Thursday November 12, in New York
Chavez’s successor rallies support for West Coast berry workers cause among labor, political & religious leaders
United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez spends a whirlwind day in New York City Thursday urging top labor, political and religious leaders to help 20,000 California strawberry pickers improve their lives.
The visit by Rodriguez, successor and son-in-law to legendary UFW founder Cesar Chavez, comes a week after the election of California Democratic Gov.-elect Gray Davis, who is expected to boost organizing prospects by that state’s farm workers. A veteran UFW organizer before taking the union’s helm after Chavez’s death in 1993, Rodriguez has led the labor group to 17 straight union election victories and 21 new contracts with growers.
Berry pickers laboring for growers associated with Driscoll, the nation’s largest strawberry corporation, to often face low pay, pesticide-treated fields, poor housing and intimidation if they band together with the UFW. A major union organizing drive seeks to improve West Coast strawberry
worker pay and conditions despite bitter opposition from the state’s $600 million-a-year strawberry industry.
Highlights from Rodriguez’s schedule on Thursday, Nov. 12, 1998 include:9:30-11 a.m.-Meeting with religious leaders at West Park Presbyterian Church, 165 West 86th St. (corner of Amsterdam Ave.)
9:30-11 a.m.-Meeting with religious leaders at West Park Presbyterian Church, 165 West 86th St. (corner of Amsterdam Ave.)
3:30-4 p.m.-Session with Bronx elected officials at the Bronx Borough President’s office, 851 Grand Concourse.
6-7 p.m.-Reception with labor leaders at AFSCME District Council 1707, 75 Varick St., 14th floor (corner Canal St.).
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