Marking a year of accomplishment in 2014
While enjoying the holiday season and planning for the New Year, we look back on a busy year of much accomplishment during 2014. The United Farm Workers renegotiated union contracts protecting thousands of berry, citrus, wine grape, vegetable, flower and almond workers—with improvement for workers in each UFW contract.
We continued helping some 5,000 workers at Gerawan Farming Inc. win implementation their state-issued union contract with the nation’s biggest tree fruit producer. Months of hearings before a state administrative judge are still underway, taking testimony exposing serious, multiple and repeated violations of the law. More than 60 workers have already testified, recounting intimidation and illegal company efforts to get rid of their union.
Of course, this year’s greatest triumph was President Obama’s executive order freeing millions of immigrants—including at least 250,000 farm workers—from abuse and intimidation. It represents 14 years of unceasing efforts by farm workers and the UFW to mobilize national opinion behind immigration reform.
We were also on the front lines of winning legislative reforms that will make a difference for California farm workers: SB 1087 protects farm workers from sexual harassment. SB 1360 ensures workers will get paid during periods when they recover from exposure to the heat. AB 1897 holds companies responsible for payment of wages and benefits even when growers use farm labor contractors. We also continued working hard across the state and nation to safeguard farm workers and consumers from the irresponsible use of pesticides.
Protecting farm workers in the U.S. and abroad is the result of years of work by the UFW through our Equitable Food Initiative. We helped found EFI to bring together retailers, environmental and human rights groups to enforce basic labor, environmental and consumer protections on farms both in America and in other countries.
The nationwide release in 2014 of Director Diego Luna’s feature film Cesar Chavez let us share the rich legacy of Cesar and our movement with millions of others. We organized a special outdoor screening before more than 1,000 farm workers who traveled from across California to our “Forty Acres” complex near Delano (where many real events depicted in the film took place). Studio officials said it was the most unique “Hollywood” premiere they had ever seen.
With your help, we will do it all over again next year. Please also mark your calendar for September 2015, when the UFW and the farm worker movement will organize major observances marking the 50th anniversary of the historic Delano Grape Strike.
¡Si Se Puede!
Arturo S. Rodriguez, President
United Farm Workers of America