Remembering Arizona UFW leader Gustavo Gutierrez
The Cesar Chavez Foundation and the United Farm Workers of America honors the life and memory of Gustavo Gutierrez, 80, who passed away on Sept. 1. He is remembered as an early leader of the United Farm Workers in the state of Arizona who dedicated his life to serving the poorest and most abused workers in the state. Beginning in the 1960s, Gustavo struggled for the most basic rights for farm workers, including field sanitation, protection against child labor and toxic pesticides, decent pay and collective bargaining. He organized farm workers, led strikes and in 1972 sternly resisted Arizona’s draconian anti-farm worker law that outlawed the right of farm workers to strike and boycott, and made it very difficult for farm workers to organize, which prompted Cesar Chavez’s 24-day fast in Phoenix.
We will always remember Gustavo’s sacrifices and hard work for the farm workers of Arizona and his lifetime of community activism on behalf of Latino, labor and civil rights. Our sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.
Paul F. Chavez, President, Cesar Chavez Foundation
Arturo S. Rodriguez, President, United Farm Workers of America