el malcriado – voice of the farm worker july 31, 1974 · workers left their cutting knives ... to...
TRANSCRIPT
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More than 3500 men, women, and children crowd a hot Salinashigh school gym showing the Teamsters that they would rathersupport Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers union.Chavez was ioined by 30 notional Catholic leaders who blastedthe collusion between the Teamsters and the growers.
(continued on page 14)
Salinas, Calif~More than 3500cheering farm workers packed alocal high school gym July 11 tohear UFW President Cesar Chavez describe the battle workersare presently waging to stopgrowers from deducting Teamsters dues from their paychecks.
An estimated $150,000 is takenfrom Salinas Valley farm working families each month in Teamster dues, money which the UFWsays could build more farm worker clinics and service centers,instead of financing the Teamster's $100,000 a month drive todestroy the popular-based Chavez Union.
Chavpz was nankecl at tbemeeting by over 30 national Catholic leaders who called the 1970grower-Teamster agreements"a collusive steal of your contracts" and who promised renewed support of the head lettuce,table grape and Gallo wine boycott.
The women and men and childr en who work the vegetable fieldsof the Salinas Valley nocked tothe general meeting to hear the"little giant," who in 1970 led10,000 workers to contract victories in a massive generalstrike.
The July rally was the thirdmass farm worker rejection ofTeamster leadership in 1974, andfollowed two months of active organizing on the Teamster ranchesby the UFW.
(On February 18 eight thousandfarm workers in the ImperialValley shut down agribusinesswith a work-stop to protest illegal Teamster dues and deductions. On June 6 some 3,000 fieldworkers left their cutting knives
. and short handled hoes to protest the visit of FitzsiI;nmons whocame to nearby Monterey to inagurate Teamster Local 1973).
The tone ofthe meeting becamesomber, however, as Chavez relayed the tragic news of yet another farm labor "accident;" 18year old Armando Contreras hadbeen crushed that very day bya Merrill Farms Teamsterdriven lettuce truck, and lay incritical condition at the SalinasMemorial Hospital. The Merrilltruck did not carry a back-up
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P. 12...............ANGELI NOS TAKE UPBOYCOTT DRIVE ............... P. S
DEATH IN THE LOST HILLSTHREE FARM WORKERS KILLED
r
New Yorkers Tackle Hills Store
Cesar Chavez and Mr. Jim Bently, of Toronto, Canada, join campesinos in a Huelga appluse during a UFW rallyheld in Lamont, Calif. on July 15, 1974. More than 500 farm workers participated.
"farm workers in the south ofFrance are struggling just likeyou" and explained that theirstruggle was the same as thestruggle of the French worker.
Chavez spoke of the problemof illegal strikebreakers and saidthe UFW would like to "askthem to go elsewhere and notto break the strike because itwould just make things moredifficult for us and for themin the end."
He continued by asking allgrape workers, who are nowworking in non-union fields, thatthey could help the boycott byruining the grapes they pick.This way the growers will findthemselves with poor qualitygrapes and "it is easier to boycott poor quality grapes."
Cesar also asked the audienceto encourage their fellow workersnot to pay any Teamster dues,like they're doing in Delano,Salinas, Imperial Valley and Coachella. He said that once theTeamsters find themselves without any money they will leave.
Chavez finished his speech optimistically by saying "we aregoing to win this boycott a lotsooner than most people think."
less desirable jobs, as well asreaching discriminatory bargaining agreements.
The suit was brought by Edward Martinez, Leon Davis, Curley Carrie, and Louis Robinson.Carrie and Robinson were promoted to truck drivers but werelater demoted.
Martinez and Davis were promoted to truck drivers only afterfiling complaints with the U.s.Equal Employment OpportunityCommission. The four are among500 minority employees at theRichmond distribution center.
The Tulare County Sheriff'sDepartment is supposed to forcecompliance of the injunction ifthe growers violate the order.This is the first time in thecounty the growers face prosecution for misleading labelingpractices.
A similar injunction was issued in May barring three KernCounty growers from using UFWlabels on tal:Ue grape shipments.
The Tulare County growersaffected by the injunction areElmco Vineyards, Poplar GrapeGrowers, 8t. Agnes Vineyardsand Merzoian Bros. Farm Management Co. Named in the Kernsuit were Pandol Bros. Inc.,Tex-Cal Inc., and John Dulcichand Sons.
i-RAU"L'5GRC)CERY-I Comestibles- Bebidas - Sodas t', Vino - Cerveza Tel. 875-6123, Sr. y Sra. Raul Lozada ., Viva la Causa tL.!.2':3:: ~:-sa~er, '?:.E~'!.-.J
Lamont, Calif. - Black eagleflags fluttered in the streetsof this small agricultural town,on July 15 when more than 500marching workers joined CesarChavez in a show of solidarity.
The marchers walked throughthe streets of Lamont for overan hour asking their neighborsto leave their homes and jointhem. Many persons respondedto the calls "Viva La Huelga"and "Si Se Puede" and fell inwith the campesinos.
The march led to the parkwhere mass was held and Chavez introduced Jim Bently, ofthe plumbers union in Toronto,Canada, and Francoise Thomaze,of paris, France where she isa member of a non-violence socialist group called "Cesar Chavez."
Mr. Bently assured the campesinos that the Canadian people,not only in Toronto but in "allthe length and breadth" of Canada were solidly behind themin their strike and boycott. Heclosed pis speech with a hearty"Viva La Huelga" and the audience responded with a huelgaapplause.
Francois Thomazo, the nextspeaker, told the audience that
Richmond, Calif. - Four workers have filed a $500,000 classaction suit against TeamstersLocal 315 and Safeway Stores,Inc., charging discrimination inhiring, promotion, and firing.
The suit, centering around promotions to truck drivers, wasfiled by three Blacks and a Chicano on behalf of all minorityworkers atSafeway's distributioncenter in this San Franciscobay area city.
The suit alleges the Teamster local discriminates in recruiting members, refuses torefer minority workers to certain jobs, refuses to processgrievances and makes discriminatory bargaining agreements.
Safeway was accused of usingemployment standards and teststo discriminate against minorityworkers in employment and assigning them to lower paying,
Visalia, Calif. - A preliminary injunction has prohibitedfour San Joaquin grape growersfrom using the UFW Black Eagle on their containers aftermisleading consumers sincetheir contract with the unionexpired last summer.
The injunction, sought by theUFW, ordered the four TulareCounty growers to either obliterate the union label from packing boxes or destroy the containers.
The injunction, issued by Superior Court Judge Fredrick Jacobus also gave UFW the rightto search growers propertiesfor any crates or containe-rs stillbearin~ the union symbol.
Growers Barred fromUsing Black Eagle
Canadian Labor LeaderAttends Lamont Rally
Teamsters Charged withRacism in Court Suit
Hills. One store in Yonkers hadto resort to giVing away a headof lettuce with each bottle ofsalad dressing which was sold.
UFW sympathizers participated in a mass picket, June 29,which also drew three or fouranti-union trOUble makers carrying guns. Police kept the gunwielders away; no one was hurtbut none of the gun toters werearrested.
Hills officials have tended tobe sneaky. A delegation of clergymen visited one manager ofa Long Island store, July 2.T~e manager, after meeting thedelegation, excused himself, andwithout telling anyone called thepolice who arrived and expelledthe visitors. No one was arrested.
Keene, Calif. - Francoise Thomazo, a member of "Cesar Chavez," a non- violent research andaction group in Paris, France,is Visiting La Paz, the UFWheadquarters here. F. Thomazocame to the United States tosee first hand how the UFWis conducting its struggle forsocial justice.
She says that the group shebelongs to is called "Cesar Chavez" because they feel that Chavez is "the most important ilOnviolent leader in the worldtoday".
F. Thomazo, who will be inLa Paz for 10 days, in an interview said that the struggleof the American workers is thesame as the struggle of theFrench workers.
She continued by saying; "Iwould like to tell the readersof EL MALCRIADO, that it isvery important that when peoplestruggle for the same ends andwith the same means, it is veryimportant that they know themselves and the meaning of theiractions and help themselves inan international spirit."
French ActivistVisits UFW
Headquarters
ther, Ed"is a major stockholderin Hills stores.
Hills has 106 stores in thestate, 60 of them in New YorkCity.
Ricardo Chavez, UFW executive board member, began afast July 23 in front of a Hillsstore in the Huntington sectionof Long Island. A mass picketand religious service outside thestore is planned someti me duringthe fast.
Meanwhile, the effects of theboycott may be taking effect on
The facts are that Parkhurstwas an over-the-road trucker forseveral years, was anowner-operator, and still takes occasionaltrips by tractor- trailer.
es, not hiring enough bilingu~lcensus takers.
Manuel Ruiz, Civil Rights Commissioner, points out that theCensus is important to the Spanish speaking in terms of representation, being able to obtain revenue sharing, housing, industry,affirmative action programs and"all other economic and socialendeavors."
Overdrive states, "There is noover- the- road tractor - trailercombination that Parkhurst can'tdrive. And if Fitzsimmons wouldget out of his marble tower oroff the golf links long enough,Parkhurst would be glad to tryto teach him how to drive atruck."
torious lies, Fitzsimmons, in anattempt to discredit Overdrive,'claimed on national televisionthat Editor - Publisher Mike?arkhurst had never been a truckdriver.
New York,N.Y. - The NewYork boycott campaign is concentrating on the Hills supermarket chain which has neverreached an agreement with theUFW.
Part of the campaign is aimedat Hugh Carey, running for theDemocratic gUbernatorial nomination, who is trying to project a "liberal" image to NewYork voters.
Carey's importance lies notonly with the fact that he isa potential governor of the second most populous state in thenation, but also because his bro-
Washington, D.C. - The U.S.Commission on Civil Rights foundthat the 1970 Census Bureau countof Spanish-speaking people wasinadequate citing poor countingmethods, the lack of Spanish language question forms, and for notaskin the proper questions on theform.
In addition, says the report, theCensus Bureau is "extremely deficient" in employment practic-
Civil Rights Commission Charges
Discrimination in Census Count
Page 2 -:- July 31, 1974 - E I Malcriado
Truckers Journal BlastsFitzsimmons' Corruption
Los Angeles, Calif.-Not alltrucker s are silently sitting backand allowing the Teamster's
. leadership run rampant in itscampaign of cheating and corruption.
Overdrive magaZine, the leading journal of professional trUCkers, has been a thorn to theside of Teamster PresidentFrank Fitzsimmons and the Nixonadministration.
The magaZine, in the Julyissue, wites, "The previous history of the Fitzsimmons-Nixonlove affair is a trail strewn withpolitical intrigue and manipulation, moral bankruptcy and corruption, and influence-peddling atthe highest level of government."
The magaZine also caught Fitzsimmons in another of his no-
Chavez Assails Use ofIl1legals" in Mendota Rally
Mendota Meloneros ProtestGrower's Low Wages
'Pacific Farms HarvestHalted by 'Blitzkrieg'
claimed the union was taking"a path in Violence", and creating a "reign of terror".
Strike information was furtherslanted as a Fresno radio station reported UFW strikers werearmed and a Fresno televisionnews show used film showingonly three picketers to describethe strike situation.
Some UFW members feel thatthe growers are not as concernednow about the melon strike asthey will be when the large tomato harvest begins in September.
Within a day and a half, UFWorganizers" Baca, Delgado, andLopez, had organized a statewide food drivll and had raisedover $3,000 with contributionscoming from the Archbishop fromLansing, along with two otherparishes and as well as fromdifferent unions.
On Sunday, more than fiftyUFW supporters arrived fromall over the state to Keeler withcampers, vans, and cars packedwith food.
The climax carne at a victoryMass, held by the Lansing Archbishop, where over 350 people attended and heard a congratulatorymessage from Cesar Chavez,pointing out that ther is no victory without unity and ending with"Que viva 1a Causa y QUE VIVANLCB FRESERCB TRIUNFANTES!!!"
According to Sam Baca, thismarks the first victory for theMichigan farmworkers where already in other parts of the state,other farmworkers are talking about the success of the strike.Baca added that "the spark canbe lit."
rent, plus Falkner agreed to re-cognize the negotiating committee as the legitamate group forbargaining and- dealing.
The Fresno. County SheriffsDepartment is keeping a 24-hourwatch over the' strikers, continually utilizing patrol helicopters and using infiltrators toprowl around UFWbuses at night.
The local newspaper, the Mendota- Firebaugh Journal, has alsoattacked the campesino struggle,featuring a front page editorialcalled "More than Fire" in itsJuly 11 edition.
It stated that Cesar Chavez'credibility "went up in flames",blaming him and the UFW fora recent fire, and the paper also
UFW organizers, Sam Baca,George Delgado and Alex Lopezarrived at the fields early Fridaymorning at 6:00 AM and reassured local leaders that the strikewas still effective although 60pickers had returned to work,after Falkner spat out a 5~ raise.
A show of relief and enthusiasmrose as soon as picketers grabbed the "black eagle nags" fromthe UFW supporters and circledthe fields in ca.rs, honking andshouting "Viva Chavez"and "Viva la huelga" and by10:30 AM, all 60 workers had.left, leaving the fields empty.
At 5.00 PM, workers confirmed their unanimous desire to strike and- voted to bargain for awage rate of a $1.00 per carrierand no rent.
Falkner now had his back tothewall, with him knowing that hisfruit would rot if not picked by
_Sunday. In addition, the temporary rental of a picking machinefailed, since his plants were being ruined by the apparatus.
Working through Feferman, theattorney, instead of the four mancommittee, Falkner first proposed raising the wage to 90~and
reducing the rent to $3.00.This was immediately rejecte,Q
by the workers and finally reached a concession for 90~and no
E I Malcriado - July 31, 1974 - Page 3
Mendota, Calif. - The UFWlegal department has receivedreports that local melon growers are forming an armed vigilante group to break a strikeby melon pickers which beganJuly 19.
The strikers in this area, iriwestern Fresno county in central California, are already facing continued police surveillanceand harassment, and distortednews coverage by the local press.
30 UFW members from Calexico are assisting the localstrikers in their struggle againstthe powerful growers.
300 Strike Pappas & Company
Three generations of campesinos listen and look during speeches at UFW support rally held at the very crowdedand uncomfortable Alisal High School gym at Stockton.
"The Spark Can be Lit"
Mendota Melon Strike
Keeler, Michigan-UFW-backed strawberry piokers, quickleysettled a three-day strike at the.I ohn Falkner & Son Farms, 70miles east of Chicago, near theeast Michigan lakeside.
Workers first met with staffattorney, Richard Feferman fromthe Migrant Legal Assistanceproject (MMLA) on Wednesdayevening, June 19 where they angrily posed the problems of childlabor, low wages, and poor housing.
The Fair Labor Standards Actbars children under 12 fromworking, thus putting a deep cutinto farmworker family incomes.And their $1.50 wage, based on.piece rate, is equal to buyingonly two pounds of pinto beans,plus they must pay $5.00 a weekfor a 12' X 12' cabin' with onlyone light and no toilet.
Au elected four man committeeasked Falkner to increase thepiece rate from 76~ to a $1.00per carrier of straWberries (8-10quarts) and no rent.
Falkner replied, "If anyonewants more than 76~, they canpack up their bags and go someplace else."
On Thursday, the workers responded and did not work, makingthe walkout 100% effective.
from Costa Rica, San Salvador,the Philippines and the Arabnations in the hundreds and thousands and take away our jobs.
Chavez pointed out that thegrowers who hire the "illegals,"are closely tied to the Immigration Department, the JusticeDepartment, and the Federal Government.
Chants of "huelga, huelga,huelga" came in an uproar WhenChavez remarked in Spanish"that the only cure for thissickness of exploitation of thefarmworkers by the growers,is a medicine called, "HUELGA!"
the amount of melons that werepacked and shipped. This practice in essence left it up tothe contractors not to pay theworkers for a considerable portion of their labor.
Pacific Farms Incorporatedfiled a court injunction againstthe strikers resulting in a temporary restraining order Ilmiting the number of picketers.
Kern County Superior CourtJudge J. Kelly Steele restrictedthe Union to 12 pickets, 50 feetapart. UFW attorney Debbie Vollmer argued that the temporaryrestraining order was unconstitutional, but Steel told her, "Idon't have to consider if thisis constitutional, only if its reasonable."
Judge Steel's statement is thetype of attitude the UFW facesin dealing with the Kern CountyMunicipal Court System and indicates the support the growersreceive from the judicial system.
One worker added that previously Teamsters had come ontothe camp to sign up members,but only three signed. He added,"We know they don't have anyguarantees."
Mendota strike organizerManuel Chavez said thatthe workers are entitled to remain at th~ camp until theyget their last checks.
The strike has been effectiveso far as more workers havewalked out and seeing by thenext day the Pappas melon packing shed completely dead. EarlySunday morning UFW strikersobserved hundreds of workerswaiting before the small Greyhound bus depot ready to leavetowards Salinas.
boarded UFW buses and returned.to their labor camp.
Workers and UFW strikersarrived at the camp, owned bylabor contractor Ernest Guillen,followed later by 15 county sheriffs. .
Upon opening their lunches,one worker angrily showed toEL MALCRIADO, two flies inhis burrito. Their meals cost$2.0.0 each and they only get$10.00 every four days for theprepared f.ood.
Lamont, Calif. -Seventy workers quit and eighty others wentout on strike when _an earlymorning blitzkrieg by the United Farm Wor.kers hit the Pacific Farms Labor camp on Wednesday July 3.
The walk out brought the harvesting and packing to a haltand ma.rked the first melon strikein the Bakersfield area.
A call for help came fromworkers at the camp who askedthe Lamont "Huelguistas" forsupport against the unfair laborpractices and low wages at thePacific Farms. Contractors havebeen switching the criteria forpaying Hie workers, infor mingthem only after their labor wascompleted.
The contractors established apractice of telling the workersthat they would pay them according to the amount of melonsthey picked fr am the fields.
The contractors in realitywould pay them according to
Mendota, Calif. -- Cesar Chavez urged fellow farmworkersat a rally here to circulate petitions to tell legislators in Washington, D.C. to stop the largeflow of "illegal aliens", whoare depriving the farmworkersof their jobs.
The followers, only a. few innumber four years ago, are nowa .large UFW organizing groupin Mendota, a campesino town
'that primarily harvests melons.Chavez Said, '1 Illegals are in
vading the country because theNixon Administration is permitting it." He added that theycome not only from Mexico, but
Coalinga, Calif. - More than. 300 melon workers joined UFW
strikers as they exited the fieldsof Pappas & Co., July 20, inprotest over the grower's intolerable demands.
Workers overheard Pappas sayto foremen, that he only wantedthe melons that were 3/4 green,since many were overripe. Alsothe workers were filling a 28square foot trailer when it wasfirst told to them that it was23-1/2 square feet.
The melon workers walked outafter Pappas refuse.d to increasethe wage for the extra work andwere soon welcomed by UFWpicketers as they poured outfrom the fields.
As UFW picketers were greeting the workers, 'a water truckon the other side of the roadon the property of Harris FarmsInc., abruptly appeared andsprayed a heavy shower of water 50 yards over UFW members.
Later UFW member EduardoCalacas, 42, was arrested fortrespassing after sheriffs firsthad' offered him a ride fromthe entrance road to the picketline.- The 300 melon workers gladly
joined UFW members as they
Three-Year Old Run Over on Picket Line
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Grocerles"'.lean procluctsIIMosPlper5 .alld-gal i nes 1~ $pIIlisll
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990 Abbott St.Phone 424·4603
Salinas, Ca. 93901
employed by G'uimarra Vineyards, one of the major vineyardsin the fertile San Joaquin Valley.
The Arvin police departmentassigned only one man to conductthe investigation.
The aunt of the slain Child, inspeaking about the wildcat strike,stated, "They say if we don't workharder they'll take the money outof out checks. So, they work you todeath." But for Barbarito GarzaIII, 3 years old, death came before employment.
Pedro Sanc;hez Gas Station~ Mechanic ~
'iIilJ Courtesy Promptness ..
175 Ilain St. IIWatsonville. Ca
(408-722-6700 )
La Flor o.t V....100 lJltiOft ~t.
~t.son"III •• :Cal.
employer interferes in the effortsof either union in organizing theemployers workers.
UFW attorney Sanford Nathanargues that Larson did interfere,on March 21, when he conducteda "phoney" election in which hecoerced his workers to vote against the UFW and in favor ofthe Teamsters.
Nathan, in arguing against thepermanent injunction, also saysthat Larson has suffered nodamages at the hands of the UFW andthat there's nothing the "unioncould do this year that could affect Larson grapes".
Judge Metheny, in explaininghis court order, said that the election had not been entirely"fair" since the UFW had notbeen given notice of it. (The election was conducted by Rev. Richard Humphrys, a Coachella priestwho is biased against the UFW.and allowed a lack of voting privacy. The results were 60-28against the UFW.)
The judge also conceded thatthe injunction placed on the UFWwould have a minimal effect because Larson grapes have already been harvested.
Judge Metheny also empasizedthat the preliminary court ordershould not be interpreted to indicate what his decision will be infull trial of Larsons' suit againstthe UFW which he said should besoon.
MEDINA'S EXXON
SPECIALIZING INBRAKES SHOCKS
& TUNE UPS
The father drewa sketch showing that the truck had been previously parked on the property ofMazzie Farms packing house,facing the picket line across thestreet, between the two parkedcars and twelve feet off the roadway striking the child.
Christy, driver of the truck wasnot held for questioning nor washe cited nor arrested.
Christy was previously employed by Mazzie's and is now
RIVERA lICU·:>I::S ., ~4G6 Eost Copper Rood805·.86·87]8
RIVERA LIOUORS ·23610 South SQwie.... Rood· .8OS·.81.9S/7 .
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OXNARD. CALIFOlINIA 93030
Coachella Growers
Larson Gains Drawin UFW Court Skirmish
RIVERA ~ICUORS
Indio, Calif.-The court battlebetween the United Farm Workersof America (UFW) and K.K. Larson, a Coachella Valley grapegrower. came to a draw earlythis month, when Superior CourtJudge Fred Metheny issued a pre-
• liminary injunction against theUFW and placed certain restrictions on Larson.
JUdge Metheny's court orderprohibits the. UFW from certainsecondary boycott and picketingactivities. The UFW has beenboycotting Larson's grapes andpicketing his fields.
The court order also prohibitshim from requiring his employees or prospective employeesfrom agreeing to join or not tojoin any labor organization.
The legal confrontation between the UFW and Larson began Api! 4th, when Larson endedfour years of union affiliationwith UFW and immediately -afterfiled a lawsuit asking for a permanent injunction banning theUFW from picketing his fieldsand boycotting his grapes.
Larson in his .lawsuit is invoking the California Jurisdictional Strike Act which prohibitsa labor union from using economic sanctions against an employer when that union is engaged ina jurisdictional dispute with another union.
Larson's attorney, CharlesField of Riverside, contends thatsince the UFW and the Teamstersare in the midst of a Jurisdictional dispute, as to who reresents Larson's 106 workers,the grower should not be madeto suffer.
The strike act does not apply,however, if it is shown that the
"I Touched His Hand.I Knew He Was Dead"
NixonitesCharged with
Rigging'72 Elections
ARVIN, Ca.-A three year oldboy was run over and killed by atruck last month as he clung to thehand of his young mother while ona picket line in this cityin the SanJoaquin Valley.
Barbarito Garza III, was killedby a truck driven by LesterChristy, 21, when the truck shotacross South Derby Street, between two parked cars, and twelvefeet off of the roadway strikingthe child.
The child was pronounced deadon arrival at Kern County GeneralHospital.
The mother, Linda Garza, 18stated that she was holding hers on by the hand when a white pickup truck, owned by GuimarraVineyards, stuck her son pushing her to one side. "He came straight at us•••he was going fast,"she cried as she demonstratedhow her child had been crushedWhile clinging to her hand.
The pair was standing approximately twelve feet fr-om the roadway and witnesses at the scenestated that the trUCk had drivencompletely off the roadway.
The father. Barbarito Garza,J r, 23. rushed over to his son andgrabbed him by the wrist, "I touehed his hand. and there was nothing, I knew he was dead."
The Garza family was acrossthe street from Mazzie's participating in a wildcat stike Whichbegan the previous morning when60 pieceworkers walked out overworking conditions and a requestfor pay increases.
The father was employed at thepacking house along with othermembers of his family.
Barbarito Garza, Jr., statedthat earlier in the day workerson the picket line had been threatend with dismissal if they' signeda petition stating their grievancesand demands. According to JimForo, a workers spokesman, theywere fired by Mazzie after theywalked out.
Witnesses at the scene of theaccident stated that the driverof the truck had dropped by twicebefore to speak to strikers on thepicket line.
Washington, D.C. - A NationalLawyers Guild "People's LawSuit" challenging the constitutionality and legality of the 1972presidential election, was filedin a U.s. District Court here.
Eight thousand groups and individuals are listed as plaintiffsincluding the UFW.
President Nixon and membersof his administration's cliquehave been named defendants,along with large corporationsand the Teamsters Union.
They're charged with conspiring to cheat the American peopleof an honest and open presidential election, which the suitalleges was won through a longseries of illegal actions.
The body of three year old Barbarito Garza 11/ is carried by pallbearerson the way to funeral service. The little boy was run over by a truckowned by Guimarra Farms while he was standing on a picket line.
Jn Critical ConditionSalinas Worker Crushed
by Lettuce TruckSalinas, Calif.-Eighteen- year- that my son had been run over,
old Armando Contreras was crit- that he was crying and tremblingically injured on July 11 when and white as a sheet. They ranhe was crushed by a lettuce him over and what could wetruck while working in the fields say•••and a truck••J don't wantof Merrill Farms. The accident to rel'l\ember it anymore."came just weeks after a 44- Contreras and his Wife, Mar-year-old farm worker was kill- tha, have an 18-month-old soned on a Bruce Church ranch and are worried about how theywhen run over by a truck in will pay the bills. Contrerassimilar circumstances. has been notified by the Team-
Both Merrill Farms and Bruce sters that he does not qualifyChurch are under Teamster Un- for the union's medical plan:ion contracts, and Salinas farm "They told me if I didn't haveworkers see the two tragedies the 80 completed hours I wouldn'tas clear examples of Teamster- receive a thing."grower neglect. While farm Disability, Contreras has beenworkers on ranches under UFW told, will pay $133 every twocontract are protected by warn- weeks, making but a small denting systems on field equipment, in the family's monthly bills.neither Merrill nor Church had "lowe rent ($50), the car pay-installed such systems at the ment ($90), the payments on fur-time of the accidents. niture in Mexicali ($160) and
From his hospital bed where then there's food ($50 a week).he remains immobile with six And then for our child we havecracked ribs and a broken shoul- to buy him special food whichder, Contreras described hisac- is so expensive••••I just won'tcident: make it with what they are going
"When I went back with my to give me."boxes I didn't see the truck, Mrs. Lemus is ready to fightsince you have to carry them the neglect and disregard dem-on one side and they block your onstrated by the union and com-vision. It happened all of a sud- pany: "If we don't get justice,den. I didn't feel anything when we'll have to give them a fight"it hit me until I couldn't breathe Yet Mrs. Lemus, like Armando'sanymore. It was a terrible pain; fellow workers (see interviewsthe tire was on top of my chest. with Menill workers) is mainlyJ could hear my bones begin concerned with how to avoid such·to crack." tragedies in the future.
Contreras' mother-in-law, "I wish that my sons couldConcepcion Lemus, was working study instead of working in thein the fields when the tragic fields," pleads Mrs. Lemus.news of Armando's accident "Because they leave and youreached her: never know if they are coming
"It feels terrible, especially back. I have three sons andwhen they came to tell us about three daughters working to makeit. You can imagine, we expected a living. We are left with need.the very worst. explained Mrs. We all know why we work; notLemus. looking tired and drawn because we like it or becausefrom the ordeal. "We were work- of greed•••but because we haveing when they came tQ tell us to work."
Page 4 - July 31, 1974 - EI Malcriado
Death in the 'Lost Hills'
FARM WOR ERS KILLEDI CAMPER ACCIDENT
Wasco, Calif. - It was anearly damp Wednesday morning,July 3 at 6:00 AM, whenacamperpick-up blew a tire, packed with18 sleeping farmworkers, turnedover twice, killing three andinjuring the rest.
Dead were Alejandro Hernandez, 15, and grandson to JuanHernandez, labor contractor andowner of the truck; also RienaReyna, mother, 45, and herdaughter, Sylvia, 14, both liVingat 427 W. Ash, Shafter, Calif.
In critical condition are Maria Sanchez, 26, Ricky Hernandez, 14, and Salvador Hernandez,17. Noelia Perra Garcia, 21, anda UFW member also has vis-
I ible injuries along with threeothers still hospitalized.Th~ workers were enroute on
Highway 46, north of Bakersfield, tothe wes Hammond Ranch,according to one worker. tocleancotton (hoe weeds).
Sleeping During Crash"We were all asleep when
it happened", said Francisca Padilla, in barefeet at the hospitaland still in her working clothes.Th truck threw all of the workers on to the road. "We triedto get up but we kept fallingdown."
At the inquest held at noon,July 5, Juan Hernandez and hiswife, Marguerita, the driver ofthe truck, refused to testify uponthe advice oftheir attorney Roger
Randell. Fut Operations Specialist to the California HighwayPatrol, Charles Moore, gaveHernandez a lot to worry aboutwhen he listed the deficienciesto his '73 Ford Camper.
After the accident, Moore foundthe truck to be lacking a fireextinguisher, a first-aid kit, anemergency signal device for therear passengers, and tobe minusa sign at the entrance statingthe seating capacity.
All of the defects, said Moore,are in direct violation to theCalifornia Administrative Code,Title 13.
Moore said earlier, that onFeb. 14, 1974, he had inspectedHernandez's 1974 camper andstated that he must install thesesafety devices for the'73 camperas well. Since then,' he had onlyadded two escape-type windowsto the '73, the one in the accident.
Investigating officers examined the left rear tire closelyand found a nail imbedded 3/8~f an inch into the tread. Thetire, said Moore, was completely smooth in the center, Whilethe minimum tread for a farmlabor vehicle on the no. 2 inside groove should be 2/32 ofan inch, yet this tire had atread 1/32 of an inch deep andin some places was completelysmooth.
Moore admitted that the tiredid not actually blowout but
The rash of farm work related accidents continue in California's San Joaquin Valley as three campesinos losttheir lives near Bakersfield when this camper carrying 18 sleeping workers on their way to work blew a tire andturned over twice.
Newly remodeled -- now open(Jl!¥.:r: '"lCin'U :.'. !".In.cnez
II Portw Drive. watsonvme. California 724-
The 1973 Ford camper, belonging .to labor contractor Juan Hernandez, which carried three campesinos to theirdeaths and in;ured 15 others was later found to be in violation of several safety regulations.
gradually "went down" due tothe overweight of the truck.
At the inquest, Moore did notknow where everyone was seated,but the workers said there werefive in the front and 14 in theback. Only three persons arepermitted in the cab with a maximum of 13 people allowed inthe rear.
. Highway Patrolman DanielRamirez added in supplementaryreport that Francisca Padillawas sitting on one of the twospare tires in the back, whichis illegal since everyone shouldhave proper seating and no harmful objects be left in the back.
Hernandez is said to have abad record with the UFW, andthe Lamont office has cited his
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efforts in keeping the RobertsFarm open by supplying scablabor. At White River, last yearLupe Murguia, of the Delanooffice recalled him being thebiggest scab during that strike.
This marks the seventh farmlabor bus and truck accidentsince January IS, when 19 farmworkers perished in a mal-equipped bus in Blythe. A farm laborbus safety bill is still waitingto be passed in the CaliforniaState Legislature.
Bill AB 2975 would requirefarm labor buses to be inspectedeach year, meet the same requirements as school buses, andimplement a driver·s trainingprogram approved by the California Highway ·Patrol.
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EI Malcri.ado.~July 31, 1974 - Page 5
Angelinos Backing UFW
L.A. Boycott •In Full Swing
Walking, talking human billboard greets Los Angeles motorists who honktheir horns in support of boycott appeal.
Los Angeles, Calif. - AetivHies are reachIng a fever pitchas hundreds of Angelinos taketo the sIdewalks, parking lotsand homes to organize the United Farm Workers (UFW) boycott against grapes, lettuce andGallo wines. .
The effects of the boycott canbe seen by the difficulty facedby the gr owers in selling theboycotted products at a profit.For example, grapes are nowselling at 39~ a pound (retail)as compared to last year whenthey sold at 49-50~ a pound.
A sympathetic Teamster truckdrIver told Winnie Arballo ofthe L.A. boycott that before theboycott, there were 40 trucksmaking deliveries in the area.According to the Teamster, 40trucks were inSUfficient, but now,at least 19 trucks are idle onany given day.
Less emphasis was placed onorganizing L.A. in previous boycotts but this metropolitan areaof eight million people is nowone of the leading boycott cities.This city is strategically important to the boycott since itis number two in the U.S. ingrape, lettuce and Gallo wL'leconsumption. L.A. is located close to the California fields;far example, and lies only 130miles from the Coachella Valley. Because of this, L.A. isoften used as the "dumping ground" for the growers.
While boycotted items bringa better price in New York,nonetheless, it is less expensive for the growers to shiptheir produce to Los Angeles,thereby maintaining profits.How£'ver, that situation is beginning to change.
L.A. is a widely multinationalcity, with many people who havehad direct experiences with expt"oitatIon. As the boycott pickSup more steam, Los Angeleswill no longer be such a profitable salvation for the land barons.
The principle thrust of organizing is around "house meetings"where volunteers are recruitedto picket, leaflet and demonstrate.
The boycott org-anizing committee has recruited nearly 500part-time volunteers through theover 200 house meetings eachweek in the 65 areas of LosAngeles. These volunteers, alongwith 108 full-time organizersin L,A. and 10 in Orange, arebuilding widespread communitysupport for the boycott.
For example, in the Echo Parkcommunity (in north L.A.) recently, five picketers gatheredover 600 signatures on a petition to boycott grapes, lettuce,and Gallo. These signatures, collected in less than six hoursat one store, reflect the overall support for the boycott.
Although consumer responseto the boycott is strong, manystores stlll continue to stockthe boycotted items, even whenconfronted with petitions like theone in Echo Park. The managers' excuse for this attitudeis the Food EmploYers Council, a group of chain and somesmall stores, adamantly refusesto recognize the boycott.
While supermarkets surviveon the purchases oC the consumers, "It is clear," according to Jim Drake, L.A. boycottcoordinator, "that their positionis not supported by the consumers!'
The volunteers and organizerswork on many areas of the boycott in addition to the house andcommunity meetings. They picketbetween 75 and 100 stores onweek-ends, a long-used and successful tactic of the union. Itis mostly during the picketingthat the organizers and volunteers gather signatures for theboycott petitions.
Another popular and successful activity is "billboarding."which consists of five to tenpeople standing with large unionplacards at bUSy intersectionsand freeway Qn and off rampsencouraging people to supportthe UFW boycott.
One of the newest and exciting methods is the advertisingcampaign financed by the LosAngeles County Federation ofLabor, AFL-CIO. One hundredand forty ads were purchasedto go on the backs of RapIdTransit District (RTD) buses inthe city.
These RTD ads say "StandUp for Farm Workers - Boycott Grapes, Boycott Lettuce."With over 6% of the buses inL.A. exhorting people to "StandUp for Farm Workers", the boycott campaign should grow quickly.
The boycott has had "goodsigns of responsiveness fromthe people," says Jim Drake.Preparations are now being madeto maintain the steady growthof the L.A. boycott and by August 1, the L.A. committee plansto have at least one large community meeting each night andsooo after plans to have ofrtcial boycott committees in eachof the 65 L.A. areas.
East L.A.
Chicano Barrio Stores Drop Scab ProductsLos Angeles, Calif,...Two inde- Similar action was taken by
pendent grocery chains in East the Cal State University StudentLos Angeles no longer carry let- Board of Directors. Terrazastuce, grapes, or Gallo wines also addressed this body of theafter an intensive campaign led university and in both instancesby 31 UFW organizers concen- the vote to back the farm work-trated in this Chicano barrio. ers was unanimous.The Chains are Gateway with The growing number of volun-three stores andJ onson's at eight teers participatinr; in the boycottlocations. activities is one indication of the
The ".East Los" boycott crews surging community support inhave been instrumental in other East Los Angeles.successes like having scab The number of volunteers sky-grapes and lettuce removed from rocketed from 14 to 297 in a spanCalifornia State University Los of one month.Angeles, the largest educationalinstitution in the area. One hundred and twenty house
Conrado Terrazas made the meetings and 253 personal visitsappeal to the student body and to persons interested in the boy-faCUlty to endorse the boycott. cott occurred in one two weekHe is the son of Mauricio Ter- period. As a result of this in-raza, a member of the Team- tensive activity 29 East Los An-sters union, but who has been a geles stores removed all thelong time supporter of the UFW. grapes and Gallo wine from their
In addition to calling on "the shelves and five took off the let-(university) cafeteria to refrain tuce.from the purchase of non- UFW Weekends are a busy time forlettuce and grapes" the Academic East L.A. boycotters. HumanSenate also voted its support for billboards hit the streets FridayAssembly Bill 3370, the UFW mornings between 6 and 9 a.m.backed measure in the California and again from 3: 30 to 6: 30 inAssembly. the afternoons.
Page 6 - July 31, 1974 - E I Malcriado
Stores are leafleted Saturdaysand Sundays from 11 a. m.to 5 p. m. '
The concentration d'uring theweek is on house meetings wherethe mobiization and educationtakes place for the intensiveweekend activity when the publicat large sees the increasing support behind the UFW boycott.
Store managers and owners onthe East side are rapidly learning that it does not pay to keepgrapes, lettuce or Gallo wines onthe shelves. Some have tried tomake a "deal" with the union.
They promise to cut down theshelf space allowed for grapes ifdemonstrators would only goaway. But the boycotters replythat they-will not stop their activity until all stores in the community are clean of scab products.
The organizers meet in thebasement of La Soledad Churchwhere they meet to discuss thefruits of their labor and layplans for further intensifyingtheir effort. On the wall of theirmeeting room there is a handsewn banner reading: "Life is
like an onion: you peel it off alayer at a time••.•and sometimes you weep."
But the boycotters have verylittle time for weeping. Three ofthem are farm workers.
Bobby de la Cruz, former Galloworker whose mother, Jessica,was the first woman field workeron the union's organizing staff,is among the most active of allboycotters in East Los Angeles.Paulino Pacheco. and his Wife,Victoria, are from Santa Mariaand also very active on the boycott.
The local UFWA boycott staffis highly diversified but the strong emphasis is on people whocome from the community Inwhich they are working. Five ofthe six student organizers whoare working on the boycott thissummer are Dan Ramirez, Conrado Terrazas, Ramon Olivares,Andres Jiminez and RosanneMoldonado.
They are joined by an elementary school teacher from EastL. A., Ronnie Solarzano and bySister Lucille Martinez from
East L.A., one of six Catholicnuns on the boycott in there thissummer. The only seminarian onthe East L. A. boycott staff isRichard Estrada, also from thatcommunity.
While for many, the East L.A.boycott is work among their long
. time neighbors, others have comefrom distant places to join them.Sister Bernice Snell from Portland, Oregon is one who has travelled far to the barrio boycottand so has Larry Black from St.Louis.
Outside of the rectory of thechurch where the boycotters meetdaily there is a large sign attached to the wire fence. It is oneof those printed by the L.A. County Federation of Labor, AFLCIO, which calls on the publicto boycott grapes and lettuce.
One out of every eight bussesin the Los Angeles area carriesone of them on its rear. JimDr.ake, L.A. boycott director,said that about 80 percent of allpeople asked said that they hadseen the labor message endorsing the grape and lettuce boycotts.
"Strikes and the boycott are the Union's front line of defense."- Cesar Chavez, June. 1974
Boycott Takes to the Air... Two New BoycottOHices Open. .. Gallo Sales Drop in Denver
International Boycott Days toCommemorate Delano Strike
The second part of the programinvolves visiting fruit marketsand convincing them not to carryCalifornia grapes this summer.The Italian Pastoral Commission. an organization of over100priests, is helping to carry outthe visits to the small stores.
Contreras said several othercommittees are assisting, whichinclude leaders of communitygroups and union business representatives of Italian background.These representatives are fromunions including the Steel Workers, Laborers, Garment Work·ers and Retail Union.
At this point, there are sixboycott committees: San Francisco, the Mid-Peninsula/.)antaClara County, Hayward, oakland/North Alameda County, SanJose,and Marin County.
Each boycott area has formed"Guerilla Squads" which picketstores, pass out leaflets andput up posters. The squads alsodistribute bumper stickers ata surprising rate. the ,most popular one among oakland residents being the "Nixon EatsGrapes" sticker.
In addition to community andstudent organizing, the committees have been doing work withorganized labor. For example,a new group, the Alameda County Trade Union Committee toSupport the Farm Workers hasdonated over $1,000 to the cause.
One immediate goal of theSan Francisco Boycott is to gainboycott endorsement from thatcounty's Board of Supervisorswith the vote coming before theBoard on July 29th. In addition,a media campaign, through radio or advertisements is beingset up.
On August 3, the oakland Boycott will hold a mass demonstration and rally to coincidewith the beginning of the Delano strike and on the 10th willbe a mass picket of all Lucky's.Fry's, and Safeway stores inthe East Bay.
First is using mass leafletingto get the word of the boycott into'the Italian speaking communityand also spreading the wordthrough the media. Several television and radio programs havebeen aired and Italian languagenewspapers have run articlestelling the story ofthe farm workers.
oakland, Calif. - Enthusiasmfor the boycott against grapes,lettuce and Gallo wines in theSan Francisco Bay Area is beginning to resemble the militant spirit of the boycott of the1960's.
Bay Area residents, long-timesupporters of unions and progressive politics, are now rejoining the ~truggle of the United Farm Workers of America,AFL-CIO (UFW) in its fight forthe rights of farm workers.
Picket lines at the stores inthe Bay Area are attracting increasing numbers of volunteerswho join the 65 full-time organizers each week-end at over50 supermarkets.
As is the case in many cities,the Bay Area boycott committees use the house meetings asa main way of recruiting volunteers. In the oakland/AlamedaCounty area, for example, atleast 17 house meetings are heldper week. Through these meetings, and other tactics, "we arehoping to form many more boycott committees here." saysFred Ross, Jr., coordinator ofthe Bay Area Boycott.
At these house meetings theboycott organizers explain thehistory of the agricultural movement, the histery of the UFWand talk about the present situation. A great many people volunteer for picket duty and contribute money at the meetings.
AKR&, Ohi~Thirtymembers Although the press generallyof the Akron UFW boycott staff ignored the demonstration, thepicketed a Republican fund rais- ~BC affiliate television station ining dinner, attended by California Cleveland did run a 30-secondGQvernor Ronald Reagan. spot picking up on a "Heagan is
After Reagan arrived the dem- Grapist" picket sign.onstrators chanted and sang union Three hundred people attendedsongs unW told by Akron police the June fund raiser, at the Akronto quiet down or face arrest for Holiday Inn, paying $125 a piecedisturbing the peace. to get in.
EI Malcriado.:.. July 31, 1974 - Page 7
TORONTO, Canada-fiNo comprate la uva degli California"(Dontt buy grapes from California) is the rallying cry beingheard in this city's huge ItalianCommunity known as "LittleItaly," which is'the third largestgrape market in North America.
Over 450,000 Italians maketheir home in the concentrateddowntown district. the largest Italian population found in any cityoutside of Italy.
The Toronto boycott staff, ledby Marshall Ganz, a member ofthe UFW executive board, is embarking on a campaign directedprimarily at the small fruitstands that line the streets of"Little Italy."
Toronto Focuses on "Little Italy"
Akron U FW ProtestsReagan Appearance
Reminiscent of '60s
Resurgence ofBay Area Boycott
Miguel Contreras and EdwardoMorales, two strikers from California, assigned to coordinatethe boycott in the area. said thereare 'two phases In the campaign.
cott rejecllng the efforts of aSeattle based representativefrom the wine,'y who was ,-,e!ltto change their position.
a crucial period for the growers.
On the 14th. demonstrationsare ·te be held in all the boycott cities, while on the 15th,the work will be concentratedaround the churches. The unionanticipates many endorsementsof the boycott to be made duringservices by the churches.
In addition to the U.S. andCanada, demonstrations will beheld in Europe, Japan and LatinAmerica.
For further information, seethe next issue ofEL MALCRIADOor call your local boycott office.
read statements about the boycott to the congregations andsome priests incorporated thefarm worker issue into theirsermons. Articles have also appeared in church bulletins.
Denver Boycott Director Richard Longoria boosted the boycottefforts when he visited the stateand appeared on all three Albuquerque television stations.
The Central Labor Council ofAlbuquerque will set up a liason committee to work withthe UFW office. The committeeis sending letters to Albuquerquelocals, will pass out leafletsat factories, and will organizefund raising activities.
Los Padres, a, group of Chicano priests, has set up a committee to help coordinate supportactivities at local parishes, andto distribute leaflets nationwide.
gainst the Teamster-grower alliance.
Pro-UFW delegates campaigned for the resolution by beginning at the precinct level, thencanvassing at the district conventions. and finally arriving atthe state convention. Strong support for the farmworkers wasevident at every level, from regular party members to stUdents.clergy, and labor delegates.
The UFW Iowa Support Committee, recently formed, is currently working to generate publicity for the boycotts as wellas coordinating action programsthroughout the state.
olic Diocese of Denver, the Colorado Council of Churches, andthe local Democratic Party eontlnue to support the Gallo boy-
The Democratic party's endorsement of the boycott willgive great impetus in the effortto publicize the UFW fight a-
More than 3,000 delegates atthe Iowa State Democratic PartyConvention adopted a resolutionsupporting the United FarmWorkers of America. AFL-CIO.
The Democrats went (In recordas II supporting the farmworker'sright to choose their own union"and urged all citizens to boycottnon- UFW iceberg lettuce and table grapes, and Gallo and Franzia wines.
La Paz, Cali!. - The Boardof Directors of the United FarmWorkers of America, AFL-CIOrecently announced two international days of protest on September 14 and 15 to coincidewith the ninth anniversary ofthe Delano grape strike.
The International Grape andLettuce Boycott Days will befilled with massive demonstrations all over the world andwill draw attention to the stillstruggling UFW.
The boycott days will be heldto coincide with the peak ofthe grape shipments, which is
Church IIColiection"Boosts N .M. Boycott
Albuquerque, N.M. - The Catholic leadership of New Mexicohas strongly endorsed the UFWboycott and recently instituteda special "Second Collection"to raIse money for the union.
The new and outgoing bishopsof Santa Fe, Robert Sanchez andJames Peter Diaz respectively,were joined by Neal Gonzalez(executive secretary- treasurerof the state AFL-CIO) and LouisMontenegro (president of theAmerican Federation of Government Employees local in Albuquerque) at a press conferenceannouncing their support. ,
The "Second Collection," covering most churches in the state,had raised $4,000 in 21 of the89 churches which had reportedat press time.
Most parishes participated inthe collection and many priests
Iowa DemocratsPledge UFW Support
A series of 30 and 60 second "Boycolt Gallo" radio commercials has been prepared bythe Public Media Center of SanFrancisco. The tapes, distributedby the UFW, are now being airedby radio stations across the country.
The boycott commercials wereaired last year for the firsttime•••,.
Two new ~oycott offices areoperating, one in Salt Lake Cityand the ot.her in Honolulu. DavidAlcott is coordinator in Hawaiiand Betty Ortiz in Salt Lake.....
Organizing in the predominanlly Chicano area of East LosAngeles has taken a differentturn from many other cities.The 28 organizers in the Barrios each have the responsibility of organizing in an areacovered by three parishes.•.•.
Mayor David Crombie recently proclaimed a "Farm Workers Week" in Toronto in "support of the fann workers intheir struggle to obtain legitJimate contracts with growersin California." The Labor Council of Metropolltan Toronto firstapproached city officials withthe idea••",
In Baltimore. three chainscomprising 85 stores have agreednot to sell any more scab products and the latest UFW movieon the strikes in Coachella andKern County has aired over alocal T.V. station.•••.
Pauline Cormier, now on thePittsburg boycott staff, recentlywon a $450 law suit againstthe Kearny, New Jersey policefor false arrest. She was chargedfor not car ryi'1g identificationand disturbing the peace as shepicketed a Shop-Ri~e store. Shewon an acquittal later •••..
Gallo wine sals!> are downa third since the .beginning ofthe year In Denver.on. The Cath-
Dixie BoycottChalking Up
VictoriesAtlanta, Georgia - The UFW
continues to win victories in theSouth as two more store chainshave quit selling non· union grapes.
Big Apple with 54 stores andColonial stores with 70 marketshave now cleared their Shelves ofthe scab grapes. In addition, twohundred stores in the Mississippi-Georgia area are now coperating with the boycott.
This follows the June announcement that two large chains,Mr. Quick and Sunflawer. agreedto stop selling non-union grapesand lettuce in 150 stQres in Arkansas,' Alabama, Mississippi,and Louisiana.
NEGLIGENCE CITED IN FARM WORKER'S DEATH
Page 8 - July 31, 1974 - EI Malcriado
mic necessity so that the familycan survive.
Pozzi continues by saying thatthe children are used as a sourceof cheap labor by the growers andare paid as little as one dollar anhour. He adds that the childrenare not really needed for the harvest since there is an adequatesupply of adult workers who needand can do the work.
The Chicano organizations,Pozzi represents, are filing'f friends of the court" petitionsin attempt to speed up legal procedures "so the growers cannotcontinue to use the children When,at last, we have a law against it."
ened to file contempt chargesagainst members of the Boardfor failure to comply with federal court orders requiring improvement of jails. Albu alsodemanded suspension of thosesheriffs who were present andallowed Rodriguez to die.
The district attorney responded by saying that he had requested the State Attorney General to conduct a crimInal investigation that would lead toindictments of those responsible.
Dan Boone, UFW lawyer, insisted that the Attorney General's investigation would only b-ea minimal step and called foran outside investigation of theentire sherifrs department.
Cesar Enriquez of Casa deAmistad in Brawley, California,is organizing community supportdemanding the firing of the officers responsible for the death.
There will be an inquest onRodrIquez's death onJuly 8,1974,at El Centro. The community isasking all interested persons toc orne and demonstrate and pIcketthe courthouse.
have both tabled their suits,"says Lavery.
From a February 6th interview with the parents of someof the children, Lavery discovered that Daleridge Farms wasusing their labor between Julyand October of '73. Daleridgehas orchards spread throughoutthe Shafter area. including LostHills and Wasco, in the SanJoaquin Valley.
The interview disclosed that100 youths were living in a condemned house, provided by theAlamos, that had only one toilet,one table, and no heating for the time during February.
All of them were eating foodthrown out of markets such asGrand Central Market, in downtown L.A. and many of the children were suffering from intestinal disorders.
Lavery suggested since no oneis filing any suits so far, it isimportant to let the public knowabout the Alamos, by exposingthem in as many newspapersas possible.
since there had been no debateand now suddenly find themselveswithout a large portion of theirlabor force.
One spokesman for the growersaId many of the young workerswho often start as early as agesix.- were encouraged by their families to work as "a lark and pickup a few extra dollars in the summer."
But Frank POZZi, an attorneyfor several chicano organizationsin Portland, says such contentions are "basically nonsense"explaining that most of the children are forced to work byecono-
More than 25 long-haired angloboys, 16-18 yrs. old, were seenfor two days scurrying up anddown rows of plum trees, usingpales to gather the fruit.
"I could not believe it," saidEster Gutierrez. "The boys haddust and sweat all over themselves and by 3:30 PM,-, theywere still running, singing, andsaying 'praise the lord' at thesame time."
One campesino called out,"Hey, brother'"
"I'm not your brother," onefired back. "I'm not even fromyour religion."
"You guys are crazy," shoutedanother huelgista. "You're working for the wrong guy." Totallyastonished, they all stoppedworking and called the farmworker a devil.
A.C.L.U. attorney, Dan Lavery, said that no one has filed asuit against the foundation. "TheL os Angeles District Attorneyand Baxter Ward, of the L.A...County Board of Supervisors,
Rodriguez died five days after_being arrested. The autopsy report says that he died of pulmonary and cerebral edema.
The circumstances of thisdeath were brought to the attention of UFW legal representatives by Union melon strikerswho had been in jail with Rodriguez, for violation of picketing injunctions.. The Union, then carried out
an investigation with the aid ofRon Albu, an attorney from California Indian Legal Service (CILS), who has been working on a suit attacking jail conditions in Imperial County.
What they found in their investigation is a gruesome storyof criminal neglect and viciousness on the part of the ImperialValley Sheriffs.
Rodriguez' family aSked theUni.on to contact attorneys AnnieGutierrez of El Centro ann Albert Moreno of San Diego whoare currently working together.to bring wrongful death actionagainst the sherifrs department.
At a Board of Supervisorsmeeting last month, Albu threat-
Portland, Oregon,.Strawberrygrowers, in Washingt9n and Oregon have blocked the enforcementof a federal law prohibiting employment of children under 12years of age in agriculture.
They also complained that theyhad not been aware of the law
The growers have obtained atemporary restraining order, ina federal court in Portland, against the law' claiming that ifthe law is enforced they will facea loss of millons of dollars without the labor of children undertwelve.
other 'prisoners noticed Rodriguez was unable to eat whilein the cell and they informeda guard but he replied, "lethim starve." Rodriguez was notgiven any meals after that.
The water in his cell wasshut off and he was forced todrink out of the toilet, whichwas full of excrement since itwouid not flush. He was cov·ered with his own waste fortwo days, because he could notcontrol himself.
Prisoners who passed by Rodriguez's cell daily, repeatedlytold the guards that he was verysick, but the guards only laughed it off and one was heardsaying, "1 hope he dies. II
A doctor never visIted Rodriguez and the only medicationhe ever received was from anurse, two days after he became seriously ill.
Rodriguez often tried to stand,but would fall, knocking himselfagainst the toilet and walls. Thecoroner's report shows severebruising of both legs and abrasions in,the facial area.
In San Joaguin Valley
'Jesus' Children Scabbing At Giumarra
Oregon Growers BlockAnti Child Labor Law
ArVin, Calif.--UFW officialsreported on June 11 that picketers had found more than 25Jesus children .. scabbing" inthe Giumarra Farms plum orchards south of Bakersfield.
When one picketer asked abouta suspected church foundation,one J "'s"" youth replied, "'I onlyknow Tony and Sue."
That meant Tony and SusanAlamo of the Alamo ChristianFoundation, most reputable fortheir Saturday night church program on television, but are alsorecognized by the UFW for breaking farm worker strikes.
The People's World, a WestCoast weekly, revealed onFeb. 23 that the foundation hasbeen soaking up enormous profits by organiZing scab labor inthe Bakersfield area, throughthe use of their own labor contractor, Rod Sweat.
The Alamos usually take allof the money earned by theselost children and pay them onlya dollar per day.
suffering from hallucinations,trembling and was too weak tostand.
He was thrown into a bare,dirty cell without bed, mattressor blankets but accordingto Captain Frank Fulmer, chief administrator of the jail, Rodriguezwas placed in the cell for medical observation.
gone out on strike many timeswith Chavez. in Bakersfield, Lamont, Firebaugh, Mendota, andSalinas, and I have gone to jailwith him.
"The trip is that when weare together, we earn a living.We know that the strike is tounite our people. We are allequaL I like to make money.to buy cars and trucks; but theimportant thing is to live welLIf there is something t can dofor my people, I will do it.
"When the union of Chavezcalls me, I come. When we aretogether, thousands of us, weare victorious. We should allwork for one another, always.Arriba Chavez!"
Calexico, Calif. - Rafael Garcia Rodriguez, a farm workerfrom Heber, California, died acruel and brutal death a monthago, in the Imperial County Jail,when ·county sheriffs denied himmedical ca,re.
Rodriguez was arrested onJune 13, and days later he was
"Meloneros" SwimCanal, Join Strikers
Roberto Tafoya ioins UFW Calexico strikers after leaving D'Arrigo cantaloupe farm by swimming a canal.
Eighty Huelguistas. arrivedearly one morning, at the D'Arrigo cantouloupe fields east ofCalexico, during the melon strikein Imperial Valley last month.No sooner had a picket linebeen set up when four meloneros left the fields, jumped intoan irrigation canal, separatingthe pickets from the workers,and swam across to join thestrikers.
Getting out of the canal, Roberto Tafoya stood in his wetclothes and said:
"Everyone has his own problems. and everyone solves themin his own way. I will not letthe growers rob me. I have
Four meloneros, in ott, swam canal July 27 during an Imperial Vatteystrike. Front: Elias Rodriguez (L.), and Ruben Saabedra (R.). Rear:Alfredo Celayo (L.), and Roberto Tafoya (R.).
CONGRESSIONAL PROBE EXPOSESCORRUPTION IN IMMIGRATION SERVICE
This outdoor labor camp in California's Fresno County is one of many temporary "homes" for the large numberof "illegal" aliens used to break strikes in the San Joaquin Valley. The major reason the problem with the alienscontinues is due to the neglect of the Immigration Service, whose corruption has been documented in OperationClean Sweep, an investigation done by the U.S. Dept. of Justice.
EI Malcriado - July 31, 1974 - Page 9
aliens will be deported this summer.
Economic conditions in Mexico is one facror p'Jshing peoplenorth in sear,~h of employment.As one "illegal" alien put it,"I cannot get work in Mexico,the gringos are mechanizing andgetting everything."
Border Patrol neglect wasclea.rly in evidence in Oxnard,Callf., last month where hundreds of strawberry pickers wenton strike. Border Patrol officers demanded documents fromthe striker~ but let the scabsgo without any question.
There is a lot of money, favors, and corruption invo~ving
INS officials and Border patrolmen. At the same time, growers are taking advantage of alarge, cheap, and unorganizedlabor pool of "illegal" workerswho are allowed entry to theU.S. largely because of INS neglect.
There is a profit in a business which exploits "illegals";and the "illegals" are a business commodity which bringsprofits in various ways to governmental officials, politicians,and corporart'! oW:Jers.
tice Department, claimed thatthere was no cover up but thatthe evidence was still being reviewed by government prosecutors.
Cesar Chav~'l and the UnitedFarm Workers (UFW) union havelong called for a thorough investigatiolt' of the INS's BorderPatrol and its activities in relation to the illegal importationof aliens as wt?ll 1<; its neglectin enforcing immigration laws.For years it has been known thattop officers in INS have coveredfor each other, squelching investigations and keeping scandalsquiet.
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Viva el Boycott Let's get it on
The UFW has long maintainedthat undocumented workers are,used as strikebreakers, as wellas adding t~ the unemploymentproblem in the nation.
Chavez has charged that asmany as two thirds of all California farm workers are "lllegals". ,In east Fresno Countyalone, close to 3,500 undocumented workers are believed residing there.
In April 1650 aliens were apprehended in California's SanJ oa~ui;} Valley and the BorderPatrol estimates that 250,000
ily of the Mafia, according tothe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He is also thenephew of the late "Tough Tony" Anastasia, one time Mafiaboss of the Brooklyn docks.
The Washington Monthly, inApril 1973, wrote, "The formerINS director, Ray Farrell, wasa crony of Rooney, accompanying him on junkets so frequentlythat some INS officials referredto him as 'Rooney's baggageboy'." "Rooney's idea of a toughappropriations hearing consistsof an exchange of pleasantriesand a few cursory questions."
"R ooney has intervened in several deportation and visa cases.His intervention in these cases is.so effective that it is believedthey are one of his most profitable vote getting activities."
Jus~(e Dept Cover UpThe Justice Department's in
vestigation had wound down bySeptember 1973 and charges ofa 'Natergate-type cover up beganpopping up.
Recently, \Villiam Lawrence,council to a government subcommittee investigating the INS,charged the Justice Departmentwith white washing the corruptioncommitted by INS in the southwest. Lawrence stated, n AfterliVing with this investigation fornearly 15 months, I have concluded the Justice Departmenthas swept under the rug evidence of illegalities on the partof high level immigration people in the southw~5t."
Well placed New York Timessources state that more than20 cases of potential criminalprosecutions of regional officialsin the southwest, as well astwo at high levels, were abandoned.
However, Alfred Hantmansurveying attorney for the Jus-
engage in wholesale importationof persons not legally eligibleto enter this country.
"For years," one agent said,"the top guys in the Southwestand the ones frpm Washington,when they are in the vicinity,have participated in sexual misconduct from one end of thisborder to t'he other."
He said the files of " Operation Clean Sweep" were filledwith documented cases of immigration officials who exchanged entry documents for the sexual favors of Mexican women forthemselves and their friends.
The agent said the files showedthat the same officials repeatedlyused their connections in Mexico to obtain women for visitors "from Congress and otheragencies of the government withauthority over immigration matters.
For example, a former assistant attorney general was entertained at a Mexican houseof prostitution through effortsof immigration officers, investigators said.
Reports indicate that immigration officers routinely beat Mexicans, often with leaded gloves,if the Mexicans refuse to bebossed around or do not answerthe questions of the officers.
The list goes on and on ofofficers accused and convictedof smuggling, document falsification, etc. A former investigator for "Clean Sweep" stated, " My gut feeling is thatcrookedness was rampant...in fact, we felt from day onethat Castro was just at the bottom of a tier system of corruption, just the ground leveL"
Corruption at TopThose indicted, however, have
been relatively minor officers,men in charge of offices, inspectors, etc., but corruption in theINS is believed to reach thehighest levels of the administration.
President Nixon qUietlyaccepted the resignation of Ray Farrell, INS director for 31 years,shortly after members of theINS civil service unions threatened to blow the case wide openif he did not investigate theim migration service.
It is believed that Farrell'sresignation will not provide thechanges needed to clean up theINS. Ed Loughran, INS deputydirector and the suspected truepower in the agency, is stayingon.
Congressional neglect of theINS has added to its long history of corruption. The Senate'sJudiciary Committee specialsubcommittee on immigrationfailed to hold full hearings onINS for almost ten years.
Congress relies mainly onCongressman J ohnRooney of NewYork, chair man of the houseappropriations sub-committee incharge of Justice Departmentfunding. Sorne INS investigatorssuspect that Rooney may haveplayed a role in the questionable naturalization of AnthonyAnastasia.
Anastasia is reported to bea "soldier" in the Gambino fam-
Washington, D.C. - The Department of Justice, in an investigation called "OperationClean Sweep," has amassed evidence of prostitution, bribery,narcotics violations, slavery,conspiracy to murder and othercharges against the Immigrationand Naturalization Service (INS)operating in the southwest.
The evidence of corruptionagainst U.S. immigration officials, compiled during the 1Iimonth long investigaiion by thEdepartment which ended lastSeptember, was heard during a closed sl?ssion GongressionaJ probein .June.
The .Justice Department hanbeen strongly criticized for iailing to take action on evidenceof criminal conduct on the part
. oi a number of immigration cfficials.
Examples of CorruptionTwo examples of corruption
by border patrolmen brought attention to the operations of theINS and led to the investigation.
In early 1972 Frank Paul Castro, a border inspector at theTijuana border crossing was convicted of accepting $250,000 fordelivering border crossing cardsto be used by illegal aliens.His wife, Nena, was convictedof conspiracy and perjury.
Joseph M. Byre and WalterW. O'Donnel, two border inspectors at the Tijuana station, wereaccused of accepting $t'(),010 inbribes for allowing 24 tons ofmarijuana into the states in thefall of 1972.
Another border inspector, LeI' oy Iddlespurger, was chargedwith offering to hire people to"bump off" witnesses who wouldtestify against Byrnes and O'ConnelL He pleaded guilty to obstructing a court order and wasgranted probation.
Federal investigative agents,in a New York Times article,said that members of the Border Patrol, the enforcement armof the I S, operate their ownbracero programs, supplying"illegal" Mexican labor to bigranchers in return for huntingpriVileges, cash payments, andother rewards.
Patrol Aides Ran(hersA federal investigator. for ex
a mple, described one "illegal"alien racket:
"rt was time for one of thebig Texas ranchers to harvesta crop. He hired a crew ofillegal aliens, and notified thechief of that particular BorderPatrol sector of his action. Thechief patrol agent saw to it thatthe ranch was not raided duringthe harvest."
"When the crop was in, therancher notified the sector chief,and before the Mexicans werepaid, the patrol arrested themand sent them back across theborder!'
"The rancher got his cropout of the field, the chief patrolagent got year round huntingrights on the ranches, and theMexicans were introduced to slavery and deportation."
Federal agents have statedsome immigration officers cooperate with organizations which
,
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!
brothers and others in the "Right farmworkers union will be aTo Work" states so that Section long, drawn-out fight involving14(b) of Taft-Hartley finally gets more $100,000 a month expendirepealed? tures, more wasted energy, more
Has Fitzsimmons used his po- of the Fitzsimmons - Nixonlitical clout to change the com- romance, and more national laborposition and decisions of the trOUbles.National Labor Relations Board When we raid Chavez we auwhich are murdering our local tomatically place our canneries,unions throughout this nation with packing sheds and warehousesanti-labor ruling after anti-labor on the West coast in seriousruling? jeopardy of being raided. We
Has Fitzsimmons used his po- all know that the United Farmlitical clout to protest the ram- Workers is going to fight forpant inflation that is wiping away its own self-preservation.every members' real standard In light of all these facts,of living? Teamsters For A More Effec-
Why did not Fitzsimmons use tive Union urges Fitzsimmonshis political clout to assist the· to terminate his present courseindependent truck drivers during on action and let the farmworkersthe gas shortage instead of shaft- vote. If we lose, let's get outing them? Our relations with of the farms and back to thethe independents could have im- road of organizing the unorgan-proved and our membership rolls ized. .increased. The longer this battle endures,
The answer to all the above the longer our members willquestions is that "Fitz" has suffer from IBT inaction on thedone nothing. On the contrary, more important .issues. Let'sFitzsimmons has decided to de- get on with the urgent businessvote his energy and spend over of strengthening oilr union.$100 000 a month to annihilate We thank you for reading ourthe 'United Farm Workers in- views and apologize for not idenstead of taking care of the vital tifying ourselves individually. Wepolitical and economic issues do not like to write anonymousthat directly affect our mem- letters and we know you do notbel'S. like to receive them. However,
Has not Fitzsimmons conspir- we all have families to supported with the growers to destroy and we hope you will understandChavez, a man he calls an "im- our predicament.practical visionary"?
Teamsters For A. More Ef- In Solidarity and Brotherhood,fective Union believes that the Teamsters For A More Effeconly result of our raid of the tive Union
hundred times; there is a bill as much as I hate to comebefore the California Legislature back to Salinas, I'm afraid we'llwhich will provide for elections. have to be back. again. ThanksBoth the Teamsters and the grow- for the invitation. Keep up theers are opposing this bill. So, good work, we're all with you."
the boycott of lettuce and grapesuntil such time as free elections are held.
"You have offered free elections, Cesar said, more than a
To All Teamster Affiliates
eomster Ronk-n-File Group
Adopts Pro-UFW'Stond
Dear Brothers and Sisters:Teamsters For A More Ef
fective Union, a group composedof IBT rank and filers and localofficials, can not understand whyour union is trying to destroyCesar Chavez and the UnitedFarm Workers.
We are loyal Teamster members and are speaking out againstpresent IBT policy because ourInternational is on the wrongroute.
As union leaders, ~e have allraided other unions at one timeor another in order to give workers a real choice as to whichunion they want to representthem.
But in the fields of Californiaour union is not involved in araid of a trucking firm, factory,or warehouse. Instead, our International is involved in thedestruction of another entire International Union which had amembership of approximately60,000 farmworkers prior to ourunion- busting activities.
Since when is there any kindof moral or trade union justification for demolishing an entire International Union?
We all know that over thepast few years President Fitzsimmons has been playing buddybuddy with President Nixon. Yetwhere has this political romancetaken our union?
Has Fitzsimmons used his political clout to help our southern
Monsignor George Higgins addresses the ra/ly of Salinas lettuce workers at Alisal High School. Cesar Chavez,in the background, joins in applauding the forthright priest.
Catholic Clergy Leader Assai $
Teamster Double-CrossThe priest who Cesar Chavez
introduced in Salinas ·on July 11as "a man who knows moreabout the labor movement thanmost labor leaders" and whowas instrumental in negotiatinggrape and lettuce contracts•••
"The first time I was in Salinas was in Aug. 1970 whenthe trouble with the Teamstersstarted. I was here for fiveweeks to try and negotiate asettlement as an outside mediator with the Teamsters.
"At that time we thought thesituation was settled once andfor all; the Teamsters agreedin the middle of the night toget out of the fields and stayout and give the jurisdiction backto where it belongs - with theUnited Farm Workers. We wenthome thinking everything wasin good order from then on.
"Four years later the struggle still goes on. My only message tonight to the Teamstersis live up to the words theygave us in August of 1970 toget out of the fields and stayout.
"I know from experience thatyou could guess without my telling you that the Teamsters arevery unhappy about the fact thatpeople like these religious superiors are here tonight; veryunhappy about the support ofreligious groups.
"All I can say to the Teamsters is that the onll way theycan relieve their unhappinessis to get out and then we'lllove them just the way we loveall other unions.
"The Teamsters are makinga desperate effort to create thefalse impression thronghout theUnited States (and they·re making a special effort amongst theclergy of the United States) thatthis is a typical jurisdictionaldispute and that it is the kindon confusion that the clergy hasno business in getting involved.
"(f it were a jurisdictionaldispute I would never under anycircumstances spend two minutes getting involved in it I don't think it is the I'ole ofthe clergy to get involved inordinary jurisdictional disputesbetween two unions, the kindof dispute that goes on all thetime. This is nol a jurisdictionaldispute!
"This is a straight collusivesteal of your contracts.
"The Teamsters can cry allthey want; they can make desperate efforts to persuade thepilblic that we're getting involvedin an area which we have no rightto be involved in, but they'renot going to succeed. We're going to stay in it until the FarmWorkers get their jurisdictionback.
"I ought to report that whilethere may be an occasional difference of opinion in the Catholic community, the overwhelming majority of the AmericanBishops are supporting thisstruggle. I represent them frommy office in Washington. I amhere speaking for the NationalConference of Catholic Bishops.We stand in support of the resolution that was adopted lastNovember which was to support
sleazy attempt on your part toc pitalize on the hard fight wagedby Cesar Chavez to help a groupo' workers who have been mercilessly exploited for years.
I believe that your actions ina tempting to steal members andcDntracts from the UFW is a travesty of organiZed labor and personally would not discount thetheory that you may have movedin at the suggestion of the growers.
The Bee also noted that "TheT61msters traditionally honortht picket lines of other unions."Y011' union has never honoredthE picket lines of either theSwJchmen's Union of NorthAlJerica nor the United Transportation Uilion in any of thestrikes conducted in Roseville,California. I understand that someindIVidual members of your unionnearly lost their jobs becausethe} individually honored ourpidet lines against your orders.
YJur effrontery in threateningothEr labor leaders shows an unmit~ated gall and your actionsin tie California grape and lettuce fields are an unfortunatebliglt on the entire labor movemenlJ. Frank Young
UTU Leader Assai s FitzsimmonsFrom: J. Frank Young, LocalChairman Roseville Switchmen'sLocal UTU 1570, Roseville Calif.To: May 29, 1974Mr. F.F. Fifzsimmons, Pres.Teamsters Union25 Louisiana AvenueWashington, D. C. 20001Dear Sir:
I read in the April 17th edition of the Sacramento Bee thatyou had taken the "unusual stepof writing the leaders olall AFLCIO affiliated unions to warn thatparticipation in the boycott(UFW's nationwide boycott ofCalifornia grapes and lettuce) wouldresult in an end of all future cooperation by the Teamsters."
At the morning and eveningsession of our regular May meeting attending members voted unanimously for me to write youthis letter with copies to ourgeneral Chairman, Internationalpresident, Ces:u Chavez and theSacramento Bee. A consensus ofmembers not attendl~lg the MayMeeting also showed full agree-ment with the motion•.
I don't recall any attempts byyour union to organize the California farm workers prior totheir organi zation under the leadership of Cesar Chavez. Youractions now, indicate to me a
How "i/legals" get exploited ...An undocumented farm workerended up with only 22% of hisgross woges and this does notinclude any deductions for federaland state income tax. The laborcontractor charging room andboard (borde) picked up nearlyhalf the pay check while thecoyote took home another $20.
SI SE PUEDE! VIVA LA CAUSA!-The New Editors
union in the U.S., and have manipulated the courts and districtattorneys in obtaining unconstitutional court injunctions. And now,as "Operation Cleansweep" has revealed, these "lords" havebribed the U.s. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) inorder to bring in thousands of "illegal" Mexican nationals totry and break the back of the UFW.
Aliens Should be Given RightsThe United Farm Workers of America is firmly opposed to
the practice of bringing in "illegal" Mexicanos for cheap laborand to be used as strikebreakers.
The UFW believes that any Mexicano or worker from any othercountry has the right to immigrate to the U.s. to se~k a betterlife for himself and for his family. But, at the same time, allimmigrant workers must also be allowed full democratic andcivil rights as granted by the constitution, including the rightto collective bargaining.
Similarly, in true solidarity of working people, the United FarmWorkers of America firmly stands opposed to the practice ofworkers crossing an international boundary to break a strikein another cottntry.
The monopolists, unfortunately, have used Mexicano nationalsand other immigrants as a reserve army of labor to impede unionization in the Southwestern United States ann to trold down wagesand fatten profits.
Border Patrol Helps GrowersCesar Chavez and the UFW believe that Mexicanos should be
allowed to immigrate to this country provided they are grantedfull rights and guarantees. But, by the same token, the UFW isstrongly opposed to President Luis Echeverria reinstituting themuch hated Bracero program to alleviate the inequities of Mexican society by exporting poverty and making farm workers payfor it. I
There are those who decry the position of the UFW. But thesepeople are unclear about the union's position, nor have they struggled for a decade to build a union, only to see it attacked by police, by the courts, by Teamster goon squads and, finally, bystrikebreakers from another country.
The position of the United Farm Workers of America is undaunted - the "illegals" must either be granted full democraticrights, including the right to join a union of their own choosing.or they must go. Thus, for the sake of farm workers and forthe future of their children, the UFW takes an unequivocal standagainst the use of "illegals" to impede unionization in the agricultural fields of the Southwest.
This issue of FL MALCRIADO represents a renewed effort by theUnited Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO to publish a newspaperthat truly exposes the misery and exploitation of this country's farmworkers and that can simutaneously build the unity of the labor movement.
The new staff has high goals to achieve in the next year, but it isconfident that it can produce a farm labor newspaper the likes ofwhich have not been seen in the country's labor history.
EL MALCRIADO has a new editor, Carlos R. Calderon, who hasbeen active in the Chicano Movement since 1968 and who brings considex;able journalism experience with him. In addition, the new staffhas been able to recruit some of the top talent from the Chicano andprogressive Movements.
Our tasks are very much cut out for us and we will need the assistance and advice of all progressive peoples, if we are to gain justiceand a decent life for farm workers and all working people.
We hope to publish a bi- monthly newspaper (twice a month) by nolater than November and a weekly by no later than January 1975.
Privileged Sedor Attacks UFWNow, such a union exists. And it is the United Farm Workers
of America, AFL-CIO (UFW) which has fought for over a decadeto gain basic rights that farm workers should have had a hundred years ago.
But this union is now under attack from the most powerfulagrib~siness cartels that the world has ever seen. It is underattack from the same companies that also exploit campesinosin Mexico.
The growers unscrupulous men such as Salvador Giumarra,Hollis F oberts ' anrt Ernest Gallo, are part of a privileged sectorof society that will resort to the most brutal measures to maintain their high positions and their vast riches.
The priVileged "lords" have brought in police and sheriffsto beat up UFW members, have signed sweetheart contracts withthe International BrotherhoBd of Teamsters, the most corrupt
The abuse of "illegal" Mexican farm workers stands as oneof the most vicious forms of exploitation that has ever been practiced by this country's agri-business cart.els. It is a practicethat must be stopped immediately,
The United states agricultural barons have had a history ofimporting impoverished workers from other countries, reapingtremendous profits, and then kicking thf' workers out when theyare through with them, like so much trash.
The monopolists have brought in Chinese, Japanese and Filipino farm workers and now, Mexicanos. These poor and exploited people, of course, often have no choice but to immigratein the hopes of alleviating the hunger that has accompanied thefeFeign occupation of their respective countries.
The situation for these immigrants was made even worse bythe very fact that agricultural unions have not existed to protect them.
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is oneof the most corrupt and unscrupulous branches of governmentand is superceded only by the scandalous-ridden Nixon administration.
The INS, a weapon in the growers' arsenal against farm workers,has been breaking UFW strikes for years by supplying cheaplabor and SUbjecting Mexicanos to extreme exploitation.
The INS, however, has been caught with its pants down by "operation Cleansweep," a congressional probe into the immigrationservice, which has revealed widespread corruption from top tobottom.
"Cleansweep," for example, has revealed that the INS is nowusing prostitution, sexual mi-sconduct, and bribery to permit and,even smuggle "illegal" aliens into this country for the explicitpurpose of smashing the UFW.
Strikebreaking by "lIIegals" OpposedThe investigation' discovered that Border Patrol guards, the
enforcement arm of the INS, were allowing "illegals" to comein to harvest crops for the growers and then deporting thembefore they could collect their paychecks.
One investigator, for instance, told the congressional subcommittee of a big Texas rancher who had hired a crew of "illegals"to harvest his crop. The rancher then notified the chief of thatparticular Border Patrol sector and the chief saw to it that theranch was not raided during the harvest.
When the crop was in, the rancher notified the sector chief,and before the Mexicans were paid, the patrol arrested themand sent them back across the border.
The federal investigator concluded by saying, "The ranchergot his crop out of the field, the chief patrol agent got year roundhunting rights on the ranches, and the Mexicans were introducedto slavery and deportation."
"Cleansweep" als0 revealed that immigration officials weregiving entry documents to Mexican women in exchange for sexualfavors for themselves and their families.
The decadence and immorality of the INS violates the basiclaws and guarantees of, not only this country,' but every decentcode of laws and ethics that have ever existed. Furthermore,the practices of the INS go hand in hand with the unscrupulousexploitation of farm workers by the agricultural barons.
It has thus become obvious that the INS, as a branch of government, is no longer the servant of the people that it is supposedto protect and serve (if it ever was). In short, the INS is nothingmore than a marionette of the growers and has been part of theoppressive apparatus, along with the courts, police and laborcontractors, that is being launched against the United Farm Workersof America.
The INS, as well as the "megal," is not, however, the sourceof exploitation of the farm worker and the blame must be placedsquarely where it belongs - on the agricultural barons. For itis these "lords" who have manipulated the government apparatusfor their own greedy ends, to preserve their vast riches andto impede social progress and justice.
Page 10 - July 31, 1974 - EI Malcriado E I Malcriado - July 31. 1974 - Page 11
Cesar in L.A.
A WHIRLWIND HITS THECITY OF THE A GELS. • •
BINGO ~UPER MARKET
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the official organ of the LACFL,described the tour saying, "Chavez, president of the UFW, spentmost of his time in skull sessions with union leadership, developing methods of how organized labor in Los Angeles canaid his union••••
..A leader known for his quietstrength, he delivered stingingattacks against the Teamsters,the growers and the U.s. Department of Immigration, sayingall three were preventing truecollective bargaining and uniondemocracy by the most corruptmeans available to them."
The tour, according to observers, was a step forward inforging links between agricultural workers and industrial andskilled workers in the city andcan only help in building theunity of the labor movement.As Chavez said, "The unity ofthe labor movement is essential since it is the labor unionswhich are preserving democracyhere in the U.s. and it is theunions which are preventing fullfascism from developing herein this country."
Barbara Nardella, Secretaryof the LACFL and Secretaryof the Farm Workers AssistanceCommittee, succinctly summarized the tour by saying, "I amvery excited about getting CesarChavez down hl're to build support for the UFW and to buildthe unity ofthe labor movement."
Pledges of SupportChavez received over $2,000
in contributions for the UFWas well as pledges of supportfrom other unions and organizations such as the: Santa AnaDistrict Council of Carpenters,Laborers Union, J oint Board ofthe Culinary Workers, Local 52of the Laundry Workers, California Federation of Teachers,International Brotherhood ofElectrical Workers, Communications Workers of America,United Rubber Workers, ILWU,and Ufo
The tour, therefore, may wellbe a turning point for the boycott nationwide, especially withstrong support from organizedlabor coming in and with theinception of the bus campaign;and it is very likely that theCity of the Angels will see anorganiZing drive that Angelinoswill never forget.
La Cabana
'49. Ma i n St.
Slatsonvi11e.
'Cal ifornia
Labor Backs UFWNever before has the L.A.
labor movement shown such concern and solidarity with the farmworkers cause and the tour maybe an indication that the ranksof organized labor are closingagainst the Teamster union-busting tactics.
Support from the LACFL isespecially considered a key windfall, by UFW officials, sincethe labor federation containsmore than 450 affiliates, 850associated unions and labor councils, and has a union membership of more than 600,000 workers In this highly industrializedport city.
Alan Kistler, ational Directorof Organization of the AFL-CIO,best summed up organized labor's support of the UFW whenhe told a meeting of more than60 union leaders, "Our pledgeto you (the UFW) and your valiant members Is that we willstay with you every inch of theway until justice has been obtained."
Individuals Offer HelpIn addition, individual union
officials offered their servicesand financial and political support in the UFW fight againstthe Teamster-grower conspiracy. George Smith, SecretaryTreasurer of the Allied Printing Trades Council, offered hisprinting services to the UFW;and Rudy RUbio, President ofLocal 13 of the ILWU, offeredto obtain work for striking farmworkers so that they can support their families.
Steve Robertson, a reporterfor the Los Angeles Citizen,
to the N..C. Nielsoo Co., a public survey firm.
The campaign is the first ofits kind in the U.S. and willassist the UFW boycott in thesprawling areas of Los Angeles,which is one of the top threegrape markets in the country.Said Chavez, "This adds a newdimension to the boycott andundoubtedly will give tremendousimpetus to the boycott nationwide."
The bus campaign is costing$10,000 and is being financedby the Farm Workers AssistanceCommittee, a support group organiZed by the LACFL. The committee, however, also includesnon-AFL-CIO affiliates such asthe International Longshoremenand Warehousemen's Union(ILWU), the United Auto Workers(U AW), the United ElectricalWorkers (UE), and other unions.
RestaurantReal Colima
74 Porter vri veWi tsonv ill e
724·00&0Authentic cookinqfrom the state of
Col ima
by the L.A. County Federationof Labor (LACFL), which features the use of Twilight Spectacular posters on more than100 city buses.
The signs, which appear onthe back of city buses), are estimated to reach 47'70 of thepopUlation twice a week or 5.2million people weekly, according
Chavez, in a tour unmatchedstrategic support when speakingbefore more than 600 union officials, including leaders fromthe Los Angeles and OrangeCounties Federations of Labor,AFL-CIO.
In addition the UFW leaderlaunched a three- month bus advertising campaign, sponsored
Los Angeles, Calif. - Farmworker leader Cesar Chavezstaged a three-day whirlwind tourof this metropolitan area pickingup unprecedented support fromthe labor movement and kickingoff a bus-advertising campaignto pUblicize the UFW boycottof scab grapes and iceberg lettuce.
Cesar Chavez speaks to a meeting of delegates representing the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFLClO. The federation is sponsoring a campaign of Twilight Spectacular posters on more than 100 city buses.
One out of every eight Los Angeles buses carry these boycott messages; a UFW survey indicates that 80% of a/lthe city's residents have seen them.
Page 12-July31, 1974-EI Malcriado
UFW Leader in N.Y.,N.J.
• • .A DTHE BAR STORMSTHRO'UGH THE EAST COAST
Chavez AddressesPresbyterian Convention
Cesar Chavez meets with New York labor leaders and local politicians during recent east coast tour. Chavezshakes hands with Bob Abrams, president of the Bronx Borough, while a New York City Councilman RamonVelez holds a proclamation. (Photos by Alex Beauchamp)
(Photos by Alex Beauchamp)
EI Malcriado - July 31, 1974 - Page 13
UFW President Cesar Chavez and Vice· President Dolores Huerta wereguests 01 Cardinal Terrance Cook, 01 the New York City CatholicArchdiocese, during a meeting attended by many guests at St. Patrick'sCathedral.
know it's a total breakdown. Wego to the ImmigrationService andthey say they can't do anything."
Chavez, whose union seeks collective bargaining rights for migrant farm workers, said hewould ask the northern-basedUnited Presbyterians to supporthis drive against the "Illegal entries."
"I hope they will familiarizethemselves and will want to dosomething about supporting ourplea to do something about theinvasion," he said.
Chavez' efforts at unionizationare already endorsed by the hierarchy of the Northern PreSbyterian Church.
read a proclamation observing"Farm Workers Day to an audience of 150 labor officials andThe Most Rev. Edward D. Head,bishop of the BuffaloRoman Catholic Archdiocese, presented astatement of support.
The whirlwind tour of the UFWpresident ended with an international demonstration of supportfor the union as 100 Canadiansmarched across the peace bridgeto join with U.s. backers ataLaSalle Park rally.
Louisville,Ky,.-United FarmWorker's leader Cesar Chavezhere to address the assembly ofthe United Presbyterian Churchsaid Monday he is starting ~national drive to remedy the"terrible problem of 60 000 to70,000 illegal Mexican and Philipino workers" competing with American farm workers on theWest Coast.
Chavez charged the Department of Justice is "completelylax in enforcing the regulationspreventing the entry of illegalsand to prevent them from breaking our strike."
"We don't know why the Justice Department is not enforcingthe law," he said,"but we do
an Impressive solidarJty meeting-fund raiser for the union.
At a Woodridge, New Jerseypress conference, Chavez extensively documented the use andexploitation by growers of Mexican nationals and was joined byofficials from the state AFLC1O, the United Auto Workers,steelworkers, and others fromorganiZed labor.
Two hundred labor officialsfrom 30 unions pledged their financial and organizational supportto the UFW, later at a luncheon.
HOPELAWN, N.J.: More than100 union members and otherUFW supporters picketed Pathmark Store while many NewJersey residents watched the boycottactivities carried live on a localSpanish language T. V. Station.
PATTERSON, N. J.: Threethousand people attended a "Support the Union" rally and heardspeeches by Chavez, Archer Colefrom District Three of the International Union of ElectricalWorkers; Richard Lynch, vicepresident of the NewJ ersey stateAFL - CIO; and AssemblymanJohn Sinsimer, sponsor of a recent boycott support measure inthe legislature.
LONG ISLAND: The UFW andChavez gained more union support at a breakfast of clergymen at the Most Holy TrinityHigh School.
It was sponsored by the Officeof the Spanish Apostolate of theDiocese of Rockville Centre, theLong Island Council of Churches,American Jewish Committee andthe New York Federation of Reformed Synagogues.
Over 200 union officials fromLocal 25 of the InternationalBrotherhood of Electrical Workers and Long Island Federationof Labor donated generously tothe union cause and pledged support at a luncheon meeting.
BUFFALO, N. Y.: Arepresentative of Mayor Stanley Makowski
New York, N.Y,.-"We will winbecause we are right. We willwin because we work at it...
ALBANY: Two nationally prominent entertainers who havelong supported the UFW, PeteSeeger and Arlo Guthrie, sang ata "Stop the Grapes" benefit tothe delight of more than 3,000friends of the union.
EW YORI( CITY: Chavez repeated the challenge, at a highlypubliciZed June 27 press con- •ference, calling on the Teamstersleaders to agree to lawful elections to determine whoreallyrepresents the workers in thefields.
Labor officials at a dinner andrally at the Church ofSt. Paul theApostle enthusiastically backedthe UFW. Recalling the strugglesof other unions in the 30's and40's, William Jones, vice president of Local 3, of the CakeBakers, said, "It is incumbenton all unions to remember thosedays and support the UFW boycott."
Time and again during his tumultuous tour through New Yorkand New Jersey in late June andearly July, Cesar Chavez repeated this message to his audiences.The unprecedented display ofsupport from a broad cross section of the public gave ample evidence that the people, in ever increasing numbers, were convinced that the cause of the farmworkers is a righteous one.
Much of Chavez's east coasttour was concentrated on gainingadditional support from labor officials and prominent clergymen.As usual he also participated inpicketlines and spolce at massrallies.
ROCHESTER and SYRACUSE:Crowds were large and enthusiastic as Cesar made his waythrough the Empire state. Twentyfive hundred heard him at a Syracuse rally and 1,8.00 in Rochester. The UFW president drewa sympathetic response, at theseand other locations, when he declared: "The growers and Teamsters have two choices; they caneithf'r let the workers have freeelections or we will force theminto an economic situation wherethey'll have to give in."
NEW JERSEY: Political leaders and labor officials joined in
Chavez and the farm workerswere the guests of Cardinal Cookeat a large meeting atSt. Patrick'sCathedral.
"It would seem from theirstory that the Teamsters havegone against all the traditions oftrade unionism," said MonsignorJames J. Wilson, Episcopal vicarof North Manhattan, at a breakfast meeting at the InterfaithCenter after hearing Chavez andother farm workers.
DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS FOUND ATORANGE COUNTY LABOR CAMPS
Forlorn child looles through wire fence of one of many Orange County labor camps found to be in unsanitaryand umleept conditions.
Farms Refuse Visitors
The Irvine Company reCusedto admit the HRC observers whileJack Sakioka of Sakioka Farmsin Santa Ana personally threwout the investigators.
Share Our Selves (SeE) anorganization of Catholic laypeopIe Cram Costa Mesa did manage to investigate the Saki akaFar m, howE'ver, and reported:
"The general condttion oC theentire complex is dirty and rundown. There are no screen doorsand dust pe.rvades everywhere.
"Farm machinery and truckskeep churning up the dirt roads.The only attempt at cleaningbuildings is once a wE'ek.
"Lighting in the barracks Ispoor; overhead 40-60 watt bU~bS.
There are no tables, chaIrs,lockers, clothes racks, etc.
"The men are Issued oneblanket and a thin mattress pad.There is no provision for privacy and no recreational facilities."
(Sa; has played an importantrole in calling attention to campproblems and has begun Englishand health care classes at Several oC the camps.)
trician from Orange, is generalmedical care, dental care, immunization, TB screening andknowledge of where to go toget treatment. The workers mustalso be free Cram intimidationfrom the camp operators whenthey seek care.
In the past some labor campoperators have threatened tofireworkers iC they sought treatment."Illegal" aliens are especiallyafraid to seek care because theyfear their status will be discovered which would lead totheirdeportation.
After the HRC investigation,members of the 1973-74 OrangeCounty grand jury also visitedthe camps. After their visit,A.W. Gazley, Corman of the jury,said; "condlttons observed byjurors confirm those reportedby the Human Relations Commission."
In a letter to the county boardof supervisors, Gazlay wrote;"Citizens of Orange Countyshould bow in shame, not onlyat the inhuman conditions observed, but also that their electedor appointed officials should beso derelict in their duties thatthey permit these conditions toexist."
The 1913-74 grand jury wasdismissed July 1, 1974. Thisdismissal date did not give thegrand jury time to compileenough evidence to indict anycamp operators. However, Gazlay told reporters, "I think definitrly that laws were violated."
All the conditions witnessedby the HHC and the grand jury,are the very same which UFWhas described for years and wantsto abolish.
UFW cannot stand indifferentlywhile people are being SUbjectedto Cilth, disease, and exploitation, such as is Cound in thesework camps. The union will continue to fight "La Causa" untilall these indignities are abolished.
They say they are Teamster organizers and that they representyou. Is that true?"
A unanimous "No" echoed across the auditorium as the youngvolunteer director asked his second question.
"Then is the only solution tokeep up the boycott?"
"Yes" came back an even louder response, "Si Se Puede".
Cesar Chavez also hugged andintroduced Mr. Bhagavit the leader of India's largest farm workerconfederation, who broughtgreetings from his countries 50million farm workers.
Once again, like so many ti mesin the past, Cesar Chavez renewed the United Farm Workerscommitment to the protractedstruggle for justice.
"The day must come" he conclUded, Hwhen by the force of theboycott and the support of thousands of men and women acrossthe nation, and your strength anddedication to justice, we will befree to have our own union to fulfill the aspirations of all thefarm workers here in Salinas andover the whole United States."
minimal and for a long timethe county health department reCused to administer care sincethey saw the camps as privatepremises and out of their jurisdiction.
Only when conditions at thecamps threatened the welfare ofpeople living outside the barracks would the health department step in.
Due to the closeness of bedsin the barracks and lack oCpropermedical care contagious diseasesare an especially serious problem. Tuberculosis and Venerealdiseases afflicting many workers. YO is especially difficultto stop because the migrant population is often moving.
What is needed according toDr. Joseph A. Carella, a pedla-
rich with the blood of those whowork the fields."
Chavez then cited the case ofworkers at Norton Co. who ranthe Teamsters dues, yet werenot fired.
"They won't fire them, theywon't fire them because they areunited and they have never paidthose dues."
Chavez added that while theTeamster contracts are illegal.the way in which the Teamsterunion recently raised both duesand initiation fees is doubly illegal. According toFederallaborlaws a vote by a workers convention is required to raise suchfees.
Rev. John Blethen of Los Angeles captured the applause andlaughter of the crowd when he toldthem in Spanish, "It's hot inhere, but it's going to be a lothotter for the Teamsters."
Fred Ross Jr., director of theSan Francisco boycott asked justtwo questions of the farmworkers.
"In the Bay Area there aretwo men. One is Tony Mendezand the other is called Uribe.
wages, however, goes back tothe growers since deductions aremade Cor food, board, clothingand personal items which thegrowers sell.
For example, H. Fugishgecharges $106 a month for meals,Ito and Sons $26.00 a week andVilla Park $4.50 a day.
One camp is reportedly earning profits of $50,000 a yearbut is failing to pay state andfederal taxes. So not only dothe migrants have to pay a largeportion of their wages back tothe grower but the general public loses also since taxes arenot being paid.
Aside from bad living conditions HRC also reported thathealth care at the camps was
Strike Wave Looms(continued from page 1)
warning system, a standard feature on UFW lettuce contracts.
The crowd was stunned by thenews, as Chavez reminded themthat only one month earlier aBruce Church Inc. truck had runover and killed 44 year old PedroDiaz in another Salinas lettucefield.
"Ater two deaths and so manyinjuries we see the growers andTeamsters still don't have thedignity to desire to protect theworker," said Chavez.
"What dothey care?" he asked,II since we are just farm workers'!What can It mean to those whoare happy with their treasonouscontracts? What does it matter tothem that the workers suCfer asthey do? What has it cost them?What do they know? How manymare will die?
"This gang of men that haveno respect for the working man'srights just come to take awayyour dues, making themselves
Santa Ana, Calif..-T~e OrangeCounty humanRelationscommis~
sian (HRC) released a reportJune 14 revealin(, what it described as, deplorable and unsanitary Carm labor camps whichhouse some 2,000 migrant Carmworkers in this county just southoC Los Angeles.
Two researchers, Daniel NietoCram HRC and Mildred Mlller(executive directoress oC thecounty Fair Housing Council),conducted a Cour-week investigation oC 11 camps Cor HRCin May oC this year.
Nieto and M1l1er found thatthe 1;ri-County camp in Huntington Beach, owned by TalbertFarmers As:;ociation had, "barracks where the workers sleptconsisted oC 18 bunkbeds on eachside oC the wall. The mattresseswere filthy along with the bedding. Some of the beds had sheets,many did not."
"There were flies inside andclothing washed by hand hanging on a string, tied Crom onE'bed to the other. The cementnoors were filthy. There WE'reheaters, but in some barracksthey worked and in others theydid not."
Nieto also visited anothercamp, operated under the nameOrange County Vegetable Grow<!rs in Huntington Peach and own·ed by Fujita Farms, and described it saying:
"The first thing that hit meat this camp was the smell oCurine on the grounds outsidf'the facility.••This camp had onelong barrack which housed 136men." Nieto also reported thebeds were Cilthy and lackedenough blankets.
sheets of tin for walls. On hotdays they're like an oven, oncold days or nights like a refrigerator. A few buildings weremade of concrete blocks but without proper heating they get verycold at night.
- The ratio of building spaceto men was found to be veryinadequate at all camps.
- Only two of the sites hadproper heating faciUties.
- Most windows were dirtyor broken and usually closedoff, which prevented ventilation.
- Poor lighting existed at mostsites and several butldings hadlive exposed wiring.
- Several of the kitchens wereextremely filthy and fire hazardous. They also lacked properstorage space, forcing food itemsto be stocked on the noor. Flies,mosquitoes and rat droppingswere found in many oC the kitchens.- Most camps had no laundry
Cacilities Cor workers to washtheir clothes.
- Most toilet areas observed,according to the report, "werea disgrace to human sensitiVity••,extremely filthy and unsanitary."There was also a lack oC enoughCaciUties.
- Open sewers were seen atseveral camps.
- No posting of minimum wagestandards or benefits.
- The workers were not warned about recently dusted areasnor of other pesticide dangers.Many Carm laborers said pestLcide dust had entered their living quarters and eating areas.
- Nutritional diets ai laborcamps were very poor, consisting mostly of heavy, starchy
In brief, investigators found foods rather than a balancedconditions varied from camp to diet.camp but most places Wf're no- - Several of the camps hadthing more than run down bar- poor rubbish disposaLracks. For example: HRC estimated that most of
-Most housing witnessed by the workers living in these campsthe HRC was made of poor qua- were paid an average of $2.30lIty wood slat. others had single an hour. A large portion of the
Page 14 - July 31, 1974 - E I Malcriado
Desperation and lonliness in the faces and minds 01 "illegal" aliens used by the growers and their allies to try to destroy the heart of thecampesino movement. This drecepit barren labor camp, and many lilce it, will be allowed to flourish by a bought-out Immigration Service-until the time the aliens are no longer needed; then they'll be easily found and sent baclc home.
(Photos by Mimi Plumb)
E I Malcriado - July 31, 1974 - Page 15
Salinas Valley agribusiness;since the 1920's it's been anupward fight to organize farmworkers against many growerweapons.
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the contract actually coveredvery few of Antle's workers.
The rest of the lettuce industry signed sweetheart .contracts with the Teamsters in1970 in an effort to stave offan organizing drive by the UFW.Nearly 10,000 workers respondedwith a massive strike which wonback five of the cOl'llracts withsome of the largest growers.
Cesar Chavez was jailed fortwo weeks in Salinas that winterfor his organizing efforts.
The workers now under theremaining Teamster contractsfind themselves faced with thesame problems that have
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Bud Antle set out to destroythe rapidly expandingShed Workers Union. He introduced twotechnological innovations: packing the lettuce in the fields instead of in packing houses, andrapid cooling with a vacuum process. These changes eliminatedthe jobs of 8,000 recently organized shed workers withinthree years.
Antle proceeded to sign thefirst sweetheart contract withthe Teamsters in the lettuceindustry in 1961, following astrong strike in the ImperialValley by the Agricultural Workers OrganiZing Committee. AFLClO. Although the Teamstershave widely advertised this contract a proof of their long standing interest in farm workers,
ized by such farmer groups asthe Western Growers ProtectiveAssociation (now the WesternGrowers Association).
Union halls and labor campswere gas bombed and burnedand labor organizers were jailed. Scabs escorted by armedguards were rushed through picket lines as police dispersed strikers with smoke bombs.
were brought in to work thefields.
An employer at a conventionof fruit growers and farmersin the 1930's expressed theircommonly held attitude towardthe Mexican workers when hesaid, "We want the Mexicansbecause we can treat them aswe cannot treat any other living man••,we can control themby keeping them at night behindbolted gates, within a stockadeeight feet high, surrounded bybarbed wire...we can make themwork under armed guard in thefields. "
(Reminds one of what grower's wife Ann Merill said lastyear when she called strikers"Orangutangs" at a meeting inSalinas.)
The labor contractor was established by the 1930's as thecore of the agricultural laborsystem, allowing the growersto escape from having to dealdirectly with the workers.
Contractors had complete power to hire and fire workerswithout justification and capitalized on the workers' fear andignorance to keep them financially indebted and virtually enslaved in' run-down labor camps.
Workers, however, tried heroically to organize. 78 agricultural strikes erupted in California during the first half ofthe 1930's, including a largestrike by Filipino and Mexicanfield and shed workers in 1934and a strike by 4,000 shed workers in 1936.
These early strikes were brutally repressed by local policeand Vigilante committees organ-
Salinas, Calif. - The farmworker's current fight againstTeamsters Union dues is thelatest development in the struggle against Salinas Valley agribusiness which began when iceberg lettuce turned the valleyinto a boom area in the 1920's.
Lettuce monopolists, for decades, have consistently usedtheir economic and political power to fight unionizing effortsby farm and packing shed workers.
The lettuce barons have usedoutright repression, mechanization to eliminate jobs, the importation of "illegal" aliens, andthe use of the powerful Teamsters Union to eliminate contract protections won by the United Farm Workers (UFW) union.
Few Companies ControlThe valley today is controlled
by a handful of companies suchas Bud Antle (Dow Chemical),Bruce ChurCh, InterHarvest(United Fruit), D'Arrigo, and others- whose land holdings extendfar beyond Salinas into southernCalifornia, Arizona, Colorado,and even Latin America. Antlealone controls 40% of the na·tion's wrapped lettuce.
The average size of a Salinasfarm in 1971 was 1,103 acres,more than three times the national average. The number ofacres of lettuce harvested inSalinas remained nearly constant between 1963 and 1973 butthe market value nearly tripled,from $35.5 million to $119 million.
Thousands of farm workersaveraged 2-1/2~ for each headharvested while two dozen let-
~~C~96\~owers each profited 7~ IMPEACHMENTThe introduction of iceberg b I I C
lettuce in the 20's sparked waves ecause ove my ountryof migrations as Chinese, Jap- With flag in red, white & blue. Bumpersticker: S.35 @, 5/S I, lOO/SI2, Smalleranese, Hindus, Filipinos, poor sticker: S.35 @, 10/SI, lOO/S5, Fast delivery, Constitutional Enterprises, Inc.,Whites, and, finally Mexicans non-profit, PO Box S4129d, Atlanta, Ga. 30308 LOCAL REPS WANTED
Page 16 - July 31, 1974 - E I Malcriado
UFW Calls forSloane Strike Support
Los Angeles, Calif.- The Unit- right to be represented by aed Farm Workers of America union of their choice.last week again called on its For the past year and onesupporters to back the strike half more than 500 membersand boycott against the R&G of Local 621 of the AFL-CIOSloane Company. United Rubber Workers have been
Previously the UFW supported on strike against Sloane. Theythe strike and boycott against charge that the management isFarah Manufacturing which ended out to destroy the union andup in these workers winning the is determined to impose unsafe
Farm WorkersStrike in Portugal
Hiram Rivero, President of United Rubber Workers Local 621 , is into thethick of things during union's strike against R&G Sloan Co. in Los Angeles.
to buy raw material, with avicious attempt to smash theunion and to eliminate many ofthe benefits won since the unionwas organized.
Loc:..! 621 president, HiramRivera, says, "we're determinedto win the strike, this isn't justan attack on Local 621, it'san attack on all unions by bigbusiness."
In addition to the UFW, manyother unions and community organizations have come to thesupport to the embattled R&GSloane Co.
open shop under the managementproposal. Also the company demanded that it be the only judgeas to whether workers are entitled to a 5 percent merit increase.
The management refused toattend negotiating meetings called by the Federal Mediation andConciliation Service on two occasions.
The Sloane Management hasrepaid the workers, who iQ 1955gave up their pay checks forseveral weeks so that the company's ewners could have money
and long discarded working conditions on the work force.
Sloane, once the world's largest manufacturers of plastic pipefittings, has paid a big pricein its attempt to continue operating.
In the course of the strikethe company has plummeted fromfirst place in sales in the nationto 21st.
Safety of the workers is oneof the key issues in this labordispute. In 1958, before the unionwas organized in the plant, therewere 150 industrial accidentson the premises.
Now, according to union officials, things have again reach-eda crisis stage because of management policies. Workers nowinside the plant have reportedthat numerous accidents, including two deaths, have taken placesince the beginning of the year.
Sloane, Which is owned by theSusquehana Corporation, demanded a contract that wouldcompel workers to put in asmany as 12 hours daily withoutovertime pay. Also that therewould be no overtime pay forSaturday or Sunday work.
The company proposed a wageand work schedule which wouldlower the weekly income of strikers by $42 a week. Replacingthe union shop clause that previously existed in the contractwould be one providing for an
Their contract calls for 90 daysof guaranteed work and $7.60 aday for men and $4.80 a day forwomen, as top wages.
The wage demands in the Montoito area are similar to thoseof the settled contracts. While aminimum wage of $132 a monthwas set by the national government a few weeks ago, this doesnot apply ot service and agricultural workers.
At the same time, strikes arediscouraged and it is punishableunder law for the press to encourage workers to walk out.
The wheat harvest in the struckarea was a month behind, as ofJuly 4. Because of this danger tothe crops, workers in anotherarea of southern Portugal wereunable to settle their greivanceswith the landowners.
Montoito, Portugal - Strikingfarm workers in the south of thisnewly reformed country are beginning the first outbreak ofpeaceful unrest in nearly, half acentury.
The far m workers are demanding wage increases to keep upwith the rising inflation of 20 percent a year, along with strikersin two other towns 100 milessoutheast of Lisbon.
The area's military commandhas attempted to portray the outbreaks as "leftist inspired" andclaims the strikers are responsible for several recent fires.
However, although strikes arenot yet technically legal the newmilitary government of GeneralSpinola has instituted a policy oftolerance and is hoping to settlethe current outbreak of strikes inthe urban and rural areas in apeaceful manner.
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ation. Protestors were Shiftedto bad work assignments according to later NLRB testimony.
In northern California Teamsters drove through cannery linesand broke all strikes in Juneand July 1937. The strikes atHeinz and Cal- Pak were calledoff.
Another strike at CaliforniaConserving Company collapsedwhen Teamsters crossed thepicket line. The strike at Felice and Perrelli in Richmondwas broken and a "Cannery Employees Association" was setup by the employers to replacethe striking union.
The Santa Clara Labor Council reported, '~Nocanneryworkerwho wore a union button, carried a union book or who hadtaken part in union activities,was given voice or vote in thenew Santa Clara union."
The San Jose Union Gazetteon July 2, 1937 said, "It isfrankly admitted that it was thecanners concern over possiblestrikes that led to the sweepingorganization of the canneries•••and new unions created underleaders acceptable to the employers. The employers lent ahand in this reorganization workby encouraging and even insisting that their employees jointhe new unions."
The canners even paid fora "cannery workers" ne.wspaperand hired 'Bobs' Purcell, a former San Francisco Chroniclenewspaperman, to be its editor.
The canner sponsored "unions" were formed during a California Council of Cannery Unions. Teamster Local 70 Secretary Charles Real became thepresident of the council and lenthis prestige as a leader of whatwas considered a bonafide union.(The Teamsters were not readyat that time to take over outright jurisdiction). St. Sure lateradmitted he didn't think therewas a great deal of assurancethat they represented a majorityof the people.(END OF PART ONE)
Part two of the history of theTeamsters takeover will appearin the next edition.
strike said, "In short SheriffOdell delivered the authority ofhis office to the Associated Farmers of San JoaquinCounty."
The Marysville Democrat, adaily newspaper, reported,"Sheriff Harvey Odell told themen behind the cannery barricade, 'you will take orders fromthe colonel and report to him.He will tell you what to do.' "
Fortune MagaZine, the leadingbusiness pUblication, in 1938 described the Associated Farmersas "the violently anti-union Associated Farmers, run by thebig growers but supported andmanned by the little ones whopay dues and wield pickhandlesand rifles in case of trouble."
The Associated Farmers decided to personally drive scabtrucks through strike lines, aplan unopposed by Teamster officials.
The 'Battle of Stockton,' alsoknown as 'Black Friday,' "wasthe bloodiest battle in Stockton'sindustrial history," according tothe San Francisco Chronicle.
The canneries re-opened andthe Teamsters, led by Teamsterofficial Joseph Mc Manus who wasalso state AFL vice-president,helped the Stockton canners organize a new union, the "Cannery Workers Union," to replacethe Agricultural Workage Union.Foremen and foreladies werethe officers of the new union.
Vincent Dunne, a classmateand fraternity brother ofSt. Sure,was appointed president of the"Cannery Workers Union." TwoStockton bank officials, CarrolGrunsky of the Stockton FirstNational Bank and Leonard Duprey of Stockton Savings andLoan, testified in front of LRBin 1938 that Dunne received$4,543 to finance the new unionfrom the Stockton Merchants Association and Mor-Pak cannery.
Cannery workers were allowedto vote only if they presenteda signed receipt from McManus.Foremen and foreladies activelypromoted the union in the fourStockton canneries: StocktonFood ProdUcts, Richmond Chase,Mor Pak, and Packwell Corpor-
Charles 0, Cline, an 80 year old janitor, striking Stockton Food Products,is led away after being beaten by several vigilantes deputized by a
, growers' group during the infamous Battle of Stockton in 1937.-La Follette Hearings
The Teamster leadership, atthe executive meeting, advisedSt. Sure they were prepared togo through the picket lines. St.Sure regarded this as the actualbeginning of relationships between the Teamsters as the overseers ofthe operation, and CP&G.
Real ordered Local 70 driversto strikebreak but on April 9,1000 cannery strikers held amass meeting in the East Bay,marched en masse to the Teamster's hall, leafletted a Local70 meeting and pleaded for continued strike support.
The drivers responded by voting 175 to 35 to refuse to strikebreak. Local 70 President Clifford Lester declared, "Nobodyhas the right to order men tobecome strikebreakers.".
In retaliation IBT PresidentDan Tobin removed all Local70 officers except Real, tookover the local directly throughtrusteeship, and named IBT Representative Joe Casey the trustee to run it' for him.
Dave Beck ArrivesBut the rank and file continued
their defiance, forcing Tobin tosend Dave Beck, IBT vice-president from Seattle, to quell them.Beck had already obtained a reputation in Washington and Oregonfor signing sweetheart contractswith employers in warehouses.
Beck organized a Teamstermass meeting in oakland in Mayand presented a 'wage increaseproposal of a dollar an hour(five dollars by today's standards), negotiated with the Drayman's Association, the Lumberman's Association, and the chainstores in the East Bay. Themembers were also asked tovote confidence in the International's policy of strikebreaking.Both proposals carried.
RegUlar Local 70 meetingswere suspended through the endof the cannery season. TrusteeJoe Casey told the East BayLabor Journal in OCtober, "until the deposed officers are triedby this uni-on, no further meetingswill be held."
Meanwhile, the AgriculturalWorkers Union, backed by thelocal Central Labor Council, began organiZing Stockton canneries in March. Strikes broke outin four canneries when demandswere rejected by the owners,forcing them to close.
The strike was broken violently by a grower's army of1200 during the 'Battle of Stockton.'
The grower's army assembledin the early morning darknessof April 23, 1937, supposedlyunder San Joaquin County SheriffHarvey Odell but really commanded by Col. Walter E. Garrison, President of the Associated Farmers.
U.S. Senator Lafollette's committee which investigated the
Rank and File Movement
•••
Destroys
by Don WatsonEditor's Note - The current
attempt by the alliance of corporate owners and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters(lBT) to destroy the United FarmWorkers is not the first ti methis has happened in labor history.
IBT's takeover of the canneryindustry in northern Californiais a history of strikebreakingby the Teamsters, their use ofcoercion, sweetheart contracts,and a shocking disregard forthe -goals and aspirations of thelabor rank and file movement.
The following is the first ofthree articles describing theTeamsters takeover of the canneries.
Teamsters-Canneries Connivance
AN HISTORICAL LOOK AT THE 18T (PART ONE) -_.
was made by the militant partisans of the Longshoremen Harry Bridges whom practically allCalifornia industry hates andfears."
According to a ruling issuedby the National Labor RelationsBoard (NLRB), 62 canneries inCalifornia in November 1936"entered upon mutual coursesof action for the purpose ofcombatting and interfering withself- organization and freedom ofchoice of representatives."
They organized the CaliforniaProcessors and Growers andhired a labor relations attorney,Harrison Robinson, who put themin touch with J. Paul St. Sure,a rising young employer's attorney.
California canneries, whichbegan operation in the 19th century, grew to be huge corporations by the late 1930's. California Packing Company, or CalPak, emerged.in 1916 out ofa Wall Street sponsored mergerof four companies and by 1939directly farmed 69,000 acres of
Labor history shows that it land and controlled 40,000 underhas been alplOst as difficult for lease. Huge corporations likeunions to organize in the can- Cal-Pak, Libby, and Heinz grewneries as in the fields. The to dominate the canning industry.American Federation of Labor The first move by the Cali-(AFL), formed at the turn of fomia Processors and Growersthe century, was at first cau- (CP&G) to dampen the organiZingtious about entering them but effort was to grant two voluntarythe Industrial Workers of the wage' increases in all their can-World (IWW), a more radical neries in December 1936 andorganization formed in 1905, February 1937, "So that the leastmade organizational attempts be- possible basis ~ill exist for dis-fore World War I. pute between cannery workers
The "Toilers of the World" and their employers." (Quotemade the best organizational ef- from an editorial in Westernfort in San Jose. Holding an Canner and Packer).AFL charter, they struck in 1918 Workers Strike Cannerieswith mass picketing and demon- But canners were still facedstrations. They were accused with a crisis. Cannery strikesof being connected with the IWW broke out at the giant Cal-yakand of being "German spies," (five strikes), Heinz, Felice andand their strike was ultimately Perrelli, and California Con-crushed by Vigilantes and a "Cit- serving Co. in January 1937.izens Committee." Union drives were underway at
The Cannery and Agricultural San Francisco, the San Fran-Workers Industrial Union unsuc- cisco East Bay area (East Bay),cessfully tried to organize in Stockton, Sacramento, Modesto1933 with the help of the Com- and San Jose, utilizing radiomunist Party whose leaders were broadcasts, leaflet distributions,later jailed under the Criminal mass meetings and newspapers.Syndicalism Act, a harsh Cali- The canners decided to meetfornia law. with representatives of IBT for
The AFL became serious in assistance.1935, when the canneries came' The first meeting with theunder the Wagner National Labor Teamsters was held in FebruaryRelations Act. A statewide con- 1937. St. Sure, by now a leadingference was held at Stockton canners spokesman, said the can-in 1936 and AFL charters were ners wanted to find a 'responsi-issued to organize canneries ble union' to deal with.throughout northern California. The Teamsters were reluctant
An AFL organizing drive won at first to get involved withthe support of the Longshore- the canneries because the chaoticmen's Union now the Interna- industry was difficult to organize.tional Longshoremen and Ware- However, St. Sure asked thehousemen Union (ILWU), which Teamsters to cross the pickethad a considerable power on the lines at Cal- Pak at the EastPacific coast following the 1934 Bay in April 1937. The Team-waterfront strike. sters were having a meeting
Fortune MagaZine said in 1938, of their executive council in Flor-"Not until the 1930's was any ida and St. Sure called Charliestrong effort made to organize Real, secretary of Teamster'scannery labor; and that effort Local 70 in the East Bay.
Page 18 - July 31,1974 - EI Malcriado
THE RANCH COMMITTEEWHAT YOU- SHOULD KNOWABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY
LA RAZA BOOKSTORi
rRAULrOROCERyltGroceries - Soft Drinks - Beer tt Wine. TeL 875 - 6123 tM~. & Mrs.Haul Lqzada •I Viva La Causa ,
• 1223 J. St. Sanger. Ca. 93657,L.~~~~~~~~
r~~~~~~~,
t AVILA S MARKET tPit Bar-B-Que Every Sunday
t Groceries, Beer. Wine. tt 52-717 Harrison Blvd. t,Hiway 86 Coachella 398- 9827.t~~~~~~~~
Manager"hi lip Sanchez
Co. Manage..luis Gonzalez
\lon.-Fri. 12 to 5iaturday II to J .
Viva-l.a CQuso
IU8F. StreetPl1oM: <Y6 -51JJSacramento, -Co
95814
• • • you're 62 or older andplan to stop working.
• • • you're within 2 or 3months of 65 even if you don'tplan to stop working.
• .. someone in your familydies. .
The Social Security Administration has offices throughoutthe country. For the addressof your nearest office, look inthe phone book or ask at yourpost office.
And, finally, you may alwaysappeal any decision of the SocialSecutity Administration.
f) At the end of a year, tearout the postcard in the backof your record book and sendit in to social security for information on the money paidto your account during the year.Extra cards are avallable forfuture years.
g) If you change employers,be sure to give your new employer your social security number.
h) Most important be sureyour employer takes your social security contribution out ofyour pay. The people responsiblefor making the social securitydeductions and for recording andsending them in don't alwaysdo this.' If this happens to youwhat can you do?
First, check your social security record by sending a "request for statement of earnings"postcard to the Baltimore headquarters office. Social Securitywill tell you by mail how muchis credited to your account. Ifnothing is credited, or if it seemsthat more should be there, youcan start to straighten out therecord by going to or callingthe local social security office.Should investigation show thatyou are eligible for social security coverage which was notreported,. social security willcredit your record for the unreported earnings.
Remember, get in touch withyour social security office orCampesino Center if:
• • • you're unable to workbecause of an illness or injurythat is expected to last a yearor longer.
eligible for social security atage 65 are also eligible forcoverage under medicare. People who have been receiving social security disability benefitsfor 2 consecutive years, or insured people and their dependents who suffer from chronickidney disease also qualify formedicare. You are covered undermedicare at age 65 Whether youretire or not, and regardlessof your income or ability topay.
These are the steps a workermust take to become eligiblefor social security benefits:
a) Get an application for asocial security number, eitherfrom a local social security office or Campesino Center. Applicants must now provide evidence to establish their age,citizenship, alien status and trueidentity.
b) Complete the questions onthe card, sign your name andl' eturn the card to the socialsecurity office.
c) When you receive your social security number, take it toyour employer. Tell him youwant social security deductedfrom your pay. Be sure he records your number correctly.
d) When you are paid, markdown in your social securityrecord book (available free fromany social security office) thedate and amount you were paid.Also note your employer's nameand address.
e) Ask your employer for areceipt of wages and deductionseither at the end of a year orwhen you leave an employer.
wife, both receiving benefits, isnow $298 a month; for a retiredworker living alone, can receive$174; and the average familypayment for a disabled worker,his wife and one or more children is eligible for is $389 amonth. For a widowed motherwith two children, the averageis $418 a month.Here is a summary of benefits:
Here is a summary of benefits:
1) Retirment income. You begin collecting at age 65 (or asearly as 62 at a reduced rate).Benefits may also be paid toyour wife at age 62, or at anyage if she is caring for yourchildren under 18 or for anunmarried dependent child whowas totally disabled before 22;they may also be paid to yourunmarried dependent childrenunder 18, or between the agesof 18 to 22 if they are fulltime stUdents, or at any age ifthey were totally disabled before22.
2) Payments if you are disabled. Benefits are paid to youat any age under 65 (and to youreligible dependents) if you areso severely disabled that yOIlare not expected to be able towork for 12 months or more.
3) Payments to your familyif you die. Benefits are paidto your family or other dependents if you die insured at anyage.
4) Medicare. This is the basichospital and medical insuranceplan which protects you againstthe costs of inpatient hospitaland medical services and related post- hospital care. Those
When you work in the fieldsyou get paid but what happenswhen you become too old towork? Or hurt or sick? Howwill you feed your family? Andwhat will happen to your familyif you die?
Social Security protects youand your family against lossof income in old age, disabilityor death and medicare protectsyou against the heavy medicalexpenses of old age and severedisability. It is not a welfareprogram but an arrangementbetween you and your employerand the federal government inwhich you earn your protectionby working for a certain periodof time in what is known as"covered employment."
Social Security "covers" farmworkers who over the year earn$150 or more from one employeror who al'e employed by oneemployer for 20 or more dayson a "time-basis" rather thanon "piece-rate basis."
During your working life youcontribute part of your pay toa fund and your employers contribute an equal amount. Whenyou become unable to work because of age (or .death or disability) you or your survivorsor dependents receive monthlycash benefits from this socialsecurity fund.
The program covers workerswherever they move and coverswor·kers who are not U.s. citizens. Benefits are paid outsidethe United States to coveredworkers, their dependents andsurvivors.
The average monthly socialsecurity for a retired man and
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EI Malcriado - July 31, 1974 - Page 19
25,Grou
•Iveu porn
sters•IXo
Te
Highly paid Teamster goons ($69.50 per day) mill about during last year's-Coachella strike. When Teamstermoney isn't used to pay goon squads it's going to such things as President Nixon's campaign to stay in officeand not back to the worker where it belongs.
Plastic Pipe And Fittings
dispute over representation ofCalifornia farm workers unlessthey could "find some way towork against the UFW (Chavez)union."
The Department ofLabor obeyed and refused to take action,throughout the ¥ear, on repeatedUFW complaints that the Teamsters were interfering in negotiations between the UFW and thelettuce growers.
Colson sent another memo tothe same agencies unlawfully directing them to take action against the UFW, late in 1971. Inthis memo he made it clear whothe administration was going toback in organizing the farm workers.
He wrote,"The Teamsters union is now organizing in the areaand will probably. sign up mostof the grape growers this coming spring and this will need oursupport against the UFW."
During the presidential election year the Departments of Labor and Justice continued to refuse to interfere and denied UFWrequests for investigation and assistence as IBT thugs attackedUFW picket lines.
The Department of Defense also helped in quashing UFW efforts when it increased its buyingof scab grapes and lettuce. Thiswas done at the time the UFW intensified its boycott work and tonsof scab grapes and lettuce werebeing destroyed.
Even to day the Department ofDefense continues to be the worldslargest buyer 'of non-union farmprodUcts.
Nixon and the Teamsters haveproven that they are the closestof friends and that despite thepresident's drop in popularitythey will continue to scratch eachothers backs.
DO NOT BUY
R&G Sloane Manufacturing Corp., Sun Valley, California. Onstrike for 16 months (Local 621, United RUbber, Cork, I.;inoleum .and Plastic Workers).
Cigarettes And Tobacco
Thermos Bottles, Jars, Lunch Boxes, And Kerosene Lamps
Aladdin Industries, Inc., Nashville, Tennesee••••sold under itsown name and other labels including Dura-Clad, Thermo Kingand Economy. (United Steelworkers of America).
Table Grapes And Iceberg Head Lettuce
All table grapes and' iceberg head lettuce that does not bearthe Union Label of the United Farmworkers of America.
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company•••producers of Winston, Salem,Camels, Doral, and Vantage. Winchester (Little Cigars) andPrince Albert Smoking Tobacco. (Tobacco Workers InternationalUnion).
sponded to Nixon's bidding and. many Teamsters did not join the
strike.The Nixon administration,
which is notorious for selling itsfavors, has not neglected itsTeamster friends and has aidedthem in organizing their forcesin the farm industry.
Charles Colson, then specialcounsel to the president, in May1971 wrote and delivered a memoto the Departments of Labor andJustice and the National LaborRelations Board instructing themnot to interfere in the IBT-UFW
Fitzsimmons continued to offerhis services to Nixon when hebecame vice-chairman of Demo-crats for Nixon which was financed by the Committee to reelect the President.
Fitzsimmons is still in Nixon'sback pocket, earlier this year ,forexamp~e, Nixon told him to persuade lBT drivers from joining atrucker shut down and strike organized in protest of rising gasprices. Fitzsimmons gladly re-
superlatives but he also openedthe unions' coffers to him.
In 1972, Fitzsimmons drew twomillion dollars from the union'spension fund for use of the presidential campaign and directedIBT officials and employees tosupport and make cash contributions to the re-election campaign. IBT individuals gladly 0
beyed and responded by giving there-election committee $25,000 in1972
Washington, D.Cr-The International Brotherhood, of Teamsters (IBT) has contr-ibuted$25,000 to the National CitizensCommittee for Fairness to thePresidency, becoming one of theheaviest financial supporters ofNixon's rapidly deterioratingpresidency.
The Committee for Fairnesshas grown into a heavily finaced,sophisticated, computer assistedoperation in the last year whichwas made possible by large contributers, like the Teamsters.
The Teamster contribution,which was authorized by the IBTboard, is the largest ever givento the committee by a group orindividuals except for moniesgiven to the committee by a groupgiven by an au named high offica]of the committee.
IBT President Frank E. Fitzsimmons claims the committee"is non partisan, and its only interests are good government.With this rationale, Fitzsimmonssaw no reasons not to draw the$25,000 from the union's politicaleducation funds which generallymakes contributions to candidates for political office.
The Nixon and IBT have beenpatronizing each other for yearsand this contribution is the latestexample of the bond that existsbetween them.
The Teamsters strongly supported Nixon in 1972 althoughmost of labor remained neutral and Fitzsimmons even wentso far as to proclaim that Nixonwould go down in history as thegreatest president the countryever had. Not only did Fitzsimmons laud the president with
Violence-prone Teamster "guard" contingents like this is one method the Teamster union's leadership tries tosuppress the farm worker movement. Another avenue is its close relationship with the corruption-ridden Nixonadministration which has never been a friend of this country's working man and woman.
Printing
Los Angeles Herald Examiner (10 unions involved covering 2,000workers).
Page 20 - July 31, 1974 - E I Malcriado