California's Farmworker Movement History and the United Farm Workers

By: Alex Santiago

California and its history with farmworkers and people's resistance

California's Farmworkers Movement

To learn more, click this link on California's Agricultural History!

• Mexican Land Grants (1821-1848): After Mexico gained independence, large land grants were given to settlers, promoting ranching and farming, particularly in Southern California.
• The Gold Rush (1848-1855): The influx of people during the Gold Rush increased demand for food, leading to the expansion of agriculture, particularly in the Central Valley.
• Transcontinental Railroad (1869): The completion of the railroad facilitated the transport of agricultural goods, enabling California farmers to reach national markets.
• Irrigation Developments (late 19th - early 20th century): Advances in irrigation technology, including canals and pumps, transformed arid land into productive farmland, allowing for crops like citrus and grapes to thrive.
• Post-WWII Agricultural Boom: The mid-20th century saw a significant increase in agricultural production, driven by mechanization, chemical fertilizers, and the expansion of California's diverse crop base.

Early History of California's Agricultural Industry

• Established in 1942: The Bracero Program allowed over 4.5 million Mexican workers to temporarily work in U.S. agriculture during labor shortages caused by World War II.
• Labor Conditions: While it boosted agricultural production, many braceros faced poor living conditions and exploitation, leading to criticism and protests regarding their rights.
• Lasting Impact: The program continued until 1964, influencing U.S.-Mexico relations and immigration patterns, as well as facilitating cultural exchange between the two countries.

First farmworker exploitations: The Bracero Program

• Migrant workers struggled with limited educational opportunities for their children, lived in poverty and substandard housing, and encountered discrimination and violence while seeking fair treatment. These included:
• Substandard Housing: Migrant workers often resided in overcrowded and poorly maintained housing, with inadequate sanitation and basic amenities.
• Discrimination: Migrants faced racial and ethnic discrimination in various aspects of life, including employment, education, and community relations, leading to social isolation.
• Health Risks: Poor working conditions in agriculture exposed migrant workers to health hazards, such as pesticide exposure, without access to adequate healthcare.

Conditions for Migrant Workers

• Cesar Chavez's Early Life: Born in 1927 in Arizona, Cesar Chavez experienced discrimination as a child of migrant farmworkers, attended 37 schools, and dropped out after 8th grade to support his family.
• In 1962, Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association, later creating the United Farm Workers with Dolores Huerta, leading nonviolent strikes and protests for workers' rights amid violent opposition.
• Chavez’s efforts helped establish the right to organize and improve pay and working conditions for farmworkers, earning solidarity from figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who recognized their shared struggle for equality.

Creation of the UFW

• Storytelling was and continues to be a central element in organizing farmworkers and bringing light to their struggle; partially because within these communities of migrants, storytelling was the best was to paint a story of resistance
• Storytelling personalized the struggles of migrant workers, fostering empathy and awareness while mobilizing support for labor rights.

• Encouraging workers to share their stories empowered them and created a historical record that informs future generations about labor activism.
• Storytelling also historically is how Upton Sinclair, through The Jungle, was able to bring the working class struggle to America's view

Storytelling and the UFW

• The UFW achieved significant victories through protests, including the 1970 California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, which granted farmworkers the right to unionize and engage in collective bargaining.
• Grape Boycott: The successful grape boycott in the late 1960s and early 1970s drew national attention, leading to improved wages and working conditions for thousands of farmworkers and solidifying the UFW’s influence.
• Today, the UFW continues to advocate for the rights of farmworkers, focusing on fair wages, safe working conditions, and social justice while addressing contemporary issues such as immigration reform and environmental sustainability.

The UFW's wins and current struggle