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Casimiro Alvarez
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| Casimiro has been working with the union since 1997. He is originally from Michoacan, Mexico where he studied to become a veterinarian. In 1978 he moved to the U.S. and began working the fields. He worked in several different industries including roses and mushrooms. By 1997 he was recruited by the union to work as an organizer. He became a full time employee the same year. "We are focusing all our time in the battle of the immigrant. I take the job very seriously because it is a very personal battle. I was also in their shoes at one time... I get very angry when my people are taken advantage of." Casimiro feels that the toughest part of the job is to keep a level head and not let his emotions get on the way. A true believer in la causa, Casimiro has endeavored non-stop since 1997. |
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Vianey Torres
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| Vianey is originally from San Luis Potosi, Mexico. For the past 26 years she has lived in the U.S. During that time span she spent 15 years working as a farm worker. In 1985 she became aware of the UFW when the company she was working for settled for a contract. By the year 2000 she began her stint as an organizer after first being a volunteer.
"I have to say that the toughest part of being an organizer is that you have to appeal to the interest of all types of workers. They are all different, so you must know what all their needs are." Vianey is a current organizer in Delano, California. |
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Juan Manuel Moran
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| Juan Manuel Moran is originally from Jalisco, Mexico. In March of 1974 he arrived to the U.S. He spent the following 23 years working for the General Vineyard Service. By 1979, the employees at his company decided to organize and join the UFW. Juan was immediately impressed by the better treatment they received. In 1981 Juan became involved in the Ranch Committee where he volunteered for several years before becoming a full time union employee. Juan is currently a contract administrator, a duty he has performed for the past eight years in the central California coast. "I am very glad to have the opportunity to work for the UFW because I get to make a difference in the lives of the most exploited workers in America. Helping the less fortunate is the best part of the job." |
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Francisco Cerritos
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| Francisco has lived in the U.S. for the past 16 years. Originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, he worked his first 12 years as a picker in the strawberry fields in Salinas. However, all that changed when the UFW began campaigning the fields he worked at. "When the strawberry campaign began, it caught my attention and I wanted to help out as a volunteer. I stopped working the fields and joined the UFW." By 1998 he began his work as a full-time organizer for the union. The most satisfactory part of his job is getting to help those less fortunate, he says. |
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Sergio Guzman
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| Sergio has lived in the U.S. since 1986. For the next few years he worked in the rose and mushroom industry as a picker. By 1989 he was involved in the UFW as a Committee Negotiator. In 1995, Sergio was involved in the arduous march from Delano to Sacramento. By 1996 he was a full time employee of the UFW working as an organizer. He is currently the Regional Director of the Central Coast in California. "I never dreamed of the day that I would be able to sit down in front of the field owners and negotiate contracts for our farm workers," he said. "It's a very satisfying feeling." |
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Efrain Lopez
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| Efrain is originally from Michoacan, Mexico. He arrived in Watsonville in 1983 where he began working the mushroom industry as a picker. He first became aware of the UFW in 1995 when the workers of his company obtained a union contract. Some of his first duties with the union included a voluntary stint as part of the Ranch Committee where he became the general secretary. By 2003 he was recruited by Jesus Corona as a full-time organizer for the union. "There is nothing more gratifying than helping all my people achieve what they deserved," Efrain added. |
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Everardo Vidales
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| Everardo is originally from Guanajuato, Mexico. He first arrived to California back in 1974 where he worked as a farm worker in the melon harvest. After a brief stint he began working the rose fields where the pay was better. Everardo got his first taste of organizing in 1976 where his company went on strike demanding higher wages and successfully accomplishing that. Ever since, Everardo wanted to be part of the union and la causa. He finally joined the UFW team in 1994 as a volunteer and was given a full-time position the following year. He is currently in charge of organizing in the San Joaquin Valley. "Helping our people is the best feeling because there are a lot of injustices," he added. |
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Erica Oropeza
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Erica was born in Anaheim, California but moved back to Mexico with her family at an early age. When she came back at the age of 17 she worked a season picking grapes. During this time she was also studying. It was then, that she first heard the name of Cesar Chavez. Inspired by his work, Erica decided to volunteer in the Delano office and get involved with la causa. Her determination made her a natural organizer, a post she has held for the past year, most recently organizing the Giumarra campaign.
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