Bakersfield, CA – Today, UFW President Teresa Romero delivered the UFW President’s Report to the UFW’s before the UFW’s elected worker delegates and national executive board before the UFW’s quadrennial convention in Bakersfield. The President’s Report highlighted UFW’s numerous campaigns and accomplishments since the date of the last UFW convention in 2020, which was held virtually at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most significantly, UFW President Teresa Romero highlighted the UFW’s 80% membership growth in the past 2 years thanks to new laws expanding farm worker unionization rights in California and New York and urged all UFW rank-and-file members to take on a leadership and ownership role in the growing organizing wave.
“Looking back at these past few years, it is just amazing what we have all accomplished together,” said UFW President Teresa Romero. “We are not just surviving, we are GROWING our union. More workers under union contract will raise standards for everyone.”
“There is so much more work to be done, and this work is in YOUR hands.” continued UFW President Teresa Romero, addressing the UFW’s elected membership. “YOU are the union. If you have a seasonal job at a non-union farm, you can be that leader. It will take all of us to stand up, to refuse to go back to how things were.”
“Every worker is an organizer,” concluded UFW President Teresa Romero. “Reach out. Speak out. Stay connected. I know that we can keep up this incredible momentum. When the law is on our side, we can win and we will win. Together, we will grow our union and raise standards for farm workers across the country. Are you all ready to look ahead at 2025, and keep growing our power?”
Since 2018, Teresa Romero has been President of the United Farm Workers, representing thousands of union farm workers in California, Oregon, Washington, and Oregon. Born in Mexico, Teresa is the first Latina immigrant to lead a national union. She is the third President of the UFW, following the tenures of Cesar Chavez and Arturo Rodriguez. In 2024, Teresa was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden in recognition for her leadership on behalf of farm workers.
Teresa’s full report before the UFW convention can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/vBm-kvxzy7E
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