Keene, CA – The United Farm Workers (UFW) announce today plans to celebrate the organization’s 50 years of service on behalf of the farm worker in America. The organization founded by Cesar Chavez in 1962, will host a year-long celebration in 2012 with a series of events. The UFW has partnered with the premier branding event agency LatinPointe to produce and promote the historic events.
The UFW is the oldest Latino organization to come out of the 1960’s civil rights movement and the largest farm worker organization in America. The group continues to be at the forefront of protecting America’s farm workers, ensuring a safe and just food supply and a safe working environment, free from intimidation and threats to achieve a higher standard of living for them and their families.
“The 50th Anniversary Convention will be among the many momentous events, attended by hundreds of farm workers from California, Oregon, Washington, Florida, Texas and other states. The delegates will elect UFW leaders and prepare to take on the major challenges facing farm workers and Latinos across the U.S.,” said UFW President Arturo Rodriguez.
Arguably the most historic Hispanic civil rights leader in America, Cesar Chavez and his “Si Se Puede!®” (Yes We Can!) UFW movement has united thousands behind la causa or the cause and plight of farm workers. What began in an abandoned movie theater in Fresno, is today a powerful union committed to improving conditions for workers that pick this country’s fruits and vegetables. Through picket lines, boycotts and peaceful marches as recent as weeks ago, the UFW has achieved unprecedented gains that include collective bargaining agreements with growers; advancing laws granting farm workers the right to organize, choose their own union representative and bargain with their employers for union contracts and prohibiting pesticide spraying while workers are in the fields.
The UFW’s 2012 commemorative events schedule includes 50th Anniversary Convention May 17-20 in Bakersfield, CA, and a 10-city California concert tour featuring top recording artists. The UFW will also announce a 50th Anniversary Honorary Co-Chair committee comprised of civil rights leaders, public officials and celebrities.
For more information contact UFW contact Teresa Romero, execoffice@ufw.org (661) 823-6105 or Sarah Chavez, schavez@latinpointe.com 913-660-6515.