In September 1965, Cesar Chavez stood before a crowd of striking farmworkers in Delano, California, and committed the fledgling United Farm Workers (UFW) to a nationwide boycott of California table grapes. The action, born from decades of exploitation and low wages for agricultural laborers, would become a landmark moment in the American labor movement and propel Chavez to international prominence.
The Delano grape strike began on September 16, 1965, initiated by the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), led by Larry Itliong, a Filipino-American labor leader. AWOC represented primarily Filipino workers, who had long faced discrimination and substandard conditions in the California fields. When growers refused to recognize the union or negotiate a collective bargaining agreement, Itliong’s group appealed to Chavez and the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), an organization primarily representing Mexican workers. Chavez, a veteran of community organizing and a staunch advocate for nonviolent resistance, agreed to merge the two groups, forming the UFW in August 1966.
The UFW’s strategy centered on a consumer boycott, targeting the lucrative table grape industry. Boycott organizers travelled across the United States, appealing to consumers to refrain from purchasing California grapes until growers agreed to recognize the union and negotiate fair contracts. The boycott gained momentum through grassroots organizing, public demonstrations, and the support of student activists and religious groups.
“We are all brothers,” Chavez said in a 1969 interview with The New York Times, explaining the rationale behind the boycott. “We are all children of God. And we must treat each other with respect and dignity.” This message resonated with a growing segment of the American public increasingly concerned with social justice issues.
The boycott faced significant opposition from the grape growers, who employed tactics to undermine the UFW’s efforts, including legal challenges and the use of strikebreakers. However, the UFW persevered, and the boycott began to take a financial toll on the industry. By 1968, several growers had begun to negotiate with the union.
The first major success came in July 1968, when the Di Giorgio Corporation signed a collective bargaining agreement with the UFW, granting workers higher wages, improved working conditions, and union recognition. This victory was followed by similar agreements with other growers, including Giumarra Vineyards and Weinberger Farms. The agreements included provisions for a grievance procedure and a union hiring hall, giving workers greater control over their employment.
The phrase “Sí, se puede” – “Yes, One can” – became a rallying cry for the UFW and a symbol of the movement’s unwavering determination. The slogan, rooted in Chavez’s belief in the power of collective action, transcended the farmworkers’ struggle and was adopted by activists and politicians across the political spectrum. In 2008, Barack Obama’s presidential campaign prominently featured the phrase, demonstrating its enduring appeal and broad applicability.
Despite the initial victories, the struggle for farmworkers’ rights continued. The UFW faced ongoing challenges from growers resistant to unionization and from legislative efforts to restrict the union’s activities. In the 1970s, the UFW expanded its organizing efforts to include other agricultural commodities, such as lettuce and strawberries, launching new boycotts and engaging in further strikes.
As of late 2023, the UFW continues to advocate for farmworkers’ rights in California and across the United States, focusing on issues such as wage increases, pesticide protection, and access to healthcare. The organization is currently engaged in efforts to pass legislation that would make it easier for farmworkers to organize and bargain collectively, facing opposition from agricultural industry groups who argue that such measures would harm their businesses. The California State Legislature is scheduled to consider amendments to existing agricultural labor laws in early 2024.
