19th Constitutional Convention of the
United Farm Worker of America
May 18 – 20, 2012
Bakersfield, California
Presented by the Union Executive Board of the United Farm Workers
CIVIC PARTICIPATION RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez began organizing in the 1950s with the Community Service Organization (CSO), which organized farm workers to demand their rights and conducted voter registration drives; and
WHEREAS, the United Farm Workers of America has historically been instrumental in increasing the Latino vote in many parts of this country; and
WHEREAS, the Latino vote has increased to the point that, as a bloc, it has influenced local, state, and national elections;
WHEREAS, there are millions of Latinos who may be able to become citizens and then vote, but need legal assistance and guidance to pass the citizenship test; and
WHEREAS, there are millions of Latinos who can, but have not registered to vote; and
WHEREAS, through active civic participation, we have and will continue to dramatically improve the policies at the school districts that our children attend, in the communities where we live and work; and in the states and countries where farm workers and Latinos live; and
WHEREAS, there are many policies that still need to be changed, such as federal immigration laws, the exclusion of farm workers from federal laws that protect other workers; and
WHEREAS, through voting and communicating with decision-makers, we can hold them accountable so that laws that protect farm workers are enforced and/or passed through government bodies;
WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez said, “We don’t need perfect political systems; we need perfect participation”.
THEREFORE, be it resolved, that it is through active civic participation and through hard work to ensure that more Latinos become citizens, vote, and voice their needs, that we will honor and continue the legacy of this union for the next 50 years. Due to this participation, we will win national legislation giving farm workers the right to organize, the inclusion of farm workers in the laws that protect other workers, fair immigration laws, and in every level of government the first Latino/a President.
THEREFORE, be it resolved, that we will develop mechanism that will provide the financial resource needed to elect individuals that will best serve the interest of Farm Workers and Latinos.