the injured and the families of the cations equipment. Ben Abatti dead. (See edition Vol. VII No.2 drives a fancy jeep with a radio of El Malcriado) telephone. The jeep carries loud­ "Afterwards," said Villal- speakers which Abatti uses to try pando, "we asked, 'what did the to drown out the shouts of Teamsters do for the fallen ones?'. picketing workers. People were really inter.ested." John Jackson's office is in the center of a complex field tele­ Elect committees phone network and is equipped with a teletype machine that runs Meanwhile. the workers at the day and night. ranches with Teamster contracts In Mexicali, farmworkers don't were organizing as well. "We even have telephones. The UFW have committees on all the in Calexico owns two old and ranches that the people them· .. beaten bullhorns and a mimeo­ selves have elected on their graph machine that sometimes own." according to Villalpando, works. Yet, although the paro of "so they could represent them if February 18 was not called until anything should happen." six hours before it began an Such committees are provided estimated one-half of the Valley's for in UFW contracts but not in 8- 10,000 farm workers did not Teamster contracts. even leave their homes to cross "And they got together and the border that day. came to us and assured us that they wouldn't work on the day we ENRIQUE ZOMBRANA Worker-to-worker said we won't work. ''The people were excited "The teamsters are robbing us _ UFW organizer Ricardo Villa­ because they wanted to strike. farm workers by charging us dues lpando says that real commun­ 'The time has come,' they kept that are as high as the truck ication depends on people and not telling us. They knew that 12 drivers pay. The only good- on technology. For weeks, he and years ago 1962 they were getting benefits for us are the ones that dozens of other workers struggled paid about $1.05 to $1.20 a box for are made by contract. to lay the groundwork for the asparagus and still they are being Ask the survivors of the bus paro, a worker-to-worker com­ paid the same thing." munications system. The system that turned over what happened and you'll see that the Teamsters is based on reaching the people in 'We want to strike' their homes and on the labor didn't help a single farm worker contractor buses. At the weekly UFW meeting on it. If you didn't know about it, "The bus campaign began January 31, Manuel Chavez told find out and you'll come to the after the 9th of January," he the workers, ,. A lot of people conclusion that the Teamster recalled. "Those of us in the have been coming to me saying, union is no good for the farm union began to look at the 'look at what the companies are worker. It belongs to the patron. Make your own conclusion from problems that exist in the coun­ doing to us, taking our money! Leaflet urges workers to join paro. tryside and, the problems the firing us... we want a stri·ke! But that." workers have with the other now is not the time to strike. companies. .'The ranchers want us to strike "At first we just began to give - now rather than later, but let's ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ out information, relaying mes­ strike them when we want and not sages among the workers. If the when they want." . San Andreas Company wasn't The time came two weeks later paying checks correctly, we would when the asparagus harvest ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ is one make the other workers aware of began and the growers were of the reasons why the paro was a it. If the Bruce Church Company vulnerable. The decision was charged a worker two or three made several weeks beforehand success. He believes in edu· cation, street education, com· times for Teamster dues" we but the decision was kept to the munication between farm workers would also talk about it. More organizers. "When you see the and during the paro he was one of and more we found ourselves with flags fly in front of the Botica a dozen Union members that the responsibility for relaying this Popular," they told the workers, spent hours talking with them in information. "it's the sign to begin the paro." parking lots, aboard buses, in The committees on the Team· Abuses and inaction cafes and later on the picket lines. ster ranches agreed that no Early in the. morning he was "And the more we found out publicity would be given ahead of talking with workers who had just about the problems, the more time-no press, no radio, no gotten off a Bud Antle bus: Teamster and grower abuses we television, no leaflets. Every· "We can't even ask for a then who would do his work? So, "What we need is. to all join discovered. People weren't get­ thing depended on the network decent wage now.' The patron he can't fire me nor anyone else together, because we're not uni­ ting any representation from the that had been built over the pays us what he wants. Why? when we are all united... ted, You are not united with me Teatnsters at all. From that previous weeks. Because you are not united with What is lacking is a school to nor am I united to you. When point grew the need to work At 9 p.m. February 17, the all the rest of us. We all need to take all these people who believe they give you a job, there you are harder, more strength and spirit network was activated and the unite but you don't want to. So that a Union is some kind of all alone. First let's build a Union for speaking, more unity among word went out. That night none we can't ask for better wages. If I benevolent society, that joining and afterwards, we will have the the people." of the organizers slept. They ask for it the patron will run me the union means guarenteed work strength (power) among all of us . Not long after the campaign , went door-to-door in Mexicali and off and you'll keep on working. for life and it's just not that way, to ask for the wages that we want. began, a labor contractor bus en Calexico. So look, if we all ask for higher The Union is ourselves and it i~ Right now we can't because you route to a ranch with aTeamster Six hours later at 2 a.m., the together they can't fire me or we who have to unite and put don't help me and I don't help contra.ct crashed into a drainage flags flew in front of the Botica you because we'll all walk out and forward a representative who will you. " ditch near Blythe, killing 19 farm Popular. defend our rights." E I Malcriado March 29, 1974 5 WELFARE FOR. GROWERS ••••

Imperial Valle)' $7.8 million are set aside for the Imperial County is said to be poor. the sixth richest agricultural In the winter of 1971 there was county in the United States. What a farm slump that was so severe is less often talked about is that that it caused a local "war on this wealth is 100% dependent on poverty" program to make $5,000 a system of huge federal sub­ in food availabl,e to 166 families sidies and upon the exploitation especially hard hit. George of a cheap and abundant labor Ballis, an observer who saw the supply from Mexico. food ,distribution, said: A widow with eight children Rich man's welfare pays over $100 monthly for four rooms \\;'itFi no inside running The construction of the AlI­ water... American Canal in 1940 turned "A family with 13 kids. Last the Imperial Valley from a barren year. the man joins the farm desert into an agricultural em­ workers strike to improve wages. pire free of charge to the growers. He is blacklisted by Imperial The subsidy is calculated at over Valley ranches." $100 million in taxpayers' money. A farm worker's widow with In addition to the free water, five children lives,in a one·bed­ the growers get money to build room hourse." underground drainage tiles to "A family with three kids. leach away salt-laden water from Husband falls off a tractor, and an their fields. From 1966 to 1970 operation at the county hospital alone, the U.S. Spoil Conser· leaves him almost paralyzed. His vation program paid Imperial disability runs out, and his scar growers $1.7 million. from. mid-stomac'h to mid-back - The growers get free land swells painfully whenever he management and crop advice exerts himself. worth $490,000 annually. A Before the asparagus strike began, harvest workers in the $26 million industry wer"e paid $1.30 a box or "A family with six children. The University of California fields less than I cent per pound ofthe 79 cents paid by consumers at the supermarket. When the strike began, wife is dying of cancer. As she station spends $400,000 to speed growers upped the minimum to $1.40. gets weaker her husband stays farm mechanization and use of home to take care of her during chemicals, at no cost to growers. were given to Imperial cotton and every two jobs for farm workers in token assistance from welfare. her last three months of life, The growers tap easy money grain farmers, while sugar beet the Imperial Valley has dis­ Twenty-four percent of the though he cannot afford to do from the federal budget for growers received a total of 2.6 appeared-from 14,500 tQ 7,500. population in Imperial County is this! He cannot afford any kind of growing, or' not growing certain million. The scarcity of jobs forced many now on welfare. In contrast to the help. One week after receiving crops in order to keep prices up. farm workers to move to the hundreds of millions doled out to their food voucher for $30, the In one year, 1969, over $8 million In the past ten years one of cities, where they had to accept the growers each year, a meager wife dies." ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••' •••••••••••••••• • __a ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ...EARLY GRAVE A w E s ...... because of frost are not uncom­ the Imperial Valley also control ras" ("assembly plants") that Recently, the workers of In­ For most of the thousands of mon here. The "mayordomo" food prices along the Mexican employ close to 40,000 workers in mex, one of the maquiladoras, day workers who each day cross (crew-boss) is close by throughout border. 60% of the canned goods "sweat shop" conditions. went on strike for a better deal. the border in the u.s., the years the day, pushing and driving the made in Mexico are produced by The minimum wage is $3.68 a And they found ready support of toil in Imperial Valley fields workers faster and faster. Those American companies like Carna­ day. Eight of every ten workers in from the farm workers. Despite have brought only subsistence who are not fast enough are tion, Del Monte. Kelloggs, and these plants are young women the hardships caused by the pal'o living and bodies that give out ridiculed. then tired if they don't Bordens. from 17 to 23 years of age, who and asparagus strike, farm work­ after 10 years of the stoop labor. quit first. This means a long and This outside control is only are hired because they can be ers emptied their pockets at a The day begins at 2:00 in the payless wait in buses for the long mirrored in industry and agricul­ paid less than the minimum meeting in Calexico February 22 morning in El Hoyo ('The Hole') ride back to Calexico ,at the end of ture along the border. Today wage .. sometimes as litle as to give $100.92 to their Mexican in Calexico, where contractors the day. there are 300 U.S. "maquilado- $2.24 a day. sisters and brothers' strike fund. select the youngest and strongest from among the hundreds of farm Dues rake-off workers. If lucky enough to be "Listen, I've been to Mexicali and I've seen how things chosen. a worker then begins a It is here in the fields that the are there; but you knock on the door of an adobe hut there journey to the lettuce. sugar beet Teamster "coyotes" come around or asparagus fields that may lie as and you see that the people are happy! They're smiling to collect signatures, promising and laughing and enjoying life! far as 100 miles away. There is no imaginary benefits so that dues s'uch thing as pay for travel time can later be deducted from their --John Jackson, Imperial Valley grower nor a guarantee of any pay at all. checks. It is the only time they are ever seen by the workers. Those Killer buses that refuse to sign are fired, or have their paychecks deducted Most of the buses that carry anyway. farm workers are 10 and 20 years When the day is finally over the old. like the farm labor bus that farm workers return to EI Hoyo, killed 19 men, women and covered with dust and massaging children in mid-January. their sore backs and arms. They Labor contractors flaunt safety may have earned $16 in hourly laws covering their buses, while wages, or as much as $35 by the California Highway Patrol piece-work for the day. who is supposed to regularly inspect the buses shirks its responsibility. Dim lights, faulty Wages don't go far brakes, unsafe wiring systems and above all the overworked and Back in Calexico and Mexicali sometimes intoxicated drivers the days' wages will not go far. A (driven to drink by the inhuman kilo of tortillas that was 12 cents living and working conditions) are in 1972 is now 26 cents. Bottled just a few of the common defects water that sold for 17 cents the that turn these buses into coffins year before cannot be found for on wheels. less than 25 cents now. In the fields work may start by The growers and bankers that, 7:00 a.m., but three·hour waits keep a str~nglehold on wages in 6 E 1 Malcriado March 29, 1974 Publ ic confessi'on: "$10 or $12 were deducted from my check for union dues. I never signed any authorization for them to do this. I asked why this had happened, GROWERS and they said that I had to pay. Before they-took my money in January [1974], the Teamsters had me sign a paper in English. I did not understand ELECTED TEAM,STERS it. They just told me that I had to pay dues If I wanted to, work. The Teamsters have not done anything to help the people. They just take our farm worker strikes. He says dues. I never saw a Teamster contract, and they "The Teamsters are in a Bind" nothing about protecting f\lrm do not have meetings the way that the Chavez "The Teamsters are in a bind because they can't workers fr()m anything. union does. It is not a real Union."-Elias L. keep both sides happy - only one side or the other, The California Supreme Court Yepez, and in order to keep the growers happy and maintain reviewed all of the facts in their sweetheart arrangement they just can't afford connection with a grower lawsuit (Englund vs. Chavez) stemming to give the workers any representation. The moment from the massive 1970 UFW they try to give the workers representation and take strike in Salinas. The workers care of g'rievances and get an adequate contract, at struck to protest the sweetheart WHEN THE that moment they'll be thrown out into the street contracts. When the Court issued because the only reason the growers brought them in its decision in 1972, it agreed with was to interfere with us and keep us from getting a the farm workers. legitimate contract. And so we're all the way out in Here is what happened: In July WORKERS the street, but we're in better shape than the of 1970 the UFW was about to Teamsters are." sign contracts with the major --Cesar Chave?: table grape growers of California. VOTE... The UFW was already organizing lettuce workers and other farm workers in the Salinas and the Why do farmworkers reject all industry elected 'in 1970 to go "What you are asking," Almaden, 68-0 at Gallo, or 91-0 at Imperial Valleys. grower-Teamster agreements as with the Teamsters." Imperial Valley grower John two Christian Brothers RAnches. On July 23, 1970, the vegetable "sweetheart" contracts? Be­ William Grami, director of Jackson said recently, "is did the (Card checks: signed declar­ growers met in Salinas to ratify a cause they were signed without organizing for the Western Con­ g{owers sign the contracts with­ ations authorizing a union as a new agreement with the Team­ farmworker approval. The grow­ ference of Teamsters, says the out asking the workers. I'm not bargaining agent are matched to sters covering their truck drivers. ers admit the workers were not Teamsters' signed with the denying that at all, they did." the grower's payroll list to see if In' an affidavit, Cal Watkins, consulted. Imperial Valley grow­ growers to protect truck drivers "The Teamsters signed on July the majority of the workers favor personnel manager of the Inter­ er John Jackson says, "The and packing shed workers from 26, 1973, on behalf of the entire the Union.) Harvest Coinpany, testifies the vegetable industry. The industry And maybe Jackson can't recall growers decided on that day to is concentrated in Salinas but we the: appoint a committee to "feel out'· joined in down here. There were the Teamsters and "explore the no workers around here because -79-2 aAd 74-0 representation prospects of negotiating an there was no harvesting. There election votes at tJ,e Larson agreement for agricultural work­ was no election." ranches in Coachella in April of ers. "What I'm saying is that the 1970, supervised by the U.S. Teamsters receptive . ground rules weren't laid by the Catholic Bishops' ad hoc com­ growers, the pattern was set by · mittee On July 24, Watkins says, the Chavez in the grape fields three on farm labor. committee reported back to the or four years ago. There was no growers that the Teamsters were vote there," · -168-4 contract ratification at the "interested and receptive." The Henry Reider Ranch on Indio, committee "announced that any No vote? supervised by teh Bishops' com­ firm interested in recognizing the · mittee, Western Conference of Team­ Perhaps Jackson doesn't re­ · sters" could do so. 29 growers member th'at the UFW won the • -194-4 contract ratification elec- immediately did so. The rest first secret ballot ejection ever tion at John Kovacevick Ranch in followed later. held in agriculture. In 1966 the : Arvin, supervised by the Bishops' POWERFUL MINI-DOCUMENTARY Ner.otiations began the next UFW defeated the Teamsters : committee. of the recent Coachella grape strike-­ day. "The union (Teamsters) did 815-530 in elections supervised by : -155 out of 243 workers at the arrests, violence and deaths that not at that time claim to represent the California State Conciliation D'Arrigo in Arizona who signed any agricultural workers." says Service at the DiGiorgio ranches UFW authorization cards on Dec. forced a return to the boycott Watkins, "although they an­ in the San Joaquin Valley. 22, 1970. nounced that they would take Or maybe he's forgotten the "The industry elected in 1970 ON-THE -SPOT RECORDINGS responsiblity for signing up the ei.ght card checks with wine grape to go with the Teamsters," says of strike chants, huelga songs and ex­ workers. " companies in 1966-67 where the Jackson, But the record indicates The California Supreme Court UFW won by such votes over a • which way elections go when the cerpts from a rally speech by Cesar concludes, "In all cases, it is "no union" position as 85-26 at : workers vote." Chavez undisputed that at the time he recognized the Teamsters as the or to sign or ratify the grower that there was a "jurisdictional" THOUGHTFUL COMMENTARY AND exclusive bargaining agent of his Teamster agreements.. it appears field workers, each grower knew dispute between the two unions. BACKGROUND SCENES clear that by mid-August at least They also obtained an in­ that that union did not represent a of farm worker Iife and problems a substantial number and prob­ junction banning the lettuce majority or even a substantial ably a majority of the... field number of field workers... " boycott. Cesar Chavez was jailed workers desired to be represented for violating the anti-boycott Show includes 140 sl ides for Kodak Negotiations continued for two by UFWOC rather than by the injunction, which .was later days. The Co.urt says, "these Carousel and cassette tape sound Teamsters. " thrown out. _ workers were never consulted track (13 1/2 minutes) Meanwhile. UFW launched a Then in December 1972 the during the negotiations and were massive strike of over 7000 California Supreme Court ruled never given an opportunity to workers in the Salinas Valley, At against the growers. The Court FOR SUPPORT GROUPS, CAMPUS examine the terms of the contract the time the Los Angeles Times declared the strike was not a or even indicate whether or not ORGANIZA TIONS CHURCHES, SCHOOLS labeled the strike the largest in "jurisdictional dispute" because they wished to be represented by Copies avai lable at cost--$28 the history of agriculture. the growers had not maintained the Teamsters." A committee of Catholic Bish­ neutrality and knew that the (plus shipping & handl ing--$2) InterHarvest signed a Team­ ops headed by Msgr. George Union they had signed with did for UFW Support Committees ster contract on July 26. Ten days Higgins conducted a poll of Inter­ later the Teamsters said they had not represent the workers. The $50 for institutions, school SO, and Harvest workers and concluded injunction was thrown out. signed up only 108 of the church organizations. on August 23 that UFW re­ Since that time the UFW has company's more than 1000 presented a majority of the tiled a $128 million suit against ORDER FROM: workers. workers. On August 39 the the Teamsters, demanding that company renounced its Teamster the contracts themselves be de­ Workers refuse YEL TALLER CRAFICO contract and signed with UFW, as clared illegal as a conspiracy did D'Arrigo and FreshPict. between the growers and the UNITED FARM WORKERS OF AMERICA The Court declares that during But the other growers decided Teamsters to deny farm workers P.O. BOX 62 the first few weeks in August to stay with the Teamsters and their right to choose their own KEENE, CA. 93531 "most of the workers refused obtained an injunction banning umon. either to join the Teamsters union the UFW strike on the grounds EI Malcriado March 29, 1974 7 .. Jesus andoval Sandoval

.I told him (the Teamster organi­ During the paro in the Imperial Valley Feb­ zer) that I was a Chavista and not ruary I8, mor~ than 1,000 farm workers signed interested in being a part of his authorization cards naming the United Farm group. He then told me that I had Workers of America as their llective bargaining three days to sign or I would be representative. Many made formal declarations fired. I told him that if he was going in repudiation of the Tea sters Union. They to fire me he better do it right now accuse the Teamsters of using threats, trickery because I was not going to sign. The and fraud to make them sign up, steal their money and abuse them. The following are whole crew began to shout "VIVA excerpts from some of the declarations: CHAVEZ" and the teamster went out of thw field. The supervisors and the foremen might want the Team­ sters, but the workers do not.

Unionist Francisco Salazar as he is arrested during the paro February 18: "As long as we are farm workers and work the land, no one is going to run us out!" Camilo Castillo While we were working, one of R Perez Maria Meza the fellows put a staple through his hand. A Teamster representative nci co Cota The foreman came to me with a was present, but he did nothing. He paper in English and told me that it said the company should take care of was just for the company's records. 1­ it, that it was not the business of the On December 12, 1973, after we did not understand the paper, but Teamsters. had finished the work for the day, signed it.... I would never have and while we were returning to Cal­ signed the paper if I had known that exico on the bus, the foreman told us it was a Teamster authorization car. that we could not continue working I am a strong UFW member and be­ lieve that the Teamsters are just for the Company unless we joined In September of 1973 a son of the Teamsters Union. We, along bandits who rob the people of their money. mine got sick and the Teamsters with about forty other workers in the said that they would take care of it. crew, refused. After we said this, we They still have done nothing for me. were paid for the day's work and told that we no longer had a job.... Jose Diaz The foreman told us that we would be paid the extra two cents per box as soon as we signed with the Teamsters.... The Teamsters tried to bribe me into signing with them, but I refused, so I never got the pay Guadalupe Acosta raise that they promised us. J would not have signed that paper which allowed them to deduct the Teamster Dues and which made me a Teamster member if I had known Pablo Ram what it was. The only reason that I When I signed, the Teamsters signed was that they told me that I promised medical benefits and un­ could not work without signing. employment insurance. However, when I go to doctors, they have al or Trejo never heard of the Teamsters' medical plan, and the plan won't During the time that I worked for help me with my bills... nita M. arc 10 (Danny) Dannenberg, there was ap­ Dora Sanchez y About two weeks ago I began to ­ proximately $90.00 taken out of my work for the ADMIRAL Company in pay for Teamsters dues. I do not Juan Jose Salas Brijido zacarias the lettuce here in the Imperial believe that I ever signed a Team­ ster authorization card or any Valley.... The foreman came to me . Our foreman ...said that the peo­ On Jan. 31, 1974 I signed a paper ./ and said that I had to fill out a yellow Teamster membership card. The ple who signed would get a raise which my foreman told me to sign. card. When I got my check from only paper I ever signed while right away, up to $2.38, but that All the workers were there, and he ADMIRAL on F iday, February 15, working for Dannenberg was a pa­ those who did not sign would only told us all to sign the paper. I did not 1974, they had deducted $23 for per each time I received my pay get $2.08. read it as -it was in English and no­ Teamster Unio dues.... Just one check. I was told to sign this paper to We signed the cards, but not body explained it to me. week ago, ...1 Vias working at the acknowledge that I had received my because we wanted to be a part of I would not have signed the paper BRUCE CHURCH COMPANY and pay check.... the Teamsters. We signed because if I knew it was a Teamster authori­ they took out $3.00 Teamster dues If any of the papers were in fact we were afraid to lose our jobs. We zation card because I do not want to TEAMSTER SENIORITY --Too early, but too old, and elderly farm worker tries to protect from my check In February, that Teamster authorizations, and I was got the raise right away. Since we be a Teamster member and because himself from the cold morning air at EI Hoyo, too weak for the grueling pace farm workers means that alrE9dy I have paid $31 tricked, then I now renounce Team­ signed, we have been pushed harder the United Farm Workers of Amer­ under Teamster contracts must face each day. Teamster dues. ster membership. by the foreman. ica can help me more.

8 EI Malcriado March 29, 1974 EI Malcriado March 29,1974 9 "The growers want the injunc­ The temporary restraInIng or­ tion because we're costing them a der obtained by the growers lot of money," Union attorney Imperial County Sheriff's Department: limited picketing at eaGh field to Deborah Peyton commented. one every 50 feet with a maximum "They fear the picket lines, officers knocking. people down... of 25 picketers, and at EI Hoyo to especially at the buses in the "This again was a- wild charge, , a maximum of 10 pickets at least morning, because they know the THE GROWERS, the faces of the men ferocious and 100 yards away 'from the buses. asparagus workers are strong contorted, although they were in (Two labor contractors initially with the uni<;>n. no way endangered. I saw in involved in the lawsuit withdrew "Getting an injunction and PRIVATE ARMY these actions a seemingly desper­ their names the day after the having the police enforce it is a ate drive to intimidate and injure, police attack, charging that the cheap way to exercise their power no matter what the age or sex of growers' lawyer Tom Nassif had and try to influence the workers. the victim, so long as they had included them without their per­ They use the sheriffs as their own John Jackson was angry Feb­ (The attack climaxed a week of brown skin." mission.) private army..... ruary 21. It was the fourth day of harassment by Imperial Valley the strike and his asparagus was law enforcement officials. In all, not getting picked. He was losing 41 farm workers were jailed, $50.000 a day. including seventeen who were The day before he and three arrested during the paro on other growers had obtained a Monday after they convinced a court o'rder which limited picket­ lettuce crew to leave an Abatti ing by striking workers in the field. Throughout the strike, "I was there with a picket line for fields and at the pick·up point for police escorted the few buses half an hour when the police made his labor contractor "EI Don belonging to scab contractor EI us move back 100 yards. We back up Coyote... Don to the fields and frequently and stood there another half an "We have an injunction," he stopped cars of huelgistas and hour... told EJ Malcriado reporters, "We demanded to see their immigra­ Without further notice the police got this injunction and the sheriff tion papers.) tried to push us out of EI Hoyo all didn't enforce it today! But that UFW attorney Daniel Boone, the way up the hill to the railroad will change, wait and see!" who witnessed the police attack, tracks. When we moved the second Throughout the day, strikers on said. "They charged into a group time a policeman pushed me when I the picket line overheard reports of people, literally yelling, snarl­ on the sheriff's radios that the ing, and growling. waving their was leaving: He wanted me to run. I growers were unhappy with the four-foot clubs as they ran." told him that I was walking, but enforcement of the injunction. there was no reason for me to run. Ben Abatti himself had been on A planned attack? A moment later I saw my friend the phone, they said, demanding Francisco Reyes was being beaten. heavier action. .'They pushed many people It was then that the same policeman with such force that men and that had pushed me before hit me in Don't look to the police women were knocked to thl:: the back of the head. Maybe seeing ground. The farm workers were the other policeman hitting Francis­ Later that afternoon, a hundred walking away from the sheriffs, co made him mad, but he hit me. I workers picketed the few EI Don but not fast enough for them." buses that returned to EI Hoyo At one point, Boone said, the felt the blow and then began to run from the fields. police were called back into line away, but it was only a little later "Brothers and sisters," a cry and regrouped. "Then a single that I felt the blood flow from under floated over the line of police from dirt clod hit the sidewalk about my cap. the picket line, "don't look 0 the five or ten feet in front of me and I was on the sidewalk when they police for protection. The sheriffs at least 20 feet from the nearest hit me, about 20 yards from the rail­ are here to protect the growers, sheriff. road tracks. Many persons fell to the not you. We are the only ones "Immediately one of the offi­ ground when the police shoved them who can protect you!" cers yelled, 'let's get them!' My with their clubs distinct impression is Minutes later, the sheriffs that the The violence was not only done to arrested 18 workers for defying sheriffs were waiting for this the injunction and swept through signal, that they were standing me, but to everyone there, including the picket line several times, poised for the charge... Another the women and the U.nion lawyers." pushing, shoving, and beating wave of sheriffs swept past me Ruben Gonzales the workers. toward the railroad tracks, the

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* Beer aQd Tequi la Importeli' From· Mexico MEDINA'S EXXON Send us News * r or vOJf Parties SPECIALIZING IN * 6 All·.. 2 PM OVAL DRUG of your boycott BRAKES SHOCKS 431 Abbott St. • (408) 724-8992 Court St. 919 N. a & TUNE UPS Phone 422-5123 Visalia.. Calif. 93277 Salinas, Ca. 93901 To 120 11a i n St. "!ltSOI1V ille, Ca / Ph. 732- 8696 EL MALCRIADO L1CORERIA TURF PAUL'S BIG D. LET 35,000 READERS GET YOUR MESSAGE. itUi, i , , i , , iiiiii i ! , iiiiii i ,,; P. Box # 62 895 Front St. Soledaid, Cal. 93930 SEE EL MALCRIADO RATES FOR DISPLAY Keene, Ca. 93531 100 EAST 5th STREET ADVERTISEMENTS AND CLASSIFIED ADS SHELL GAS OXNARD, CALIFORNIA 98030 - . DAIRY PRODUCTS COLO BEER • Abierto Diorio PAGE 15. Don't pass up the chance! r1J 6 A:t.A: - 2 A:t.A: 10 EI Malcriado March 29, 1974 'THE WORKERS DON'T , UNDERSTAND'

John Jackson is a business "Efficiency" is John Jackson's executive. He runs the multi­ favorite word. He speaks of million dollar agribusiness cor­ investments, overhead manage­ poration called Jackson Enter­ ment. and "the industry". "We prises. which grows everything farm pretty large scale" he says. from asparagus to lettuce to beef "it seems to be most efficient." cattle in the Imperial Valley. In 1970 he sined a contract with He is a young grower who the Teamsters. as he admits, considers hmself part of a new without consulting any workers. generation of growers who will The contract allow him to use his organize agribusiness into a labor contractor' 'El Don'; to keep unified industry and eliminate old the workers unorganied and rivalries. He is on the Board of under control. Directors of the Western Growers Recently. though, the found­ Association. ation of Jackson's empire has Esparagus doesn't harvest itself. Here (left to right) labor contractor Don "El Don He is tied into the other giant begun to crack as his workers Coyote" Currier, grower John Jackson, and company supervisors try to "keep cool" agribusiness concerns in the practically shut down the aspar­ as they stand in empty ,fields during the asparagus strike. Valley. Its produce is packed by agus ranch for an entire week Bud Antle (owned by Dow during the pal'o and strike of late Chemical) and marketed through February. are talking about. I don't think growers use the pack-out method "The people are happy" Freshpict Foods (owned by Pur­ they understand this., though." to cheat them.) ex) and ~hrough Heggeblade­ "We worked out a sliding wage "Well. the thing that we didn't Jackson denies that his empire Marguleas-Tenneco. (two of the "They don't understand" scale that was increasing every see," he says, "is that its going in the' Valley exploits farm largest food corporations in the year, but we were going to pay to be a very long term project and workers. "You people have to be U.S.) One day during the asparagus the workers in a different way very difficult to educate the careful." he told EI Malcriado Jackson Enterprises owns at strike he had a lenght exchange than they were used to getting worker as to why this is better for reporters one day, "and not wish least 2.200 acres of land in the' with 'some workers as to what paid. We were going to pay them him. " for what you think they want Valley. worth nearly $3 million, their best interests are. on a pack-out basis instead of a "The growers met two days instead of what they really want." and it rents as much as 7,500 Afterwards he told reporters, field-box basis, which is the ago on this, the asparagus "1.isten. I've been to Mexicali more acres. Imperial County "I know how to communicate with traditional method." growers. and we said maybe and I've seen how things are records indicate that the corpor­ them. you know, I speak Spanish. "Pack-out" means a worker is we're rushing into this, so let's go there, but you knock on the door ation has purchases much land in "They want higher wages and I paid only for that part of what he back to the field box rate, which of an adebe hut there and you see recent years, part of the trend sympathize with that. We've picks which is actually used by we did. And we decided to go that the people are happy! towards the concentration of land worked out responsible wage the company; "field box" means ahead with a 10 cent a box wage "They're smiling and laughing ownership in the Valley into fewer negotiations which will allow for he is paid for everything he picks. increase that we had been and enjoying life! Why can't we and fewer hands. the cost of living expenses they Farm workers generally feel that planning for a month or so." be like that?"

'THE' 'PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER AFRAID' MACHINE THREAT FAILS TO STOP STRIKE

"If this keeps up, we'll have nc workers are not involved enough choice but to bring in machines". to see down the road, and one John Jackson said on the first day man is a hell of a lot easier to of the asparagus strike. "Each manage than 100, and it's your one replaces 100 men. We don't cross to bear!" want to because the hand-picked The one man turned out to be crop gets a better price, but we not so easy to manage, though. "I will if we have to. And if we use operate one of these machines them, we might like them. right? and I know they don't work," said And then the workers will suffer, Jesus Gomez, as he climbed down and Chavez will be to blame." from his tractor in a Jackson field. UFW organizer Gilberto Rodri­ "I heard a foreman say they are quez laughed when asked about just trying to scare the people into the machines. "That's the first going back to work." thing you always hear from them when there's a strike - they'll "The workers know that the bring in the machines, or they'll machines don't work. If they did, plough it under. It's gotten so the growers wouldn't wait for a that we'd be surprised if they strike to bring them in, they'd didn't say it." have them here already." "The workers know that 'the machines don't work. If they did, "IT the)' can get the people to the growers wouldn't wait for a go back to work, they'll just park strike to bring them in. they'd the machines, and even if they have them here already." bring in the machines they know Several days later Jackson was they won't bring good results. fuming. "If I have to put up with But tbe people aren't afraid any disrupted operations I will, but I more, They no longer fear the can still make a, profit! The growers." Jesus Gomez, a tractor driver, tells Pedro Baird, a reporter for El Malcriado, why the asparragus machines don't work, EI Malcriado March 29, 1974 II It was not yet light when 150 how things were for farm workers farm workers carried their home­ before the Union was born, before { made red Union flags across the the Agricultural Workers Organ­ railroad tracks and down into EI izing Committee staged a massive Hoyo to stop the remaining labor strike in 1962 and before the contractor buses from leaving for Bracero Program was ended. "I the fields. have been working here since Rosa Jaime watched the empty 1957," she told Rosa Jaime, buses leaving one by one and was .'when I worked with contractors visibly distressed. There would that paid me 65 cents an hour. be no work for her this Monday, Then the contractors wouldn't no money for the daily needs. It even give us water. There were seemed unfair. no toilets." It did not seem unfair to Lupe Lupe •was also part of the Leon, one of the 8,000 farm massive strike in the Salinas workers firmly behind the paro. Valley in 1970 that won the UFW In fact the issue was crystal clear contract she now works under. to her as she approached Rosa She knew that victories like these Jaime with her flag in hand. are not won without expressions "The Teamsters are making of unified strength like the Paro the rich even richer, and stealing General. (Days later Lupe Leon our. money to fight against us," was arrested for defying the she told her. growers' injunction.) Lupe is a member of the United "Now with the United Farm Farm Workers of America and Workers of Cesar Chavez we are works under the UFW contract demanding higher wages for all with the InterHarvest Co. Her farm workers. So join our cause, working day in the lettuce begins sister. Take my flag." at 7:30 in the morning. Most Still Rosa hesitated as many workers under Teamster con­ others with their red flag drew tracts must be at EI Hoyo to closer, sensing the drama that "shape up" from 3:00 a.m. on. was unfolding. The buses she rides are equip­ Finally Lupe made a decision, ped with toilets and cold water smiled and said, "Take my flag. I and are subjected to safety give you my job--you go to work inspection by a committee of farm there." workers. The buses used by Then the woman who had never Teamster ranches are old, crowd­ known what the Union was really ed and dangerous, such as the about took the Union flag and one that killed 19 farm workers in held it high with Lupe, as a cheer the Blythe massacre. (See Vol.. went up, "Viva la Causa." vn No. 2 of EI Malcriado) From that morning Rosa Jaime These are but a few of the became one of the most active reasons why Lupe Leoti and the workers behind the paro and other UFW members wanted the following asparagus strike. She same kind of benefits they receive joined the picket lines, braved for all farm workers in the arrest several times aRd by Imperial Valley. As much as Thursday she told EI Malcriado anyone else that day she knew reporters, "Now I'm with La Causa all the way!"

"The Teamsters are making the rich even FlAG richer...." -- Lupe Leon

song for Abatti's scabs....·

"Now the scabs are thinking That times haven't changes, So they join the growers, ' Saying, 'Oh, what the hell!'

Whoever had a pretty daughter Couldn't even let her rest, He takes her out in the early dawn To work like an ox."

(Left to Right) Rebeca Buelna, Rosario Pelayo, Zulema Garcia --Ramon Herrera Garcia, Maria Elena Rocha, and Aurora Morales were among those arrested during the parc. Luis Moreno: When Cesar started - and we all know the long story - he started with very few workers. His convictions have been very strong to have gone forward to sow what he is now reaping. I think we should not let Cesar sow alone, without all of us, like good unionists, working together with him. Because the more "We are not going to stop striking until the growers get tired, until we break them, laborers there are in our movement, the richer the harvest will be until they sign Union contracts with US .... " for us and our children." --Manuel Chavez

12 E1 Malcriado March 29, 1974 Friends of MIKE KRATKO W,ashington, D.C., Baltimore and TINANTIZIN LEGRETTE Finally in Southern California, in Texas after 18 years of se­ (Maintenance and Grounds( will boycotters GUADALUPE RODRI­ while Linda undergoes medical the murals of CARLOS ALMAR­ paration...New staff members at be happy to know that he is back QUEZ of Arvin and JOSE SALA­ treatment" in L.A. Hurry back, AZ are on exhibit this month at the Campesino Center include from the hospital good as new... ZAR of Earlimart married Febru­ Legrettes! the Los Angeles County Museum GLORIA CUELLAR in Delano and and a broken ankle hasn't slowed ary 17th...also in D.C., George­ Gateway pickets in Santa Maria of Arts. The show "Los Four," OFELIA BUELNA in Calexico Service Center Administrator town University removed grapes, were met by a Teamster counter­ presents work by Chicano artist Returning to La Paz are SIS­ ANNA PUHARICH. lettuce and scab wine...and The picket line. Strange.. Oh, well, ROBERTO DE LA ROCHA, GIL­ TER PEARL MCGINNEY (Legal Leading a mass demonstration Association of Black Liquor Stores Santa Maria has all the luck.. .In BERT LUJAN, and FRANK Dept.) from the New' York infront of Safeway in Houston is there has alerted its members to Eugene, Oregon. five Safeway ROMERO, along with our. famous boycott, and BOB THOMPSON UFW First Vice·President, DOL· boycott. picket lines a week have turned convention mural and other works (Field Office Administration trom ORES HUERTA, who helped There'll be another wedding in away 70,000 customers in one by Carlos. the Atlanta boycott. ..CIPRIANO dedicate the new boycott in La Paz March 17th. for DEBRA year... In Toronto, rumors. are In Seattle, 550 UFW supporters FERREL is now at the Mendota Houston...The Commission on BRARZULA of Santa Maria and that some priests and nuns have picketing . Teamster president Field Office as its new director via Human Rights of the ST. LOUIS FRED PATCH (Data Processing). been arrested for trespassing in Frank Fitzsimmons at a $25 a the Detroit boycott and La Paz Catholic Chuch has endorsed the LINDA CHAVEZ and Detroit the parking lot of a Dominion plate dinner February 23rd honor­ AdrrUnistration. UFW boycotts with the approval boycotter ARTURO RODRIGUEZ supermarket. What's going on up ing U.S. Secretary of Labor Peter Up in Montana the Catholic of Cardinal Carberry•..Cleve. . will be wed the day before papa's there? Brennan turned away more than Conference is coordinating a land announces a march and rally birthday, March 30th. Where will . March Martyr of the Month 100 diners. AFL-CIO King County public awareness program on the on April 6th with Cesar Chavez in it all end? award goes to Al Rojas serving president Jim Bender arriving in UFW and its consumer boycott, town for the occassion. Looks like JOSE PALOMO's friends in weekends in the Tulare ,County tuxedo refused to enter the including mailing brochures, TV a big day. Earlimart prepare to welcome jail, Visalia, California. Al supp­ banquet. and newspaper coverage...A Two new huelgistas are wel­ him back after successful heart osedly violated an injunction last The staff of the Santa Maria judge in Denver denied the Del comes to the union staff: MAX­ surgery in Chicago, ~here he year during the White River Farms Campesino Center helped reunite FarmFood chain an injunction IMO JR., son DOLORES and worked on the boycott. .. strike. farm worker OCTAVIANO CA­ although the store claims it is MAXIMO HUERTA of the Coach­ Back home in Delano after In Bakersfield, the attorney of NAVA with his mother and sister losing $30,000 a week... ella Field Office, born January hospitilization in Palo Alto is Arvin grape gwwer, William 23rd., and JOSHUA, son of Marcos Ramos, who participated Mosesian, dismissed his suit for HEIDI URICH and GRAHAM in the Great Delano Strike in damages against the United Farm FINCKE of the Calexico clinic... 1965. You can write to Marcos at Workers when Mr. Mosesian Boston isn't forgotten - 42 decided he didn't want to be Door.to.door... the Delano Convalescent Hosp· grape growers there from Calif­ ital, 729 Browing Road, Delano, questioned by UFW lawyer JER· ornia filed suit against 4 major 932]5... RY COHEN after all. Good grocery chains for cooperating Have you heard of the city of thinking, Bill. About 50 EI Malcriado organiz­ to the paper, because of rising with the boycott. Trying to scare COMMERCE? It's a town, in Striking Gallo Workers and ers from California, including 25 postage costs. Also, he sai'd, the smaller chains? Bullies! ...We southern California of 10,000 ILWU members on the I picket MECHA students from Oxnard distributing EI Malcriado door-to­ hear the Amalgamated Clothing people whose City council just lines at the Oakland _ docks and Yuba City, met recently with door makes every distributor an Workers of America joined the adopted a resolution endQrsing stopped 2,660 drums of grape Cesar Chavez and the EI Malcri· organizer who personally takes Philadelphia UFW picket line at the strike and ·boycott. Unanim­ concentrate imported by Gallo ado staff at La Paz to plan a new the uriion message to people, the A & P. Very nice. ously. Among those urging this fromSpain to replace grapes lost door-to-door distribution camp­ something which cannot be done The CATHOLIC WORKER has action were ESTEBAN TORRES, during the 1973 strike...A liquor aign in California. through the mails. called upon readers to intensify Congressional candidate in the store chain which has carried only Chavez urges organizers to The EI Malcriado staff at La the oycott, volunteer assistance new 30th district. and former Gallo for 15 years gave up Gallo read each edition of EI Malcriado Paz thanks the MECHA students, and financial help...The NAT­ UFW legislative director, ART after 80 Selma farm workers carefully and talk to the people and EI Malcriado organizers for IONAL COUNCIL OF CHUR· TORRES, now a candidate for joined the picket, line on week­ about the articles, to organizer their contributions of food and CHES has officially endorsed State Assembly from the 56th ends there... city supporters as well as farm money and the National Farm "Farm W-orkers Week" April 28 district. In Los Angeles, the Four days of picketing was all it workers. ,Worker Service Center for its fine to May 4th. and all three Catholic Priests Senate, repre· 'took in San Francisco's West Bay Cesar said the Union decided work in making the Conference a boycotts•..We of the LA PAZ staff senting ] ,400 priests, endorsed to get the Gallo off the Carla chain against individual subscriptions success. are proud to announce that the the Gallo boycott and called for shelves. Sounds like fun! TEHACHAPI, CALIFORNIA full support of the lettuce and At our headquarters on the hill, Town and Country Market took grape boycott..•The organization we welcome new additions to the UFP DISPUTE RESOLVED off the grapes and agreed not to of Spanish.surnamed workers in working staff: NANCY DESTA· reorder Gallo. the entertainment and television FANIS (El Malcriado), MARY Condolences to HELEN CHA­ media, NOSOTROS, have prom· WARD (Accounting), BROTHER Misunderstandings which had After lenghty discusssion, Cha­ VEZ, whose brother SAM FAB­ ised that none of their members TOM KESSLER (Administration) developed as a result of the vez acknowledged that UFW had ELA died March 2nd. after a _will make commercials for Gallo JOETTA NEVIS (Work Depart­ United Front Press (UFP) public­ been overly critical of UFP in its short illness... as long as the UFW boycott is in ment). DAVID VILLARINO and ation, "Si Se Puede" , were evaluation of the publication, and The first wedding at LaPaz calls progress. Hats off for Los Ang. ROBERTO SORIA (Security), cleared up at a meeting between UFP representatives conceded for congratulations to CLAIRE eles! LETICIA MALDONADO (Service Cesar Chavez and UFP represent· that consultation on the publicat­ WALTER (Accounting) and RUB­ Meanwhile, we all miss LIN­ Center Administration), and atives. ion with UFW could have avoided EN MONTOYA (Print Shop)...in DA, CARLOS (Transportation) GORDON YASUI (Taller Grafico). the misunderstandings.

CAL $1.50 (SPECIAL ...- REDUCED· PRICE)

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Please mail me ------Farm Worker Calendars at $1.50 each plus shipping. Name. _ Subtotal $ __

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EI Malcriado March 29, 1974 13 A MESSAGE TO FARM WORKERS FROM SAN FRANCISCO SUPPORTERS: WE PLEDGE OUR CONTI NUED SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE UNITED FARM WORKER'S STRUGGLE FOR LIBERATION.

DON'T BUY BOYCOTT Gallo Gallo Boone's Farm Paisano Spanada Thunderbird Red Mountain Tyrolia Carlo Rossi Ripple Eden Roc Andre Wolfe & Son (SI rawberry Ridge) • Also, any wine which says "Modesto, California" on the label is Gallo. Gallo does not appear 01:1 all labels. Gallo IS the only wine company wi th headquarters In Modesto. Guild Winemaster's Guild Old San Francisco PAUL MASSON Tres Grand Parrot V.S. Paul Masson Cooks Imperial Dllcl1or's Cholle Moma Reserve Guild CHRISTIAN BROTHERS Cribari Reserve Tavola Jeanne d'Arc Mendocino Christian Bros, Mont La Selle La Boheme Fam igl ia Cribari Ceremony Garrett NOVITIA TE OF LOS GATOS Versai lies A'I ta Novitiate Cresta Blanca CVC Saratoga Virginia Dare ITALIAN SWISS COLONY J. Pierot Lodl Annie Green Springs Gambarell i Bal i Hai Davitto Gui Id Blue Ribboll La Mesa Zapple Margo Roma Ocean Spray Cranberry Rose Sangro le Greystone St. Mark Vin Clogg (Parrot & Co) Lejon Cella Citation Petri Panna Santa Fe Vai Bros. Mission Bell Betsy Ross Franzia Jacques Bonet Italian Swiss Colony Table Vermouth Gambol a -Dessert LOUIS the Fifth Sparkling Private labels PERELLI-MINETTI • Also, any wine which says, "made and California Wine Assoc. bottled in Rippon, California." All Franila Aristocrat A.R. Morrow products have #BW.3654 on the label. Greystone L & J Calwa F_1. Victor Hugo Guasti Boycotts have been an Ambassador Ambassador Vennouth essential part of past Fino Eleven Cellars. Vino Fino farmworker victories. To help protect INGLENOOK farmworkers rights BEAULIEU DON'T BUY THESE LABELS. SUPPORT THE FARMWORKERS .... AND REMEMBER II GRAPES & LETTUCE!

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JUAN ALVARADO, FR. EUGENE BOYLE, C. BRAZIL, JERRY FISKIN, ESQ., LINDA FULLERTON, M.~NUEL GILL, SCOOP JANOSCH, BOB LEVERING, LUPE & GRACE, NANCY & TOM MATTHEWS, BErTY MEREDITH, DOLO,RES MORRIS, FORREST NIXON, ELLEN NUNEZ, DAVID OBERWEISER, MAR­ GARITA ORTIZ, LORRAINE RAMIREZ, LORNA RICHARD, PAM RICHARD, HOWARD PETRICK, JULIE ROBERTS, KEVIN THOMAS, CLARE ZVANSKI, ROLAND MAGNON.

14 EI Malcriado March 29, 1974 ...... : i~~ . I CONT. FROM PAGE 3 I Wl~~(Slli~~[D® I I (S~~~~O[t~~[D I WE CAN STOP THEM and you will be dead because you ~[D~ are being pushed so hard.' " I I The next day 18 workers i!­ • c1uding Manuel Chavez were : Starting next month, you can reach 35,000 I• arrested for defying the injuction : readers in the EI Malcriado Classifieds I EL MALCRIADO by picketing the scab contractor : (English & Spanish editions). Classified Rates: El Don's buses as they returned i the day after the injunction was : $2.00 for 20 words, $.10 per additional word. = obtained. : ($2.00 minimum per ad.) It's easy, use the = DISPLAY RATES Follo~ving the arrests Imperial I coupon below fpr your ad, and enclose dheck or = County sheriff's deputies at- tacked the remaining picketers, I money order payable, to EI Malcriado. We do = injuring more than thirty, three of I not bi", payment must be enclosed. = who required extensive. treat­ I • ment. • •• (Includes English & Spanish editions) By February 22, the strikers = MAIL TO: EL MALCRIADO CLASSIFIEDS = had been out for five days without = P.O. Box 62 = • Rate per column inch $4.00 per column inch any income. Despite their high = Keene, CA 93531 = losses and the workers' repu­ diation of the Teamster contracts. • • 10 or more inches $3.50 per column inch • • the growers refused to respond to = PLEASE PRI NT = the UFW demand for a meeting to • • prove it represented a majority

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EI Malcriado March 29, 1974' 15 'This is just the beginning,-' says Chavez G ZE FA OR R R

Oda.. il l\ as c1earl~ demonslrated. as il l\ as d~monstrat~ The) get)our money alld lhen the~ use it to fight in ,'alinas in 1970 and is d('mon. trated each hOle tll('rc ]S ag~in:t ) ou. But if the. didn't get that mOlw~ , if there \\ ere no a . trike, lhat farm workers l\ ant a more decent life, that due" then the Teamsters would hale left aU by themseh es lOll/!: farm l\ orkers want to be free and will nel er again let lh(~msehes ago, beeause the) are used 10 the good life, to fine ('ars, and ral Ra­ T. be lreait'd like lhe, werc before. This morn· larieR. to fine liquors and Ruits. ·in.... we :aw lhe beaull of the or....anized p'ower of farm worker..... ~ . ~ , InRtl'ad of working in the interest of the people, the) Right nm • the IWl\: of tIl(' paro i: spn'ading acro:~ lhe nation. for l\ ork in the intcft'st of a bank roll. If ~ ou don't pa~ them the il is somethin.... thaI cau, '. admiration. Peoille sa,. "Hm\ C3n il ~ . due" then \\c'lI he rid of them. But l\ hile ~ ou keep pa~ ing the be lhat l\orkers lhal already hale a ('onlracl are oul on strike'!" dues, the) \ ill stick to you like tape-worms and suck YOllr blood. And lhe answer is: Because lhese contrads are nol ,alid ('on­ Throw them Ollt! The) ('an fire a few, but lhe) can'. fire ~ 011 aU .... lract:. Iso. they onh came into e istencc due to the plotting conspiril~g ~owers The wageR for the brothers and sisters who work ill the and the beil ('('n th ' and their puppets. asparagu~ are ler~ low. :\sparaglls is e tremeJ~ e p('nsile l hen yon Ian) of you made eomplaints against lhe Team, t('r dues.•.. ,on bm in the 8tOft· ....The crime is lhaL the man l\ ho works in loda~, but Ill(' biggest complaint.lhal we heard according to the asp;ragm fields can'lafford to bn~ il to eat.... the reports. is that a larg(' pereentage of you say lhat the union Sisters and brothers, \\ hat ha: happened here toda~ of puppels (Team,'ler~) is for the gro \ers and lhe nih'd Farm is :preading Oler the entire countr~. It gi ~s liS and onr :isters \\ orkers i: for the farm l\ orkers. and brothers on tlw bO)'cot jllst what the~ n('('d in their strugglt' The c1er~ from Canada here with us today on ~ . 10 stop the sale of leUuce. It giles ns the spirit. it giles liS the in­ an independenl i.mestigalion went to l isit the TeamRters, but formation with l\ hich Lo approach the labor unions, tlw churclws. the~ l\ hen got to lheir office in EI Centro, the.. found il and the entire population of this conntr~ and ask them not to eat cl<~sed up. with no one lhere. lethu·p. Brother .and sister.• we find our!iChes with the ights are won with good plans. The.. are won also with huge problems of scarcity and the rising cosIoI' lil· ing. E\en lhe consciousness -and educalion of aU farm workers, and though l\ ages ma~ ..rise. in actualit:. we are growing e\en poon'r. in this case. today'R paro is the beginning, the prelude to HOl\ is il that l\ ages can ri:e yel \"e stay just as poor'! What what's to come.... happ<'ns i.. that the) !!i (' u. a raise with till' right In 1970 \e had a strike in alinas that man~ of you par- hand and take it awal from us \,ith tht' left his mean. la il ticIpate in and the on .. reason that \'e lost it· ('ansc the order for us to com(' '01;1 e,elt. we must hall' a wage increase that judge brought down an injunct~on that forced u~ to return to work. is greah'r than the rising cosIoI' Ii ·ing. And 10 or 15 cents or But nm\ W(' are ready for th(' nt' t hanest in alinaR, to strike like whate\er isn't a raise. bec'auS(' it doesn't elen ('qual the ('osl of in '70. leanwhile, right now il is necec;sar). isters and brotherR Iiying increase. ': lhat you reamin strong and not rail bilck It is crucial that there For e ample, beans were 59 cents a pound and the~ be organization. We don't have time to do it, but )OU can do it in used to be 23 cents. And rice--a voice form the crowd: "It's ever) field crew, at every ranch, like we did in 1970, build and or­ more e"penRile than chicken!" nd meat'! Well forget it. ganize. Do it quietly, but do it. From each field crew, a represen­ beeause it'R so e~pen.in' that the only time we see il is in tatil'e, from each ranch a ranch commitee. Do it clandestine!). but picturf'. But the ,icioUR growers and lhe Teamstf'r. sit do it. Do it silentJ " but do it. And so that you can know what i down and eat Rt('ak, ldlile we don't haye enough 10 eat. Bro­ happening, to keep informed, read EL '\1ALCRIADO. thers and Risters, rent, water, electricil~, gaRoline, eyery thing We have two.opponents, we have two plagues that arc is Rk) high and ~ ou are bound to a yoke by a worthless and illc­ making our li"e heU. The puppets and the grower. We',e got to «al contract that dopsn'tlet lOU ev.enlift ,our heads. ~ ., join together .md throw one to one ide and the other to the other We know. 3S 'Oll aU know, that elen thing has gone W~\e . " side. got to get the Teamsters off our back. To do this lip e 'cept salaries. $2.25 and 2.50 iR no decenl hourly wage. there's got to be pressure to make them lea,e, and the best pres­ What do we gain if we get eyen . 4 and 5 a!l hour if when we sure is no more money. They don't do an) thing without money, go Lo lhe store it cost. lwice as much to prmide for our families? and for one month there is no more money. they')] be gone.

So lhe wages must go up aJong with the cost of lh'ing--if not, . •.•• l 'ow to close, tomorrow at fi\e o'clock in the morn­ we are tllking two steps fon\ ard and lhree backward. ing...we must talk l\ith those of you who are asparagus workers. e are poorer in 1974 than we were in 196L..The onl~ We are uoin« 10 meet with the .IRllaragas workers first because t;> b ,• solution to this problem is for IIwre to be economic the) are the ,ery' poorest now. the~ are the one 01 UR ,nth the pre' ure, strike pre 'ure so lhat the growers cough lip a lowest wageR. If the asparraga•. talks are high today, by to· little more. But before we can gel to thiR we- find our­ morrow thc, are going to look like trees.... sehes l\ illt the result of the plot--that in order to get to si tel's and brothers, \\e aU know that this struggle is the growerR we'ye first got to nail the Teamsters. So companeros, necessary and importanl, We ha\e to fight very hard to better our remember that eler. time that you pay Teamst,er dues, those same li"es, and the onl)' struggle that doesn'l \\ ork is when we lose. and are being used against you. We cannot win or make progress untjJ the onl) time we lose a struggle is when our people don't ha~e til(" all of you, beginning tomorrow, sa) with one ,"oice, "\\e wiU pay courage. Here among the farm workers at the border, lhere IS aJways no more dues, and if the) force us to pay dues, then it's better to always great courage and spirit 10.imprOle our li\es, a courage go on strike....than hale the Teamsters make poison out of our own thaI can never be lost. YlVA L CAUSA Y DELA TE! medicine."

Excerpts from Cesar Chavez' speech in Calexico February 18,1974.

16 E 1 Malcriado March 29, 1974