Exploring the United Farm Workers' History-Grape Boycott

[Omaha Steve]

I was 8 years old. I remember some young college kids handing me a flyer in front of Safeway. I took it and said "Mom we can't buy grapes". The stigma lasted for years in the US.


http://library.thinkquest.org/26504/History.html

By 1964 a movement arose and the union United Farm Workers Association (UFWA) was formed with 1,000 members. The farm workers wanted better wages and better working and living conditions. In August 1965, an independent walkout of Mexican and Filipino grape workers in Delano, California caught the leader and organizer of the UFW, Cesar Chavez's attention. An even larger strike led by the Filipinos against all the grape companies in the Delano area was supported by UFWA. When the strike was not successful in completely halting field work, Chavez organized a march to California's state capitol to inspire farm workers to join the Union. The march was effective in getting national attention, however, Chavez knew that neither the march nor the strike would be effective in getting the grape producers to negotiate. UFWA then decided to call a boycott of the Schenley Liquor Company who owned the vast majority of the vineyards in the San Joaquin Valley. This was a success and soon other grape producers were forced to sign contracts. Chavez sent representatives throughout the country to coordinate boycott meetings and fundraising efforts. For the next four years the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee decided to boycott all table grapes; this received wide public support. This boycott was the most successful in American history. In 1970 the pressure of the ongoing boycott resulted in the signing of contracts that provided workers with significant benefits.



Full story, photos, link at link above.