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Vol. 9, No. } ~IO Pric'e-15; " , English
Edition United Farm Workers of America, AFL.CIO ·Yol. 9, No.1 ~ 10 September 17, 1976 ' Price-25t Carter says 'Yes'on 14 FRESNO - Three thousand sur prised but exultant UFW delegates and supporters jumped to their feet for a 90 second ovation when Presidential can didate Jummy Carter told their Sept. 5 Political Endorsement Convention by phone that he supports passage of Proposition 14. The convention's 1,047 delegates from 223 ranches throughout California reciprocated several hours' later by voting almost unanimously to endorse Carter for the Presidency. Before his scheduled call from Geogia, Carter's chances for a UFW endorsement were considered uncertain. Just days earlier, Carter had taken pains to correct a Los Angeles Times report that he favored passage of the initiative. Observers here speculated that Carter may have wanted to save his endorsement' statement for the con- vention. , ,The former Georgia gov~rnor joined such leading California Democrats as Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr., Sen. Alan Cranston, artd Sen John Tunney in sup- 'porting the proposition, which is " , design~d to remove farm workers' SHOUTING.. CHEERING DELEGAT~S make it difficult to hear the mariachis (foreground) during a late afternoon floor collective bargaining rights from the demonstration at the Fresno convention., (Photo by Cathy Murphy) political arena. Meeting in Fresno's Selland Arena for their first endorsement convention Union delegates endorsed candidate~ for county and state offices and adop West Foods s rike wins ted 15 resolutions on subjects ranging from immigration regulation to freedom of the press. They also heard from an array of guest speakers including Cranston, historic contract victory Canadian Labor Congress represen tative Don Taylor, UAW Regional , Farm workers won a historic victory honored the strike and that most of lights attached as they crawl around Director Jerry Whipple, Los Angeles Sept. 6 when officials of West Foods' them participated in shifts of the round cramped growing rooms to do their Deputy Mayor Grace Montanez Davis, Ventura mushroom plant caved in un the-clock picketing. The company's at work. and Delancey Street Foundation der pressure from an eight-day strike tempt on Sept. 1 to jam a busload of "It's like working in a dark, President John Maher. and international boycott and agreed to strikebreakers through the picket 'line steaming, stinking cave," said UFW Union President Cesar Chavez told a contract meeting virtually all of the failed, Medina added. negotiator Liza Hirsch. the crowd in Spanish that, "This con 'workers'demands. He said the victory will have a major Some crews are allowed to use rest vention represents a dream" because it The victory represented the first suc effect on UFW contract negotiations rooms only at scheduled times. In some was the first time farm workers would cessful strike under California's everywhere because "it will show the rooms the only drinking water is take an active role in politics. Agricultural Labor Relations Act growers we're serious and the workers brought by the workers themselves in Speaker, after speaker told the (ALRA) and the first strike that agri that they don't have to be scared." old plastic milk jugs. The uncovered workers that unless they wielded their business was unable to halt with a West Foods' motion for a restraining jugs sit in the corners of the growing politieal power to elect sympathetic restraining order, said Eliseo Medina, order against the strike failed. The room and are shared by the entire crew. candidates, their victories at the UFW executive board member and UFW attorney argued that under the The new contract provides for the ad bargaining table and on the picket lines director of Contract Administration. ALRA, the firm first had to make its dition of six drinking fountains and could be undermined by the govern Agreement on the.two-year contract case before the Agricultural Labor four toilets. ment. The California legislature's came after 44 hours of continuous Relations Board (ALRB) before going The company's extensive use of toxic refusal earlier this year to re-fund the bargaining during which 39 of the to court. chemicals poses a special health state's Agricultural Labor Relations document's 44 articles were negotiated. The strike began as a work stoppage problem for the West Food workers. Board was cited repeatedly as an exam In the 26 bargaining sessions between to protest the company's bad faith ple of that sort of interference. May 10 and Aug. 30, when the strike bargaining, Medina said. The strike The mushroom beds are sprayed "When I came here I expected to find began, agreement was rea"hed on only vote was taken Aug. 30 at the plant, in systematically with Dithane (Z-28), a you organizing under the Agricultural five of the articles because the Castle & front of company officials. known carcinogen. Vapona, a Cooke, Inc., subsidiary refused to talk The contract is the UFW's first with a (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 11) seriously, Medina said. mushroom grower. The Teamsters have Workers ratified the contract 09 - 1. a contract in Oregon, Medina said, but Highlights of the contract, which that the UFW's is far superior. took effect Sept. 6, include: He said the international boycott -A minimum wage scale of $3.30, to started in July against products of Dole £1 Ma/criado returns go to $3.50 next year, compared to the Co., another Castle & Cooke sub This issue marks the first time El "El. Malcriado" doesn't translate previous $2.50. sidiary, was "extremely helpful" in per Malcriado has appeared since easily, but its closest English -Nine paid holidays per'year. suading the company to negotiate January 1975. We expect to continue -One to four weeks of paid vacation, seriously and in procuring the' equivalents are "the misfit" or "the publishing every two weeks without upstart." UFW President Cesar depending on seniority: mediation services of Dan Rathenberg interruption as the official newspaper -Establishment of a hiring hall. of the Berkely Coop. The boycott was Chavez has said that a paper by the of the United Farm Workers of same name played an important role -Elimination of a probationary terminated last week. America, AFL-CIO. period during which workers enjoyed' West Foods workers, who voted July during the Mexican Revolution and As in the past, each issue will con that the term has special appeal for no union benefits or protection. 13 to impose the boycott, have some of sist of separate Spanish and English Negotiations on the use of dangerous the worst jobs in agriculture. The Mexican farm workers who feel op editions with some overlap in con pressed by their grower bosses. chemicals are continuing. mushrooms are grown in complete tent. The Spanish edition will be "It was a nice, nice, nice strike," darkness in chemically treated beds of geared to the farm workers while the As we build our stafr' we hope to Medina said. "There was beautiful steaming horse manure compost. English version will cater primarily to turn up stories that do justice to the solidarity among the workers." He said Like coal miners, the bedding.and UFW supporters. . name of the p
Editorials Same old story Striking'victory In 1933 a massacre in Pixley, Calif., wholesale deprivation of property rights Felicitations to the farm workers at Their gutsy determination evoked the starkly dramatized the way growers felt that growers claim would occur if the West Foods on their successful strike support of farm workers and other about farm workers who wanted to proposition passes. And to say that the and new contract and to the Dole workers from all over the Oxnard area unionize. About a dozen ranchers limited access is tantamount to forcing boycotters who helped make it all who joined their picket line and kept it waited outside a union hall in the small citizens to allow hordes ~f strangers into possible. well supplied with food and coffee. San Joaquin Valley town that October, their back yards is nonsense. Once again the boycott proved itself And in the end the West Foods , and as a strikers' meeting emptied into The California Supreme Court has to be the great equalizer when farm workers and UFW negotiators fought the street, mowed down several farm upheld the ALRB's access rule, which workers were forced to take on the giant through a back-breaking 44-hour workers with rifle fire, killing two and Proposition 14 would write into law. multinational firm Castle and Cooke, bargaining session to win what is wounding several more. Despite a Growers, after all, have access 24 hours Inc., West Foods' parent company. probably our best contract to date. nationwide public outcry, no suspects a day to workers who live in company But it was the strike that made the They earned it. were ever arrested. camps and ride to and from work on decisive difference. The successful West Foods strike and Two years later, with passage of the company buses. Without legally The West Food workers walked out boycott offers concrete hope to all farm National Labor Relations Act, guaranteed access to workers by union in strength and stayed out until they got workers who wait for decent contracts American workers in almost every in organizers, the workers are effectively what they wanted. They picketed 24 at the ranches where we won elections dustry except agriculture won the right denied the right to make an informed hours a day and effectively and non last year. to vote at the jobsite on union represen choice. violently prevented the company from Growers who refuse to negotiate in tation. For the more than 40 years since, bringing in strikebreakers.. good faith, be forewarned. the "Pixley mentality" has prevailed in "No on 14" materials featuring various forms to deprive farm workers Parlier grower Harry Kubo continue to of the right to free union elections. claim that the proposition would result Fresno convention While some growers have changed in "blank check" funding for the their tactics with the times, they're often ALRB. This is further poppycock, and still motivated by vicious opposition to the proof of its falsehood is in black and An appreciation white. "The /legislature shall provide farm unionization. By Jacques Levy funds necessary to carry out the act," "There's so much political work to be Their verbal salvos, 'first against the Contributing Editor done taking care of all the grievances performance of an allegedly pro-UFW the proposition states simply. Back in 1969, when, UFWOC that people have, such as the Agricultural Labor Relations Board and Legislative analyst A. Alan Post has headquarters were in two small shabby discrimination their kids face in school, now against the proposition, have been correctly concluded that funding for the buildings in the southwest corner of and the whole problem of the police. I board "would be determined by the Delano, Cesar Chavez talked to me of don't see why we can't exchange those nothing short ofa smokescreen for their Legislatur~ refusal to grant farm workers the right 'Governor and through tlJe his visions for the future. cops who treat us thLway they do for to a decent life. "They never really want state's regular budget process." The At that time, the Union had few con good, decent human beings like farm ed free elections for farm workers," ballot itself states that the proposition tracts. It was in its seventh year of workers. Or why there couldn't be farm existence and in its fourth year of what worker judges," he said. Assemblyman Richard Alatorre has would result in little, if any, additional cost to the state. appeared a near-hopeless and endless "We have to participate in the govern said, and we agree. strike against Delano grape growers. ing of towns and school boards. We Fortunately, the people of California Kubo's leadership of the agribusiness And yet the farm worker leader have to make our influence felt have indicated their rejection of the campaign is revealing in and of itself. already had made plans for a time when everywhere and anywhere. It's a long growers' flim-flam arguments 'by The Nisei Farmers League of which he the unIon would be solidly established. struggle that we're just beginning, but it lending their signatures - more than is a founder and president "has done , "Once we have reached our goal and can be done because the people want 720,000 strong - to qualify the fami more to stunt the growth of the UFW in have farm workers protected by con it." workers initiative for the November the Central Valley dian any other tracts," he said, "we must continue to Just as the Rev. Martin Luther King ballot. We're confident they will reject organization and association," Kubo keep our members involved." Jr. had a dream, Cesar Chavez had a the arguments again on Election Day. has boasted. And ,his "gang," as Gov. He talked of the need for political ac vision for the future. But in 1969 that tion. vision seemed a long way from reality. Still, the arguments need to be Brown calls them, aren't merely against No one would have dreamed that six studied closely by well-meaning voters Proposition 14 - they're against the Former newsman Jacques Levy is the years later, on Sept. 5, 1976, more than who run the risk of being conned by Agricultural Labor Relations Act itself. author of "Cesar Chavez: 1,000 farm worker delegates would hysterical distortions and outright lies. Why don't they come right out and ad Autobiography of La Causa," w: gather for their first political en- To allow union organizers to reach mitit? w: Norton, 1975. (Continued on page 5) workers on ranch property during a few What they did with live ammunitiQn specified non-working hours on a back in Pixley they're trying to do today limited number of days before represen with money. For them, it's a no-win tation elections hardly represents the proposition. A political coming of age The UFW's First Political En in, New York City, Carter had to dorsements Convention on Sept. 5 was recognize the breadth of support La a testimony to the growing significance Causa enjoys in the nation's most of this Union on.the American scene. populous state. Hence the rare en Some mighty powerful political can dorsement of a s~te ballot proposition, didates, most notably Democratic Proposition 14, by a Presidential can Presidential hopeful Jimmy Carter, saw didate. the Union's support as essential'to their Senator John Tunney, facing a tough efforts to win the hearts of California run against his Republican challenger, voters. saw the need to mend his shattered Perhaps the appearance of UFW relationship with the Union. Though he President Cesar Chavez at the decided not to address the delegates, he nationally televised Democratic Na benefited from Sen. Alan Cranston's tional Convention in July fore carefully cr~fted appeal to the con shadowed the rise of farm workers vention to support his colleague, who into the political big time. After had endorsed Proposition 14 two days pocketing the Democratic nomination earlier. In all, 30 office-seekers from both El Malcriado is the official publication of the major parties spoke before delegate United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO. Correspondence should be addressed to El caucuses, coming from all parts of the Malcriado, La Paz, Keene, CA. 93531. state in search of the UFW blessing. Democrat Stephen Shilling from· the Editor-in-ebief Cesar E. Chavez Bakersfield area put in an appearance, for example, hoping for an en General Manager dorsement in his electoral battle for the Joe Smith District 33 assembly seat despite his . stated opposition to Proposition 14. Managing Editor Robert Neff Predictably, he didn't succeed. Representatives of the rural and ur Reporter ban political structure from top to bot Robert Datz tom thus trooped to the once-powerless Second Class Postage Pending in Keene, CA. farm workers who now appear to them ,Cesar called me Hamigo!" as vital allies. - September 17, 1976 EL MALCRIADO Page 5 workers - who had not - had for so vention. Part of Cesar Chavez' vision in long been denied their rights. 1969 is now a reality. The farm workers' Putting perspective They understood, too, when Jerry influence is being felt in many places Whipple of the United Automobile throughout the state and nation. Farm Workers told them that everything they workers are effectively involved do is connected with politics - the price politically. on the convention of bread, the price of gasoline, how the But back in 1969 Cesar Chavez also (Continued/rom page 4) adequate sleeping gear. They were sheriffs treat them, what happens to said that political power alone is. not dorsement convention, and that a can beaten and hosed down in their cells by them and their families. enough. "Effective political power is didate for President of the United States high-pressure hoses. And they cheered each time they never going to come, particularly to would call from across the country heard another, endorsement of minority groups, unless they have Two weeks ago, there was no violence economic power. And however poor seeking _their endorsement, while no hostility. The convention hall was Propositio~ 14, for it meant that this numerous other candidates for time the voices of farm workers were they are, even the poor people can decorated with colorful, hand-made organize economic power. Congress, the state legislature and some union banners and a giant mural. Local being heard, and their needs were being county boards of supervisors would at TV stations and press covered the event. heeded. "As a continuation of our struggle," tend the convention with the same Particularly sweet was the en he said then, "I think that we can request. Unlike most conventions, the dorsement of Proposition 14 by the city develop economic power and put it into It was mOore than symbolic, too, that delegates, representing more than council of Parlier, for it meant that the hands of the people so they can have the convention was held at the giant 80,000 farm workers, sat attentively farm workers and their supporters now more control of their own lives, and Fresno Convention Center in the heart during the 11 hours, listening to the had control of a San Joaquin Valley tben begin to change the system. We land of California agribusiness power. speeches and _participating in the town in Fresno County. want radical change. Nothing short of business at hand. They took their roles Endorsements, too, came from radical change is going to have any im Back in 1910, when IWW organizers seriously, aware that effective political were attempting to organize farm Presidential candidate Jimmy Carter, pact on our lives or our problems. We action could make a big difference in U.S. Senators Alan Cranston and John want sufficient power to control our workers there, Fresno closed all its halls their lives. . to the Wobblies. When they tried to Tunney, California Gov. Edmund G. own destinies. This is our struggle. It's a organize the workers on street corners, They nodded with understanding Brown Jr., Lt. Gov. Mervyn Dymally, lifetime job. The work for social change all who participated were arrested, and when Don Taylor of the Steel Workers the mayors of Los Angeles, San Fran and against social injustice is never end the Fresno jail was filled past capacity. told them that their bosses, cisco and Sacramento, among others. ed." The jailed workers were treated agribusiness, had been active in politics This, then, is the significance of the In this area, too, the UFW has taken brutally, denied decent food and for a long time, and this was why farm UFW's first,political endorsement con- the first steps towards its goal. 'The last shall come first • • • John Maher is founder and president ship. And that what comes from these possible, and the swine can be put in of Delancey Street Foundation, Inc., a tables - and behind it your sweat in the their place. San Francisco rehabilitation center for fields - are the policies on which we When tli.ey come and they talk to us ex-convicts. His nine-minute speech embark. And that we will charge them, of what great leaders they are, we Sept. 5 at the UFW's First PolWcan En if you help them, to carry out those should tell them: "Abraham Lincoln is dorsement Convention in Fresno was policies and not to lead us in a different our leader, and Martin Luther King is the most eloquent ofthe day and was in course. our leader, and Bobby Kennedy is our terrupted 12 times by applause. We leader, and Nan Freeman is our leader, think it's worth printing. Slavery was outlawed in our country and Juan De La Cruz is our leader, and a century ago. But as you know, through them Cesar Chavez speaks! The last time that I had the great economic slavery persists. The Black They are afraid of you in a way that privilege to speak before the Farm slaves picked the cotton and worked the they are not afraid of the big labor that workers, the New York Times an docks in New Orleans and the White lurks in New York. And they are afraid nounced that the Farmworkers and slaves dug the mines of West Virginia. of you in a way that they are not afraid Cesar Chavez were dead. If the New And the Puerto Rican -slaves sweat in of students. Becau e we have nothing to York Times does not learn a better the South Bronx of New York City. lesson than that, the New York Times lose, and men who have nothing to lose will be dead. Proposition 14, to me, goes far will always win. We will not only win beyond the qu~stion- of the farm Proposition 14, but the Dole company, Whenever I have the opportunity to the Castle & Cooke company, the West John Maher speak to you I always check with certain workers of California. It brings to fruition the Bil;1lical prophecy that the Foods company - the same people who First, we shall triumph in California, other people, and I've been instructed have enslaved the Hawaiian pineapple and then Cesar Chavez and yourselves by the Irish Republican Army to convey first shall come last and the last shall come first. Because when we win this we workers will be brought to justice! will triumph in the United States, and to you the sympathies of all the Catholic It is for other men, and other women, then your children can go after the farm workers of Europe and to assure will win it for all the Hispanic people to speak in long phrases in English or in Teamster cowards who cannot find out you of their prayers. who in their own lands have been conquered and enslaved. We will win it Spanish or in German. It is for you, the who killed Mr. Hoffa because they I have been mildly alarmed as I've sat for all the black people who've been people who have proven your moral don't choose to, because they can only here today because many politicians brought here in chains in the holds of stability, the people who have proven kill from ambush. And- we will have come to us and before us and slave ships. And we will win it for all the the righteousness of your cause, to do straighten these yellow dogs, and when among us. And they have indicated that whites, even tQose who have forgotten the world's work. If we should lose they are straightened, we shall bring they would like to be our leaders. I that their grandfather was 'strapped every battle that faces us, we should still what the founders of this nation called suggest to you that in our Constitution, freezing cold and wet on the deck of an win the war. Because we have for from you and I. politicians are not our leaders but our immigrant lugger to be brought here'to something stronger than them around When we came here, whether we representatives. And that in order to get dig a railroad. our tables. We do not need money, we came north from Mexico for a job, or the support that you have earned only need a sack of beans. We do not whether we came at the tip of a Cossack through your blood and the labor of When we win, the word will pass in need to win every contract because whip or a Prussian boot or an English your fathers and your mothers and your South Africa, and in Ulster, and in someday they will all come to us. bayonet, we came here to build a New children and yourselves, that they be South America, and in the mines of Because the thing that you have made, Jerusalem. And they will laugh at us \ forced to understand that our leader is West Virginia, and everywhere where the thing that the Spanish people of for rhetoric, but we will have our New Cesar Chavez and that our leader is decent men struggle for their freedom. California have kept alive in the dark Jerusalem. And they are welcome to Dolores Huerta, and that these are the -The word will go out that there is still a night of Nixonism~ that thing will raise join us, and if they do not, then we will people we follow. chance for justice, that there is still its head among the poor white workers destroy them so that all children in this Even the good politicians - it is their justice in God's earth because the farm of Boston and the Blacks of Detroit and country can be free and so that the Con job to look upon these men and women workers of California have proven that the Puerto Rican people of New York, stitution becomes real. here in this democracy as our leader- the faith is still kept, victory is still and among the Cubans of Miami. And Ood bless. Agricultural Labor Relations Act A yearof controversy By Bob Datz But if winning passage of the ALRA thirds vote was necessary to provide the That they were. Almost 40,000 farm Staff Writer was difficult, keeping the law operating $3.7 million budget supplement the workers had voted in ranch elections News Analysis proved to be almost as tough. Just five board needed to remain functional. from early September until the board Although most American Workers months after the Agricultural Labor Agribusiness interests managed to get closed its offices in early February, and since 1935 have been guaranteed the Relations Board (ALRB) began over just enough votes to put the the UFW won a majority of those elec right to hold job site elections on the seeing ALRA elections, political ALRB out of business, continuing a tions, union of their choice, agricultural pressure from dissatisfied growers in pattern of antiunion activity that began Balloting resulted in UFW victories at workers didn't enjoy such legal rights duced the legislature to block additional with farm laborer's first attempts to 192 ranches, compared to 119 victories until the adoption last year of Califor funding the board needed to keep organize more than 80 years ago. for the Teamsters and 25 for "no nia's Agricultural Labor Relations Act operating. Why would growers favor cutting o'ff union." Another 43 elections were un (ALRA). The board, overwhelmed in its first the ALRA after they had agreed to sup decided because of complaints by all The act, passed in the face of the kind five months by more than 300 ranch port the law at the time of its adoption? parties involved of unfair pressuring of of stiff opposition from agribusiness elections to supervise, quickly exhaust Gov. Edmund J. Brown Jr., in workers and other questionable prac that traditionally has excluded farm ed the $2.5 million it had been alloted strumental in getting the act passed, tices. The UFW expects to win most of workers from protective legislation, was for its first year. found a simple explanation: "A group those elections once hearings have been directly linked to the emerging power of While a majority of the legislature of people who never had any power held to rule on the complaints. the United Farm Workers of America. favored re-funding the ALRB, a two- before were getting it." - (Continued on page 7) Page 6 EL MALc;R/ADO September 17, 1976 Our kids work in· the fields like adults July 19.76. 108 degree heat. Child laborfor most Americans is an inhumane practice to be read about in the history books ofthe /nqustrial Revolution. Butfor these children in the onions at the Garin Ranch in Mettler,· Calif., and the strawberries at Oshita Farms in Prunedale, andfor thousands offarm workerfamilies in this country, child labor is still afact oflife. The photo on our cover shows a girl working with an empty pesticide container. Thephotos on this page are equally representative ofa day in the life ofafarm worker child. Part ofthe UFW's Cause is to enablefarm worker adults to earn a decent living without using their children.
UFW photos and page design b,y Cath,y murph,y September 17, 1976 EL MALCR/ADO ' Page7 Fo"~wing picketer's death How to .volunteer Persons interested in volunteering -Long Beach ILWU launches boycott to work on the Proposition 14 cam Consult Directory Assistance paign may call the following numbers -Orange-San Bernadino-Riverside The InJernational Longshoremen's & issue a criminal indictment based on the for information: (714) 530-1944 Warehousemen's Union (ILWU) late facts. - Los Angeles Central, -San Francisco, (415) 567-1562 (213) 381-1136 -Oakland, (415) 533-3477 last month threw up picket lines and Handyman of California, Inc., is a -Los Angeles East, (213) 254-6768 -San Jose, (408) 292-4651 started a nationwide boycott against all subsidiary of retailing conglomerate -Los Angeles West, -Sacramento, (916) 455-9494 Handyman locations in retaliation for Edison Brothers Stores, Inc., of St. the August killing of ILWU picketer (213) 393-0680 -SanDiego, (714) 233-5648 Louis. Norman Ray Lewis. Lewis, 'who the ILWU says was Edison Brothers' subsidiaries also peaceably pick~ting the Handyman targeted for the boycott include Leed's warehouse in Tracy, Calif., as part of a Shoe Stores, Chandlers's Shoe Stores, 'Renacimiento'scheduled strike action started Aug. 3, allegedly Baker's Shoe Stores, Burt's Shoe was run down by company supervisor Stores, Size 5-7-9 Shops, The Wild Pair, La Tierra Nueva (The New Earth) Dr., about four miles from the Cooperative, a 60-acre farm run by 40 cooperative. Leslie Laeger. Joan Bar Boutiques, and United Sport Lewis left a wife and five children ingGoods. farm worker families in Yettem, Calif., Also scheduled for the 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. are ranging in age from 4 to 14 years. will be the site Sept. 19 of an all-day renacimiento mariachis, In a letter to labor leaders throughout "Renacimiento Campesino" (Farm theater groups, a dance, ceremoni-es to The union has called on the district the country, ILWU President Harry attorney of San Joaquin County to in Worker Renaissance) program innaugurate the cooperative, plus com Bridges and Secretary-Treasurer Louis featuring UFW President Cesar mencement ceremonies for the 1976 dict Laeger for murder or to convene a Goldblatt wrote that, "The death of Chavez. graduating class of Colegio de la Tierra grand jury to investigate the killing and Norman Lewis is the direct result of Chavez will speak in the morning af (Earth College)" a two-year' farm Handyman's and its parent ter attending a public seminar beginning worker college in Del Rey offering 13 organization's policy of unyielding op at 8 a.m. in nearby Monson on ways to different associate degree programs. position to the organization of its em build the farm worker Movement. The The day's events are open to the ployees, its refusal to sign a fair union Do you get the seminar, sponsored by La Sociedad public at no charge and are cosponsored contract, and its efforts to break a Economica Campesina (Farm Worker by the three Fresno-area organizations strike. We cannot, nor can any union, Economic Society), will be held at the - the cooperative, tJ1e society, and the allow a revival of a policy of employer message, Harry? society's headquarters at 38845. Monson college. Anti-Propos;tion 14 spokesman 1error against our picket lines. The fight Harry Kubo may be able to raise continues. Our picket lines are solid. We are determined to win the strike for millions of dollars from agribusiness to work against the initiative, but city which Norman Lewis gave his life." fathers in his own home town of Bridges and Goldblatt asked other pari'er have voted to endorse it. The 7 I f I unionists to support the ILWU's efforts 4-0 ote on the resolution at the Sept. to win the strike by calling on Edison 3 city council meeting made Parlier Brothers in writing to bargain in good the first city to take a stand on the faith, urging the San Joaquin County proposition. District attorney to indict Laeger or Councilman Arcadio Viveros said convene a grand jury, supporting the the resolution was passed because boycott, and making a contribution to many Parlier residents are farm the Norman Lewis Memorial Trust workers or come from farm labor Fund for the five Lewis children. backgrounds. Kubo, a local grower, also worked in the fields as a youth, Edison Brothers' address is P.O. Box but now heads Citizens for a Fair 14020, St. Louis, MO 63278. Con Farm Labor Law, the leading anti-14 tributions to the trust fund may be sent organization. to the ILWU at 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA 94109. ALRAupdate ,(Continuedfrompage 5) -Required the application of The Teamsters joined the growers in National Labor Relations Act preced favoring an end to elections. They knew ents to ALRB decisions except where DOIN TUNES FOR JUSTICE - Country and pop artists Kris Kristofferson and that many of their victories came only "clearly not appropriate to agricul Rita Coolidge shared the stage with UFW President Cesar Chavez on Sept. 3 at a after workers had been fired, ture." benefit concert for the "Yes on Proposition 14" campaign in Santa Barbara, Calif. threatened, and even assaulted to force - Required the ALRB to designate the Coolidge and Kristofferson did all the singing. Chavez was the special guest_ them to vote against the UFW. bargaining units (ranch or area covered) speaker. (Photo by John McGrail) . Writing in veteran The' Nation, for each election before it is held. Fresno labor reporter Ron Taylor ob served "For the Teamsters and the -Eliminated ·the law's requirement what it was supposed to do - it had -Make the board's access rule a part growers - whose interests have always that employers give back pay raises to brought peace to the fields and orchards of the ALRA itself. coincided in the farm labor struggles of workers if found guilty of negotiating a of California." -Up the number of workers needed to the past decade - the results were unac union contract in bad faith. If proof of this was needed, it came, call for decertification of a union to 50 ceptable. A search was begun for a new -Scrapped the board's access rule on Jan. 31 when the UFW signed the from 30 per cent of the workforce. , anti-Chavez weapon." allowing union organizers to talk to first new, contracts negotiated as the If the measure passes in November Their weapon was political leverage workers in the fields and camps for an result of ALRA election victories. The the financial rug can never again be and, as the board went broke, they hour before work, and an hour after signing came, ironically enough, just pulled out from under the law and no decided to use the leverage to force work, and an hour during lunch a.nd one week before the board went broke. amendments to it enacted without changes in the law that would make it rest periods. Almost 2,000 workers were covered by another vote by the people of Califor nearly impossible for the UFW to win the agreements, which represented the nia. union contracts through fair collective Satisfaction by the governor, a best total package of wages, benefits, Farm workers and volunteers moved majority of the legislature, and bargaining procedures. and working conditions negotiated in into the streets during the month of UFW President Cesar Chavez thousands of farm workers with the per U.S. agricultural history. April to fill petitions With at least protested that the growers' proposed formance of the ALRB had no effect on "These contracts show that the 312,404 signatures needed to place the amendments were a breach of the com the legislative minority. That group ALRA is a necessary and important in initiative on the ballot. More than twice promise reached when the 'law was claimed that the board was biased in strument for both farm workers and the that number' - 728,000 - were passed and would "take the teeth out of favor of the UFW and spent its previous iRdustry," Chavez said after the gathered in just 29 days, setting a record the ALRA." BuJ pending the changes, budget too quickly. Many observers signing. for any such effort. The tremendous growers refused to authorize their questioned both the, wisdom and the But without a functioning ALRB, the public response startled and angered minority of loyal legislators to approve - motives of the agribusiness politicians. UFW was forced to move on its own to agribusiness but delighted farm workers further funding for the board. Their "The changes they want are many get the new law working again. The and UFW supporters everywhere. proposed amendments would have: and major," a Los Angeles Times Union's Executive Board launched both With the initiative easily qualifying -.Allowed growers or unions .to ap editorial pointed out, " and would work a boycott of products by companies for the ballot, the Union turned its at peal ALRB decisions to the courts, most directly against the organizing ef leading the antifunding fight (see story tention to the fall campaign. Chavez potentially tying up final election results forts of Cesar Chavez and his United on page 8) and a balloi initiative to said he was confident that the voters for months or even years. Farm Workers of America... Th,ere bring the issue of maintaining farm would act more positively than had the - Allowed growers to petition for elec~ can be no doubt that the intent of the workers' rights to the California voters. legislators in Sacramento. tions as representatives of a "no union" amendments is to weaken the rights of The initiative contained its own list of "We don't confuse the American campaign, even if a union had yet to ap workers and strengthen those of ALRA amendments that not only people with their politicians," he said. pear to organize their workers. growers, while retaining the pretense of would require the legislature to "We are convinced that when the peo -Delayed the elections by extending fair collective bargaining." adequately fund the board each year, ple are 'faced with a direct appeal from the time limit for balloting to 21 days Calling for further' ALRB funding but would also: the poor, struggling against great odds from 7 days after an election petition is without amendments to the law, the -Authorize more severe penalties for for a just cause, that they will respond filed. Sacramento Bee concluded, "The fact is unfair labor practices. positively. The people of California -Included labor contractors as "em that the farm labor bill, with the ALRB - Require growers to more readily yearn for justice and it is to that yearn ployers" under the terms of the ALRA. working to implement it, had done just provide the board with employe lists. ing that we appeal." Page 8 EL MALeR/ADO September 17,1976 threats and firings of Chavistas, no ULP charges were filed against the company, enabling negotiations to Three growers added begin as soon as possible after ALRB -certification. - in late December. The company's decision to negotiate through Associated Farmers.pf Califor nia should have been an indication of to UFW boycott list things to come. Since 1937, when the By Bob Datz with the Teamsters. Coincidentally, the forgotten by the Union, although ULP group was founded - in its own words Staff Writer Western Conference of Teamsters also rulings are' still pending from the - to "protect farmers from the Com In mid-July UFW contract talks with happened to be one of his frequent ALRB. munist influx into the agricultural areas H. P. Metzler Products, a Fresno fruit clients. Maggio-Tostado grows carrots, let of California," Associated Farmers has grower, were broken off after five Three years later, representing once tuce, cucumbers, and cabbage, shipping used its tax-exempt income to lobby months of futile exchanges and virtually Teamster-organized Maggio-Tostado, to all parts of the United States and against the interests of farm workers no progress. Just three w~ks later Tanis Inc., Smith moved to have the UFW's Europe under the "Mr. California (M and break legitimate strikes. In more Ybarra, UFW Selma Field Office direc 43-34-vote representation election vic T)" and "Sun World" labels. Boycott recent years, the organization has taken tor, got word that the company wanted tory over the Teamsters decertified on volunteers should have little trouble strong stands against the ALRA and the to settle as soon as possible. the very same March day he met in a finding distributors of Sun World cab extension of unemployment insurance A meeting was set up for Aug. 11, preliminary negotiating session with the bage, Carr said. to farm workers. after which company- attorney Jordan UFW. MCFARLAND ROSES Only three meetings were held in the Bloom confided that the Union''would No further meetings were held for Coming into bloom in late October, six months before the McFarland probably get everything you want" if another four months because "they just McFarland's roses grow jungle-like, boycott was called. In those sessions, the workers would accept a minor com weren't returning our calls," said Ilene creating attention-snatching bands of the grower rejected vital union security pany demand on hiring. Carr of the Union's Negotiations color about 10 feet wide. and recognition proposals. McFarland, "I'm almost positive their sudden Division. Notes of July and August Last November's harv.est required through attorney Fred Morgan, also response was from the boycott," sessions held after the boycott began about 140 workers, mostly local rejected the concept of the absolute Ybarra said later, and recent show informational exchanges but little residents who had just finished working union shop and offered hourly wages negotiating sessions seem to support his actual bargaining. the Delano grapes. Many were anxious hikes of just 10 cents per hour with view. Both sides are meeting regularly "More recently, we've been moving to sign UFW authorization cards as they another 5 cents to be added a few and making progress, said UFW toward a settlement," Burciaga said. came to work with huge leather gloves months after the agreement took effect: Negotiations Director David Burciaga. Contract articles aside, accommoda Current houFly wages begin at $2.75. The UFW has used boycotts Since to protect themselves against the roses' tion on four ULP charges from the fall brambles. 1968 - when it launched a nationwide Huerta, first vice 'president of the election campaign remains an issue. A solid organization committee at boycott against grapes - as a device to • Company supervisor Eddie Norte's Union, was involved in the earlier nego pressure growers into good-faith McFarland made the Nov. 28 election tiations and recalled Morgan as being alledged firing of four workers for an easy victory for the UFW, with the bargaining. Since 1973 the Union has refusing to sign Teamster authorization "just insufferable. boycotted Gallo wine and non-UFW Union receiving 36 vot'es to 11 for "no cards and his threats and actual firings union". Despite charges of employer "He wanted me to send him 'our head lettuce, and in July started boy of UFW supporters have not been priorities' in writing," she said, "and, cotts against four firms, including H.P. well, the whole contract is important to Metzler, it contended were bargaining us so I just said, 'let's do the in bad faith. Land reform conference boycott.' " One of those firms, Dole Co., was removed from the list after a contract Her recommendation was adopted settlement last week at West Foods in and, of the companies currently on the Ventura, a fellow subsidiary of Castle & set in Fresno next month "unfair list," McFarland and Cooke, Inc. A State Conference on Land Reform Workshops will cover such issues as Associated Farmers of California have Boycotts continue against Metzler, will be held by the California Food land and the law, energy-intensive farm shown the least willingness to bargain. Maggio-Tostado in the Coachella Policy Coalition October 15-16 in ing; current legislative approaches to A subsidiary of George J. Ball, Inc., Valley, and McFarland Roses in the Fresno, Calif. -land reform; alternative ownership pat McFarland Roses distributes its flowers Delano area. Contract negotiations are The conference is the third in aseries terns; and means of moving from farm through the parent company's three continuing with all three. of six being sponsored by the coalition worker to farmer (this workshop will be divisions: Jiffy Products of West and'will focus 011 the control and use of conducted in Spanish). Chicago, Ill.; Pan American Seed of H.P. METZLER agricultural land in California. Participants also will take a first Florida; and Ball Superior of With no previous union contract, Subjects to be examined include the hand look at the effects of the federal Mississauga, Ontario. workers at the Metzler Ranch voted in relationship between land reform and Reclamation Act of 1902 on the UFW leaders say the boycott pressure the UFW on Sept. 24, giving the Union agricultural production and the extent Westlands Water District near Fresno. is having an impact, despite the low 68 votes to 13 for "no union." Twenty to which the control of land affects the Registration will cost no more than $5 profile of the three growers' products. eight ballots were challenged and unfair development of food policy. The and will end Oct. 8. Further in "It should not" be let up," said Bur labor practice (ULP) charges are still coalition wants to develop a continuing formation is available from Mack War ciaga, "because if it were, we'd stop pending. Firings that the company con issue-oriented task force at the con ner, 2160 Lake St., San Francisco, Ca., making any progress with these tends were layoffs occurred both during ference. 94121. • negotiations.', and after the election, hitting workers with UFW loyalties, Unemployment in vestigators looking into the "layoffs" were told by a company official that, "We don't want any union people on Huelga School accredited our ranch." "If you have your way you'll get The Sept. 9 reopening of the Huelga Language classes also are taught in Special programs being organized in results to destroy the company, isn't School in Delano, Calif., marked the the after school program, as are sessions cl~de Movement history, and field trips that right?" Metzler attorney Bloom beginning of the school's first year as an in photography, science, math, pup to Union clinics, offices, and facilities; remarked as negotiations faltered in accredited alternative school. petry, and dance. and studies of cultures found in the July. Twenty-one full-time kindergarten A variety of 'skills classes ranging Delano community, including Mexican, UFW negotiator Dolores Huerta's and first grade students are attending from mariachi to basic auto mechanics Filipino and Anglo-American, Spiegel response was immediate, " 'You guys the school, which in past years con are available to adults through the said. don't want to negotiate." Talks were centrated largely on supplementary af evening program. While daytime Individual attention is important to frozen solid for three weeks. ter-school activities for farm worker programs are full, openings are still the philosophy of teaching at the This. was two weeks after the Metzler children. being filled in the adult classes until they Huelga School, with most learning done boycott began. The company had stood start on Sept. 20. in small "learning centers." firm against a hiring hall after "playing Started in 1969 by the National Farm games" during the earlier meetings, Worker Ministry, the Huelga School Ybarra said. "At one meeting they considers itself "a real integral part of would give us the hiring hall and at the the Movement," said Director Shelly next they'd take it back," he said. And Spiegel. piece-rate and other informa"tion on Spiegel came to the school in July current conditions requested from the grower hadn't been provided. and is teaching climes along with Maria . Gonzalez, also a certified teacher. Bob Yet the talks' new tone in August put Ream runs the evening adult program. both sides "very close on seniority, the hiring hall, and the grievance After-school programs continue for procedure," Ybarra said. children in the second grade and above. pa~ents, As the boycott continues, consumers With a lot of help from the are being asked to avoid Metzler staff worked the summer to refurbish products - grapes, almonds, and the school building at First Avenue and peaches under the "Sun-Met" and Asti Street. where the Union had its first "Mr. M" labels - in marketing areas in office until 1969. The UFW's first serv cluding New York, Chicago, Detroit, ice center and hiring hall were located in Toronto, and Denver. The firm sells to other buildings on the same in- the A & P supermarket chain in the tersection. . eastern United States. Daytime classes emphasize bi-lingual, bi-cultural education in addition to MAGGIO-TOSTADO math, reading, and other primary In 1973 Indio attorney David Smith school subjects. "We hope all the counseled Coachella Valley growers to children who leave our school will be THE UFW·SPONSORED Huelga School sits in the heart of the Union's first dump tpeir UFW contracts and sign on literate in two languages," Spiegel said. headquarters in Delano. (Photo by Bob Datz) September 17, 1976 EL MALeR/ADO Page 9 I UFW has 49 contracts I Elections held between Septer:nber funds for the Agricultural Labor 1975 and February 1976 under Califor Relations Board, bringing the board's nia's Agricultural Labor Relations Act certification activities to a halt. Con resulted in signed contracts with 40 tract talks cannot begin until an election growers, bringing the total number of has been certified. UFW contracts to 49, according to Agreements reached with the certified figures obtained from the Union's companies have meant the UFW label Negotiations Division. can now be found on a wide range of Contract talks are proceeding with crops. Before last fall's elections, Union many of the 82 remaining ranches where contracts were mostly in wine grapes. UFW victories were left uncertified Among the contracts now in force when the California legislature cut off are:
Company Area Crops Admiral Packing Salinas lettuce Akitomo Nursery Oxnard celery, plants, flowers Akune Nursery Oxnard celery, plants Members of the Valley Vineyard Services ranch negotiating committee meet Almaden Vinyards King City wine grapes with UFW President Cesar Chavez in his office. From left: Rigoberto Costillo, Christian Brothers Napa/Fresno wine grapes Hipolito Ramos, Livingston Field Office Director Juliana DeWolfe, Nicolas Arroyo, (Mont La Salle) Carlos Hernandez, Rodolfo Gonzalez, and Jim Drake, Proposition 14 campaign California Coastal Salinas lettuce coordinator. (Photo by Cathy Murphy) Coca-Cola Florida citrus Colace Brothers Calexico alfalfa, melons, row crops J.J. Crosetti Watsonville row crops DRM Coachella citrus FirstALRA R. T. Englund Salinas lettuce; row crops David Freedman & Co. Coachella table grapes Green Valley Salinas lettuce Produce Coop grape contract Harden Farms Salinas lettuce, row crops H&MFarms Oxnard tomatoes, celery LA PAZ -A year after workers Recent Teamster agreements with E. InterHarvest Salinas lettuce, row crops began organizing themselves for a union & J. Gallo and Dalton Richardson pay Oxnard, representation election at Valley Vine general laborers $3.26 and $3.15, Calexico, yards S'ervices, Inc.. the ranch near making the latest UFW contract the Santa Maria, Livingston, Calif., became the 48th un best-paying grape pact in the state. It Phoenix, der UFW contract and the 39th since Bakersfield also provides employe fringe benefits Las Colinas King City wine grapes California's farm labor law was passed similar to other recently negotiated Vineyards last year. UFW contracts. Negotiations committee members and Each member of the Valley Vineyards Mann Packing Salinas broccoli UFW president Cesar Chavez signed the. negotiating committee made brief Paul Masson King City wine grapes pact Sept. 1 at the Union's headquarters remarks that included praise for the Vineyards here in ceremonies attended by about Union's volunteer staff. Pik'd Rite Salinas strawberries, 100 headquarters staffers. An Aug. 23 "The work you do is of your own free tomatoes ratification vote had gone 113-5 in favor will while farm workers do it out of Meyer Tomatoes King City tomatoes of the agreement. necessity," said Committee President Mr. Artichoke . Salinas artichokes "This is perhaps our best contract," Nicolas Arroyo. A. Perelli-Minetti Delano wine grapes Chavez said before introducing the five Recalling the workers' efforts to member negotiating committee from organize for their September 1975 elec Molera Agricultural Castroville artichokes the ranch formerly named "Mon tion, committee member and former Novitiate Wines Los Gatos wine grapes te(!illo." The company employs 600 Gallo striker Rodolfo Gonzalez said, Reclaimed Island Stockton machine tomatoes workers during peak harvest season. "The Union responded with its saving Land The agreement, which is the first new hand. When the company saw the Salinas Marketing Salinas lettuce, row crops grape contract signed as the result of (UFW) eagle coming, they began to Coop state-run elections, provides an initial have nightmares, their knees became Santa Clara Oxnard celery, plants base wage of $3.35 per hour for general wobbly, and they placed security guards Nursery laborers and $5.00 per hour for in the fields. But the Movement could mechanics. not be stopped." J. H. Smeds & Sons Fresno grapes, tree fruit W.H. Smeds & Sons Fresno grapes, tree fruit Tanaka Brothers Oxnard tomatoes, celery, row crops United Celery Oxnard celery Growers Chavez hits Delano's Valley Harvest Watsonville cauliflower Distributing Valley Vineyards Livingston wine grapes Services rejection of statue WYTFarms Fresno grapes, raisins The Delano, Calif., city council's President Cesar Chavez. Chavez Watanabe Ranch Oxnard vegetables recent rejection of a statue honoring demanded that the council accept the West Coast Farms Watsonville lettuce, row crops Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal $2,500 statue - a gift from the local "West Foods Ventura mushrooms drew strong criticism from UFW Filipino community - and apologize for its "inexcusable behavior" . City officials who said there were "no r-----When the board ,went broke----- ground rules" for accepting the statue Latest ALRB and UFW statistics still waiting for the board's go-ahead products became the target of a UFW are unable to reverse their position. The show how the death of the ALRA in to enter contract negotiations. boycott in 1973 after the company City of San Francisco readily accepted it February left California farm The Union's Negotiations Division 'signed a Teamster contract - still in for placement it) Golden Gate Park. workers in a state of suspension. reported that the board's closing was effect - instead of renewing the "Little concern was voiced for -ALRB elections held: 414 immediately reflected. in slower UFW contract that had been in force. 'ground rules' 50 years ago when -Elections awaiting certification: negotiations with growers who knew Almost all the workers then walked Delano agribusinessmen began im 223 there was no board to enforce good out on strike. porting thousands of single Filipino faith bargaining provisions of the Strikers were allowed to vote in the men to labor in the fields," Chavez said -Undecided ranch elections: 57 ALRA. September Gallo election under in a letter to the city council. Chavez -UFW victories awaiting cer- Representation elections also have terms of the ALRA but their ballots said growers subjected Filipinos to tification: 83 been curtailed. More than 6,000 were challenged by the Teamsters. "cruel economic and racial Coachella Valley workers, for exam -Unfair labor practice charges Final ruling on that election awaits discrimination. ple, have signed UFW authorization pending: 652 the completion of suspended ALRB cards but haven't been able to vote "If Dr. Rizal came to Delano today hearings to determine the exact de -UFW unfair charges pending: on a union since the' board shut to struggle for freedom, he would 520. down. \ finition of an "economic striker." probably experience the same op The uncertified UFW victories Election results at the E. & J. Gallo Observers say the board should be position from the Delano city council as cover about 20,000 workers who are ranch still are undetermined. Gallo fully operational by next month. he faced from the Spanish colonialists," Chavez added. Page JO EL MALCR/ADO September J7, J976 Relations Act and requires the But one argument the growers have legislature to "appropriate funds revised since Carr's ruling is their Ad uses argument necessary to carry out the act. " original contention that Proposition 14 "I think they're groping," said Mar would create a law that couldn't be shall Ganz, UFW executive board mem changed without a constitution amend ber and director of the statewide Yes on ment. The truth is that the law could be judge ruled faulty changed only through a statewide 14 campaign, in response to the first ad. popular vote. Full-page newspaper ads opposing that the arguments be revised before "It's very hard to argue with the right to Proposition 14 are still using at least one publication of the booklet by the state. vote. The only way you can do it is by Union leaders expressed surprise that argument ruled fraudulent more than a Among the arguments Carr found lying, and that's what they're doing." the growers launched such a large ad month ago by a Sacramento Superior faulty was the growers' assertion that Ganz branded as one lie the ad's con campaign so early. They said it Court judge. the UFW-sponsored proposition would tention that the proposition would per probably came in response to the The ads, apearing on Sept. 1 in most remove budgetary control of the mit "governmental confiscation of per UFW's massive bumper sticker effort, major California newspapers, were the Agricultural Labor Relations Board sonal rights and private property in which stickers had been affixed to first major salvo in an anti-14 campaign (ALRB) from the state legislature. rights. " 140,000 cars in California by Sept. 1. being waged by agribusiness under the Yet the ads call the proposition "an "What personal rights would be con Ganz added that the early blitz by banner of "Citizens for a Fair Farm attempt to circumvent the I normal fiscated?" he asked. growers indicates that their campaign Labor Law." budgetary controls on government While the court decision resulted in chest is bulging. He said he expects An Aug. 4 ruling by Judge Francis spending.', changes in the anti-14 arguments for the them to spend $3-4 million against Carr upheld the UFW's contention that To the contrary, Proposition 14 state booklet, it had no authority over Proposition 14 before the Nov. 2 elec some of the anti-14 arguments written amends the current Agricultural Labor the content of advertising. tion. for a state ballot issues booklet were "deliberate lies." The decision directed Convention spirited Growers split? California's agricultural industry is approaching November's vote on Salinas delegation sets the tone Proposition 14 "with its house It was late Sunday afternoon in "The farm workers' endorsement historical development. Serafin divided, its shots scattered, and its Fresno's Selland Arena, and delegates would be very helpful," said Quojaya, for example, was the lone leaders galloping off in all direc to the UFW's First Political En -Republican State Senator Milton Marks delegate from E. & J. Gallo Ranch. A tions. " dorsements Convention were tired. of San Francisco. Involved in a close 1973 striker, he's presently employed at That's the assessment expressed in race for reelection, Marks said there is another Livingston ranch while waiting a recent California Farmer editorial Many had driven during the night to reach Fresno by 6 a.m. to register, and great support for the UFW and the for certification of the representation beseeching the industry to "close boycott in his urban district that he election held at Gallo last September. ranks" against the proposition. they'd spent all day in business sessions in the humid convention center. would like to have on his side in Novem The 54-year-old Quojaya was elected to "We face a single adversary of ber. But since both he and his opponent represent the 128 mostly Portuguese nearly overwhelming dimensions in But they had enough energy to rise seemed equally favorable to the strikers who didn't return to their the form of the Chavez initiative in enthusiastically - at Executive Board delegates, Marks' efforts for the day homeland after the 1973 strike and November," the editorial acknowl Member Marshall Ganz' request - to produced nothing. No endorsement was voted in the Gallo election. He listened edges. express support for all the full-time made in the race for his ninth senatorial to the proceedings quietly, seated "We have no money, time, no workers for Proposition 14. As they got district seat. behind a delegation sign that reminded energy to waste on fragmentation, to their feet a commotion broke out in The farm workers weren't arrogant passers by of a Union struggle still duplication of effort, or ruffled back of the arena. unresolved. featherS'," it continues, noting that about being the objects of such potential supporters among urban Right away it was clear what was hap solicitude, but many were aware of the The six-member West Foods politicians, the news media, and pe·ning. The high-spirited Salinas-area significance of the event. delegation from Ventura was excited. It business leaders "are growing tired delegation had started a "spontaneous" was their first UFW convention and "I think it's very important that Jim and confused by what appears to be demonstration - reminiscent of the Union President Cesar Chavez took my Carter wants to talk to us," said internal disagreement and bickering kind you see at political conventions time to point them out to the other Clarence Bradley, a cauliflower cutter in agriculture." complete with banners and a mariachi delegates, who delivered cheers and ap band. at InterHarvest in Salinas for the past plause of solidarity for all West Foods five years. "It shows he's thinking workers who at that moment were As they paraded through the aisles about us, anyway. other delegates joined the procession, striking for a UFW contract. Growers file and soon virtually all seats had emptied "This is the first time we've had Delegates had gathered from ranches and more than a thousand farm workers anything like this. 'The more we have and Union offices, clinics, and services and supporters were winding through 'em, it enlightens everybody. By doing from every farming area in California. funds report the arena, clapping in unison, waving this, we know who's right and who's The largest area delegation came banners, and chanting, "Catorce, Sit wrong. But the grower, he' thinks he's from Salinas, where the Union has most The anti-Proposition 14 organization Catorce, Sit (Fourteen, Yes!)" always right. of its contracts. <;::itizens for a Fair Farm Labor Law had "The most important thing is to get raised $20,920 by June 30, according to "This is for everybody, every race, "The ranches made all new banners Proposition 14 passed. The next thing a campaign statement the group filed every religion - and this convention is for this convention, the majority of we should do is get rid of those people with the state Aug. ~. the way to change everything," said them," said Salinas Field Office Direc that keep cutting our funds," Bradley The voluntary statement listed ex Francisco Solorza, a delegate from tor Roberto Garcia. The area's 136 said in referrence to state legislators, penditures through June 30 of Chula Vista Farms, while the parade delegates, and visitors from 26 nearby $6,651.78, including a $5,000 legal continued sucking delegates from their who blocked supplemental funding for ranches headed to the convention in a retainer to the Los Angeles law firm of seats into the overcrowded aisles. the Agricultural Labor Relations Act car caravan, Garcia said, but he earlier this year. Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher. The first "I'm against violence because I was couldn't guess how many cars that ad filing required by law is due Sept. 28. in a war and that changed nothing." The 1,047 delegates formed a ded up to. All he could say was, "That's Most of the 81 contributions listed The sparkle in his eyes as he talked said microcosm of the Movement and its a big caravan." were for $250 and came from growers in that he'd rather be participating in the the Woodland area. Donations of demonstration and that he had com $1,000 apiece were made by L.R. pletely dismissed any weariness from Hamilton, Inc., of Reedley and the the long day preceded by an all-night Napa County Farm Bureau. drive from San Diego County. Marshall Ganz, statewide director of Rudy Reyes had been to both UFW the Yes on 14 campaign, said the con Constitutional Conventions and has tributions list will help the UFW. been an active Union member since the "We want to send letters to the first grape strike in 1965. In Fresno this grower/contributors saying, 'We're time as a delegate from the Freedman targeting your farm for organizing ac ranch in the Coachella Valley, Reyes tivities. Thanks for giving us your ad said he was moved by the new heights of dress,' "Ganz said. influence his Union has reached. On July 28 the Fresno-based anti-14 "Before, when we went to strike, they group filed an amendment to its wouldn't ask any farm workers what statement of organization, replacing they think. In the early days, I never Tim Bone of Fresno with Harry Kubo thought it would come to this," he said, of Parlier as president. Kubo is referring to the procession of poli president of the Nisei Farmers League. ticians from Jimmy Carter to local Patricia "Corky" Larson, com candidates that sought support from the munications director of California delegates. "I thought maybe we could Women for Agriculture and wife of get some contracts, and that's it." Coachella Valley grower K.K. Larson, While the VIPs and political heavies was listed as vice president. Grower PR reached the rostrum at various points representative Don Curlee is secretary during the day, lesser political lights sat and Bone, treasurer. hopefully in the back of the hall The other major anti-14 organization awaiting their chance to speak to is the California Farm Bureau smaller caucuses of delegates from their Federation Political Action Committee, respective areas. If politicians could headquartered in Berkeley. Its officers ever be seen as humble, this was the are leaders of the California Farm place to catch them. All were delighted THESE DELEGATES from San Ysidro in San Diego County typify the kind of spirit Bureau Federation. to talk to EI Malcriado. expressed th roughout the Fresno conven\ion. (Photo by Cathy Murphy) ,I
September 17, 1976 EL MALeR/ADO Page 11 Carter likes 14 (Continuedfrom page 1) support of Proposition 14 and past Labor Relations Act (ALRA), Taylor solidarity with the farm workers were told the delegates. "Instead, I find farm the key criteria used in making en workers fighting for the right to dorsements. The delegate said the com organize." mittee's decisions on Carter and Tunney. Business Manager Bill Soltero of were unanimous but unenthusiastic. Laborers Local 383 of Phoenix, Ariz., The UFW actively worked for Tun speaking in animated Spanish, exhorted ney's primary election opponent, Tom the delegates to work hard for Hayden, and has, regarded Tunney as a Proposition 14 and asked all who would lukewarm supporter at best. commit themsel es to do so to raise their hands. But all but a handful of delegates Near the end of the day, after a seemed happy to accept the committee's spirited 14-minute floor demonstration recommendations. in support of Proposition 14, dozens of Other endorsees, all Democrats, delegates took their turn at floor were: San Joaquin County Board of microphones to announce ple'dges of Supervisors District 1, Ralph White; money and time for the initiative cam Alameda County Board of Supervisors paign. More than $20,000 was pledged, District 5, John George; mostly in increments of a few hundred State Assembly District 12, Tom dollars. Bates; 13, John Miller, incumbent; 17, Carter, whose telephoned comments Willie Brown Jr., incumbent; 37, Arline were broadcast over the arena's Ii.A. Mathews; 38, Betty Mann; 39, Jim system and simultaneously interpretted Keysor, incumbent; 44, Alan Sieroty, into Spanish through closed-circuit incumbent; 51, Charles J. Post III; 55, portable radios furnished most of the Richard Alatorre, incumbent; 56, Art .delegates, told the assemblege that Torres, incumbent; 58, Fred Chel; 60, though he was far away in distance, .Joseph Montoya, incumbent; 61, "I'm close to you in spirit. Patricia Ostrye; 63, Bruce Young; 69, "The achievements of Cesar Chavez Neal Gibbons; 73, Dennis Mangers; and the United Farm Workers of America have already added a great State Senatorial District 29, Bill chapter to the history of labor," he con Greene, incumbent; 23, David A. tinued. "You've shown... that your Roberti, incumbent: 39, Bob Wilson; people can achieve self-determination U.S. Congressional District 4, Robert through the struggle for the right of Leggett, incumbent; 8, Ronald collective bargaining. Yet throughout Dellums, incumbent; 10, Don Edwards, the struggle you have maintained your incumbent; 12, David Harris; 13, Nor commitment to nonviolent change. man Y. Mineta, incumbent; 25, Edward "You've had special problems in R. Roybal, incumbent; 27, Gary UNCONVENTIONAL BEHAVIOR followed Jimmy Carter's California among the farm workers. Familian; 28, Yvonne Brathwaite speech via telephone (top) as UFW President Cesa r And the farm labor law passed by the Burke, incumbent; 33, Ted Snyder; 37, Chavez, Secretary-Treasurer Gilbert Padilla and Executive legislature and the governor recently is Douglas Nilson Jr.; 39, William Farris. Board member Marshall Ganz (from righf to left above) now. being tried and tested throughout The Union's Executive Board was slap each other "five" upon hearing Carter's endorsement your state. But for 11 months (sic) the empowered to decide on endorsements .of Proposition 14. Below, delegates cause the day's biggest law that had been passed was rendered in certain other districts .because the ruckus during a late afternoon floor demonstration that ineffective. For that reason I support committee lacked sufficient· in released the day's energy. ----....he objectives ofProposition 14..." formation. Decisions referred were for (Top photo by Paul Chavez, others by Cathy Murphy) At that point the whoops and cheers Assembly Districts 43, 72, and 80; began. Senatorial Districts 5, 7, and 37; Carter concluded with a few sen and U.S. Congressional Districts 9, 15, [ences in Spanish in which he said he 16, and 40. looked forward to being in California The Executive Board also was soon and meeting with Chavez. authorized to make endoresments Chavez then asked Carter whether' he ' during the interim period until the next was unequivocally supporting the endorsements convention. proposition, and the candidate said yes. The adopted resolutions included Endorsements were considered only support for passage of Proposition 15, for candidates who requested them. replacement of the U.S. Immigration Candidates or their representatives were and Naturalizati·on Service with a new invited to speak before area caucuses agency "capable of Qbserving the Con meeting throughout the day, which for stitutional and human rights" of all warded recommendations to an en U.S. residents, condemnation of dorsement committee of 27 delegates. legislators who voted against a The committee in turn sent its recom budgetary supplement for the ALRB, mendations to the entire convention for suffrage for non-citizen residents of the approvaL All of the committee's en United States, freedom for four in dorsement suggestions were accepted. carcerated Fresno Bee reporters and The committee's sessions were closed, defeat of a dog racing, proposition on but one participant said candidates' the California ballot. Cranston campaigns for Tunney FRESNO - Overcoming a polite but tioned Hayden's name. Cheers, working democracy" for the state's "Ford is not only an economic unenthusiastic response to his praise for whistles, and sustained applause in farm workers and be a benefit to all disciple of Richard Nixon, he's outdone Sen. John Tunney (D-Calif.), senior terrupted the speech. California citizens, Cranston said. He his masteF in wrecking our economy," Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston got an "But you can't vote for him; he's not· added that the ALRA may become a Cranston said. He called the Nixon and energetic ovation for his direct en on the ballot," Cranston continued. model for farm labor legislation on the Ford policies those of "deliberate dorsement of Proposition 14 from the "The way we're going to defeat federal level and lashed out at unemployment and economic decay", Union's Sept. 5 state Political En (Republican candidate) H. L Hayaka Republicans in the legislature "who citing nati'onwide unemployment dorsements Convention, wa, who opposes Proposition 14, is to cooked up a scheme to stall and statistics since 1968 and observing that Tunney, whose Democratic primary elect my colleague 'who supports it, sabotage" the law. those figures leave out many who have opponent, Tom Hayden, was supported John Tunney." given up looking for work, "millions of by the UFW this year, was the subject. "Everlasting strife between farm our brothers and sisters thrown out on The Palo Alto native himself then workers and growers is a losing of much of Cranston's speech, which I the scrap heap, ignored, forgotten, also praised Democratic Presidential joined the list of major political leaders proposition for both,"·Cranston added. wasting away in poverty. candidate Jimmy Carter. endorsing the proposition. Two days In an interview with E/ Ma/criado "The fact is that the very best unem Pointing to Tunney's liberal voting before the speech he reportedly had not before his speech, Cranston denied that ployment figures under Ford are worse record and recent endorsement of worked out a position on the issue. a Tunney endorsement from the UFW than the worst unemployment figures Proposition 14, the senior senator called "I endorse Proposition 14," said the would be a difficult subject. He added under Nixon," he said. that he had "been working on this his colleague "a courageous leader who determined-looking senator as he leaned The Senator also urged farm workers often sticks his neck out to fight for forward toward his audience. "I'll not speech like fury for four days" and to take advantage of the state's new called his remarks on Tunney "a very what he believes." He urged delegates only vote for it, I'll not only support it bilingual post card voter registration big part of this speech." to "be realistic" and endorse Tunney in - I'll work for it up and down the state system to register 500,000 new voters to his bid for a second U.S, Senate term, of California between now and election Cranston began his address by help ensure the passage of Proposition which they later did. day." blasting President Gerald Ford's 14 and the election of Jimmy Carter and One of the morning's most spirited The initiative's passage would economic policy and urging an en other candidates who will advance the reactions came when Cranston men- guarantee the continuation of "a dorsement of Democrat Jimmy Carter. cause of workers. £1 MaJeriado is IIaell'"
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