1965 Grape Strike, launched by Filipino farm workers, is part of US labor history

 

Filipino farmworkers voted to strike against the California grape growers in 1965.

On September 8, 1965, Filipino American farm workers organized as the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) voted to strike against grape growers in Delano, California, to protest years of poor pay and working conditions.

The Delano Grape Strike grew from a long history of labor organizing and protest by Filipino workers in agriculture and canning on the West Coast. Led by Larry Itliong, AWOC asked the more cautious National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), a mostly Latino farm workers union led by Cesar Chavez, to join their strike.

To Delano resident Roger Gadiano, the nondescript Filipino Hall in town is a shrine. “This is our Mecca,” he says. “I guess it’s our Selma," referring to Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965, when some 600 civil rights marchers headed attempted to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge where state and local lawmen attacked them with billy clubs and tear gas and drove them back into Selma.

This decision by the Filipinos was a big risk for Delano’s grape workers. Many lived in company housing and could be evicted with little or no notice, and, indeed, many eventually were forced to leave their homes as a consequence of striking. There was also a risk that the growers might draw from the large population of Mexican and Mexican American farmworkers to replace the striking Filipino crews. Such tactics had long been an effective check on union power.

In August 1966, the two organizations merged to form the United Farm Workers (UFW), a union committed to nonviolent protest that sought to organize migrant farm laborers to improve their wages, education, housing, and legal protections.

The protest that began in the fields in Delano grew into a broader boycott that asked for help from consumers in urban areas. Filipino Americans living in the cities and suburbs supported the farm workers by bringing them groceries by the carload, lobbied their lawmakers and boycotted table grapes and wine.

By 1970, the UFW grape boycott was a success. Table grape growers signed their first union contracts, granting workers better pay, benefits, and protections.

In the decades that followed, the UFW continued to use nonviolent strikes, boycotts, marches, and fasts to help farm workers stand up for their rights and gather support from ordinary Americans to aid them in their efforts.

What began as a labor dispute in the fields of Delano blossomed into a civil rights struggle, a movement for achieving justice for farmworkers.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

New national park proposed to honor Cesar Chavez, Filipino labor leaders and the UFW

The Cesar Chavez National Monument in La Paz, CA would become part of the proposed
national park honoring the agricultural workers movement.

A bill was introduced to Congress to create a new national historical park to mark the life of Cesar E. Chavez and the wider farmworker movement including the pivotal role of Filipino labor leaders on Thursday, June 9.

The bill submitted by California's Rep Raul Ruiz and Senator Alex Padilla would designate a Cesar Chavez and Farmworker Movement National Historical Park, is the result of more than a decade of work by community advocates, members of Congress, and a wide range of organizations, including the National Parks Conservation Association.

If passed, the bill would expand the existing Cesar E. Chavez National Monument in La Paz, CA. and create a new park with multiple sites in California and Arizona. 

In addition to exploring Cesar Chavez’s life and work, the park will celebrate and share other leaders and aspects of the farmworker movement including Larry Itliong and the Filipino farmworkers who were instrumental to the creation of the United Farm Workers (UFW) union. Without Itliong and the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee that he represented and made up mostly of Filipinos, there would be no UFW.

(EDITOR'S OPINION INSERTED HERE: Perhaps a more appropriate name for the proposed park would be the "Chavez-Itliong and Farmworker Movement National Historical Park.")

The park would also include “The 40 Acres” in Delano, California, which served as the first headquarters for the UFW and the site of Agbayani Village, a retirement home for farmworkers. It would also include the route of the 300-mile farmworker march to Sacramento in 1966, which generated national attention to their struggle for dignity, better working conditions, and fair wages.

The legislation follows recommendations finalized by the National Park Service in 2012 from its multi-year study of the life of Cesar Chavez and the history of the farmworker movement in California and the West.

“It is crucial that our national parks represent the diversity of America and respect the rich heritage of its people. Establishing this National Park would help fulfill this vision,” said Dr. Michelle Magalong, President of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation. 

“Establishing such a park is an opportunity to spread the legacy and vision of Chavez and other leaders in the farm labor movement to audiences around the country. We support honoring the legacy of many leaders of the farm labor movement and support legislation by Senator Padilla and Representative Ruiz to establish the Cesar E. Chavez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park,” said Magalong.

Larry Itliong, right, and Cesar Chavez, left, were co-leaders of the UFW.

NPCA has been involved in multiple aspects of the effort for more than a decade, including calling for and celebrating the establishment of the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, supporting the Park Service in its multi-year study, facilitating conversations with key stakeholders and partners, and assisting the legislative offices now championing this effort in Congress.

“Only 8% of historic, cultural, and public land designations are based on Latino, Black, Indigenous and other communities of color histories and this offers an opportunity to expand our nation’s narrative to be inclusive of the histories and contributions of Latino communities in the United States.” said Shanna Edberg, Director of Conservation Programs for Hispanic Access Foundation. 

“Ten years after President Obama established the César E. Chávez National Monument, we call on Congress to build upon that foundation through a National Historical Park that will preserve the broader history of the Farmworker Movement – a movement that united heroic women and men who were seeking fairness and equality,” said Sehila Mota Casper, Executive Director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation. 

“We also recognize that the National Park Service must continue to improve upon its efforts to be America’s storyteller and thereby attract, educate, and serve America’s increasingly diverse population," Mota continued. "The César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park would interpret an important chapter in our nation’s history, celebrate our nation’s growing diversity, and strengthen the unity we must share today if we are to overcome the challenges of tomorrow.”

The NPCA played a similar role in the establishing the newest national park, the Amache National Historic Site in Colorado where thousands of Japanese Americans were unconstitutionally incarcerated during WWII. It gained national park status in March of this year.

“The new park will highlight Cesar Chavez’s life and work, as well as celebrate and share other leaders and aspects of the farmworker movement including Larry Itliong and the Filipino farmworkers, who were instrumental to the creation of the United Farm Workers," said Sally Garcia, Los Angeles Outreach Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).  

"It will play an important role in our political and social discourse in immigration, civil and labor rights, and issues relevant to the Latinx community,” 

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Campaign launched for a US postal stamp honoring Larry Itliong

What a Larry Itliong stamp might look like.

A former postal worker is spearheading an effort to have labor leader Larry Itliong on a U.S. postal stamp. 

Alfonso Salazar, a retired postal service employee, created an online form for people to indicate their support.

Ssalazar was inspired to launch his campaign last October when Itliong was inducted into the California Hall of Fame and Gov. Gavin Newsom declared Oct. 25, Itliong's birthday, be observed as Larry Itliong Day in the state.

He first learned about Itliong in 2014 when the motion picture Cesar Chavez hit the theaters. The movie created a controversy because in the final cut, the role of Itliong and Filipinos were relegated to the background.

Even though he is a Mexican American, he believes Itliong deserves to be on par with Cesar Chavez. The two men were instrumental in the 1965 Grape Strike that led to formation of the United Farm Workers by joining the Filipino farm workers with the Mexican workers. Chavez was granted a stamp in 2003. 

It was Itliong who convinced Chavez to join the grape strike started by the Filipino farm workers.

“I know (about Itliong), but I don’t know if the nation knows about him,” he said. “This is a good way for people to learn about him.”

“His actions and beliefs taught me to stand up for what I believe in even when it seems impossible or too difficult. It should never be about me. It should always be about 'We,'” said Itliong's daughter Patty Itliong Serda from an interview introducing the book about her father, “The Journey for Justice.”

In his 34 years working for USPS as a graphic artist, Salazar said he never saw a stamp honoring a Filipino.

The online petition as well as a letter proposing the Itliong stamp will be sent to Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations for new stamps. The approval process may take years.

Cesar Chavez, left, and Larry Itliong, right, founded the United Farm Workers.

Salazar hopes the online petition will generate community support, which the committee takes into consideration in evaluating a new stamp. It helps to have wide support not only from Filipino community leaders but from activists in the labor movement, allies from all races and politicians. When Chavez's stamp was approved, it had the support of then-California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the U.S. and State Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, and the Hispanic Caucus. 

“You learn the history for each stamp that comes out, and during the 34 years I’ve been [at USPS], I’ve gotten to learn a lot about our history here,” Salazar told the Inquirer. “It’s almost like, if stamps were like a quilt that represented the United States, then you have to include Filipino Americans as part of that quilt. Otherwise, there’s a piece missing.”

To learn more and to add your name to keep up to date on this USPS commemorative stamp effort for Larry Itliong, visit: www.realitymaniacs.com/larry-itliong

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

TGIF Feature: California celebrates life of labor leader Larry Itliong

LARRY ITLIONG

THURSDAY was Larry Itliong Day in California, the only state to have a day honoring a Filipino American.

What better way to mark the occasion than to listen to the students of the Larry Itliong-Philip Vera Cruz Middle School in Union City, California.

Hearing the young students sing "Solidarity Forever" is something I never could have imagined happening. It still gives me chills.

Larry Itliong Day was made a day of observance honoring the late labor leader in 2015 when Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Rob Bonta. Bonta is the first Filipino American elected to the California Assembly.

Itliong led the Filipino farm workers to strike for better wages in 1965. For two weeks the striking Filipinos endured threats and violence from goons hired by big agriculture.

He was able to persuade Cesar Chavez, leader of the Mexican farm workers to join the strike two weeks later. The two unions formed the United Farm Workers (UFW).

Because Oct. 25 fell on a Thursday, most of the observances will occur this Saturday or the following weekend. Some of the events honoring the Filipino American labor leader are listed below:

Historian Dawn Mabalon was working on
 this book when she passed away.

ALAMEDA
Saturday, Oct. 27
Bohol Circle, 1815 Union Street
Free Festival
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

CARSON
Saturday, Oct. 27
Veterans Park, 23400 Moneta Ave.
Free parade and festival
9 a.m.- 12 p.m.

CHULA VISTA

Saturday, Oct. 27

Otay Ranch Town Center, 2015 Birch Road

Free Fiesta
12 p.m.-4 p.m.

LOS ANGELES

Saturday, Oct. 27

1648 Beverly Blvd

Free Parade

9 a.m.-10 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO

Saturday, Oct. 27

Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St.

Free Book Launch of the late Dawn Mabalon's "Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong"

1 p.m.-3 p.m.

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Filipinos, Cesar Chavez and Hollywood

JUST FOR THE RECORD, With the recent release of a motion picture "Cesar Chavez" it should be noted that Filipino farmworkers began the grape boycott in 1965 forcing Chavez and the Mexican farmworkers to join in the strike.

The two unions became the United Farm Workers. Although led by Chavez, Andy Imutan and Larry Itliong were vice presidents and played major roles in cementing the UFW's role in labor history.

Unfortunately, in the movie, Filipinos were depicted only in minor roles, extras, spear carriers: a backdrop. You would think that in one of the few historical events in America where Filipinos played a major role, they would get more credit than what was shown on the screen.