Cesar Chavez with some of the 40 labor leaders who endorsed the table grape boycott in LosAngeles.

Labor Leaders, New MexicoGovernor Endorse Boycott

labor that we had in the late '60s andearly '70s."

At both the meeting and a pressconference the next day, Chavez pre­sented the UFW's new l4-minute film,"The Wrath of Grapes," which focuseson the plague of pesticides threateningfarm workers and consumers. Also fea­rured in the film are two other primaryissues in the current UFW boycott oftable grapes: free and fair elections forfarm workers and good-faith bargainingby growers (see page 15).New York City

Labor support during a three-dayvisit in New York City in early Juneproved as enthusiastic as it had been inLos Angeles. At a rally of tradeunionists in Herald Square indowntown New York, Chavez drama­tically held a bunch of grapes in the airand crushed them in his fist to demon­strate what effect their support wouldhave for the boycott. The people res­ponded with shouts of "Boycott

Farm labor leader Cesar Chavezkept up a steady pace of travels in Mayand June and gained valuable grapeboycott endorsements from laborleaders in Los Angeles and New YorkCity, from New Mexico Gov. ToneyAnaya, and from additional groups inTexas.Los Angeles

The series of trips promoting thetable grape boycott got off to astImning start in Los Angeles in mid­May with a massive display of laborsolidarity with Cesar Chavez and thefarm worker movement.

At a meeting of more than 40labor leaders representing millions ofsouthern California workers, Chavezexpressed his gratirude for laborsupport of farm worker boycotts in thepast and asked for their help onceagain. "The forces arrayed against usare stronger than ever, " Chavez said."Our boycott will be successful only ifwe have the same strong support from

......Ing EdIIpr'Armando Garcia

E!IIlII:;Cesar Chavez

Volume 3, Number 6

Food and JusticeJuly 1986

...... ,.,dbe lqIrdoPresident:Cesar ChavezSecretary-Treasurer:Peter VelascoFIISl Voce-President:Dolores Huerta5eoond Vice-President:Frank OrtizThird Voce-President:David Martinez

<I!>....."

IIImIIIm;Arturo RodriguezArturo MendozaOscar MondragonBen Maddock

Magazine of the United FarmWoi1(ers of America, AFL-CIOLa Paz, Keene, CA 93570

!"Od* Edltora·Roberto de Ia CruzRev. Chris HartmireArturo Rodriguez

YldIIm;Fr. Ken IrrgangKimberly K Lawson

I'botoggplw'Voctor Aleman

I'roducIIqn D!nIcIpr:Paul Chavez

FOOO AND JUSTICE (ISSN 0885­0704) is published monthly for $5 peryear by the Unhed Farm Worl<ers ofAmerica, AFL-eIO, Old Highway 58,La Paz, Calnomia 93570. Application10 mall at second-dass postage ratesis pending at KMne, Cafilomia.POSTMASTER: Send addresschanges to FOOO AND JUSTICE,P.O. 62. La Paz, CalIlomia 9357!'

It would be a wonderful thing -- and wishfulthinking -- if a major boycott like our current tablegrape boycott could De switched on and off like alight.

It w~~ld be even more wonderful if growerswere sensItIve enough to the human dignity of farmworkers so that boycotts wouldn't be necessary inthe first place.

But as we learned in our previous grapeboycotts, as Midwest farm workers learned in theirstruggle against Campbell's, and as thousands ofboycotters of Nestle's had to learn, it takes a longtime to mobilize public support and affect theprofits (not the morality, unfortunately) of growersand owners enough to win a boycott.

So we are again pleased to report evidence ofgrowing boycott support in this issue.' We werehappy to receive the endorsement of Gov. ToneyAnaya of New Mexico, and we were touchedthough not surprised, at the outpouring of suppo~from labor leaders representing millions of workersin Los Angeles and New York (see followingpages).

The big t1Imout of labor leaders who endorsedthe boycott in both cities - and in other U.S. andCanadian cities we have visited - convinces me thatall the talk about labor having lost its capacity forsolidarity is a lie.

California grape growers know in their heartsit is a lie, too. But only after the message reachestheir pocketbooks will we be able to t1Im the boy­cott switch off again. y

2 3

and regional director, and Steve Mutter,assistant regional director, Western States,International Ladies Garment Workers.

Nellie Crowley, executive secretary­treasurer, Laundry and Dry Cleaning Union;Joe Placentia, international representative,Region 6, United Auto Workers; W. C.Demers, special assistant to vice-president,District 9, and Rudy Mendoza, staff repre­sentative,CommunicationWorkersofAmer­ica; Richard Rothstein, general manager, andBarbara Mejia, assistant manager, SouthernCaliforniaJoint Board, Amalgamated Cloth­ing Textile Workers Union; Max Mont,executivedirector, Jewish LaborCommittee;Barbara Walthers, president, Orange CountyCoalition of Labor Union Women.

Bemie Sapiro, president, Council No.2, and Doug Maloney, president, GraphicCommunications Union, Local 404-M;Dallas Jones, president, Los Angeles FireFighters, Local 1014; Juan Rodriguez,president, United Steelworkers, Local 6700;Joe Scavo, business representative, SteamFitters, Local 250; Ernie Garcia, businessmanager, Paint Makers and Allied Trades,Local 1232; Arnold Medina, assistant busi­ness manager, International Brotherhood ofElectrical Workers, Local 18; and GeorgeRuznak, International Association of Mach-

several other appearances during thetwo-day visit included walking apicketline with striking Communi­cation Workers of America. "The labormovement is like a family:" Chavezsaid. "We're brothers and sisters. Wehave to stick together."

The following names are a partiallist of leaders who signed the "Wrathof Grapes" pledge card at pressconferences.Los Angeles

Jimmy Rodriguez, Sr., president, BillRobertson, secretary-treasurer, and Al Hern­andez, representative, all of the Los AngelesCounty Federation of Labor; Mary Yunt,

Thomas VanArsdale, representative of more than a million workers as the president of theNew York City Central Labor Council, endorses the table grape boycott.

president, Orange County Central LaborCouncil; Albert Gribell Velasco, president,Labor Council for Latin AmericanAdvancement; Ken Faulkner, president,Transport Workers Union; Herman Leavitt,generalsecretary-treasurer, andScottyAllan,secretary, Hotel Employees and RestaurantEmployees International Union; JustinOstrow,generalvice-president,Inter nationalAssociation of Machinists; Dave Sickler,national AFL-CIO field representative andcoordinator, Orange County OrganizingCommittee; Cornelius Wall, vice-president

Capitol press conference by NewMexico Gov. Toney Anaya. Anayaissued an official proclamation thaturged "all New Mexicans to supportCesar Chavez and the United FarmWorkers" and declared June 11"California Table Grape Boycott Day."

"I am pleased," Governor Anayasaid, "to present Cesar Chavez thisproclamation in support of his latestefforts to create a better, safer, heal­thier world."

The next day Chavez went to LasCruces and testified against the use ofbackbreaking shorthandled hoes and

,knives and the lack of decent sanitationfacilities for farm workers at a NewMexico Environmental ImprovementBoard hearing. (A few days later, theboard ordered the shorthandled toolsbanned and required growers to providecool drinking water and sanitation facil­ities for farm workers in the fields.)El Paso

After opening the visit with apress conference and a "Grapes ofWrath" signing ceremony, Chavez'

-1

~ \Cesar Chavez crushes table grapes in New York City to demonstrate the UFW'sdetermination to defeat the growers through the grape boycott.

grapes!"Also speaking l!-t the rally was

Thomas Van Arsdale, president of theNew York City Central Labor Coun­cil, who pledged Jabor 's support of theboycott. "Since New York is the lar­gest consumer market for Californiagrapes in the nation, I hereby pledgethe support of the 1.2 million mem­bers of the New York City CentralLabor Council to the 'Wrath of Grapes'campaign."

In addition to a steady round ofmedia appearances and meetings withlabor and community leaders, Chavezalso addressed an awards dinner spon­sored by the New York Metro AreaPostal Union, at which he was hon­ored as the "citizen who has done themost for workers." Present were thepostal union's International PresidentMoe Biller and President JosieMcMillian.New Mexico GovernorEndorses Boycott

A week later, Chavez flew toSanta Fe and was joined at a State

45

New Mexico Governor Toney Anaya declared June 11 "California Table Grape BoycottDay" and endorsed the boycott during a visit with Cesar Chavez.

Chris Schneider and Marcos Camacho accept certificates from Judge Takasugi during aswearing in ceremony and celebration at the UFW's headquarters.

tests is required for certification.To participate in the program appren­

tices must complete two years ofcollege or take an exam which is a twoyear equivalency test.

The UFW started the program in1977, and so far all the union vol­unteers who have taken the exam havepassed. The passing rate for the Cali­fornia Bar exam this spring was 28%.This percentage includes those whoattended law school.

The training program was a dreamof Cesar Chavez for many years. Hesaid, "A lot of people fmally believethat this dream is a reality. It is aprogram that works."

Office Law Study is just one of themany apprentice programs the UFWoffers to individuals who wish to workfor the union. Other training programsteach skills in such areas as computerprogramming and mechanics. Y

On June 14, Chris Schneider andMarcos Camacho, two UFW volun­teers, officially became attorneys-at­law. They were sworn in by JudgeRobert M. Takasugi at the unionheadquarters in Keene, California.

This may not seem like news. Butconsider this: Chris and Marcos are notcollege graduates. Neither has everbeen to law school.

Chris, 31, is from Indianapolis andhas been a volunteer in the union fortwelve years. Marcos, 27, was a farmworker at the age of 7 and joined theunion in 1979.

Chris and Marcos are attorneystoday because the UFW participates inan apprentice program called OfficeLaw Study. The apprentice programcombines textbooks and classes withpractical legal experience.

Apprentices in the program arerequired to study law for four years andto pass two bar exams. Passing these

Apprenticeship Program Works

AFL-CIO Committee on Political Educa­tion; Damasio Emeric, president, NationalAssociation for Puerto Rican CivilRights; and Fred Nauman.New Mexico

State Senators Sanchez, Cole, andCisneros; State Representative Ben Lujan(majority whip); Neal Gonzalez, executivesecretary-treasurer, New Mexico AFL-CIO;Father Leo Lucero, representing Santa FeArchbishop Robert Sanchez; Rev. JohnHowell, New Mexico Conference ofChurches; Rabbi LeonardHellman; and SamBaca, Big Brothers Organization.EI Paso

State Senators Ron Coleman and TatiSantiesteban; State Representatives PaulMoreno, Nancy McDonald, and Nick Perez;State Democratic Executive Committee­woman Patricia Roybal Sutton; DemocraticParty County Chairman Tom Diamond; EIPaso City Councilpersons Alicia Chaconand Tony Ponce; Victor Munoz, president ofthe Central Labor Council and GraphicsCommunications Union; Federico Esparza,United Steelworkers; and Rosa Eribes,president of the Communication Workers.

y

inists, Local 94.New York City

Jack Sheinkam, secretary-treasurer,Amalgamated Clothing andTextile WorkersUnion; Josie McMillian, president, NewYork Metro Area Postal Union; VictorGotbaum, executive director, DistrictCouncil 37, and Bettye Roberts, president,District Council 1707, American Federationof State, City, and Municipal Employees;Edwin Espaillat, vice-president, and RaeKahn,RetiredTeachers,UnitedFederationofTeachers; Irving Stem, international vice­president, United Food and CommercialWorkers.

David Dinkins, president, ManhattanBorough, who proclaimed June 4 "GrapeBoycott Day" in Manhattan; Ted Jacobsen,secretary, New York City Central LaborCouncil; George Altomare, vice-president,Italian-American Labor Council; RabbiJoseph Glaser, executive director, CentralConference of American Rabbis; _JosephBaumann, secretary-treasurer, and DonaldMumm, vice-president, Service EmployeesInternational Union 32b-j; HumphreyDonahue, director, Region VII, AFL-CIO;Dennis Hughes, director, New York State

6 7

Pandol worker Juan Magana shows that 'he and the table grapes are unprotected frompesticide exposure. I Growers, such as Pandol, use tractors like this to spray pesticides on California table

grapes.

Pandol Workers Reveal PesticideAbuses

Jack Pandol is a very rich man.He is pals with the California gover­nor and government officials.

His companies pack and ship over100 varieties of nuts, fruits and vege­tables. He owns thousands of acres ofprime farm land. In 1984, he estimatedthe sales of his companies at $200million, and he has grown since then.He owns many companies, includingchemical supply businesses.

Perhaps it is his weaIth andpower that make him and his companyofficials believe that they can disregardlaws and regularly put their workers indanger.

This is not the image Pandolwants to portray. He tells the pressthat he has "very good, very positive"relations with the workers.

8

But the workers have a verydifferent interpretation ofmanagement!labor relations at Pandol's companies.These workers have horror stories ofthe way they are treated.

Juan Magana, an employee ofPandol's for over five years, is onesuch worker. Here is just one of hisstories. This 'occurred this past April.

"We were getting off work. Atthis time we were spraying grapes. Iwas told I would be working a littlelater and was instructed to fill a tankwith water. I filled it with 500 gallonsof water. The chemist then gave mewhat appeared to be something like anAnacin tablet ground up.

"It was wrapped in plastic andthen again in paper. He handed it tome and then backed away. I wondered

why he backed away from me soquickly.

"I tried not to breathe when I putit in the tank. He told me to sprayonly one row of grapes. I don't knowwhat it was, but it was 500 gallons ofwater with that chemical in it on onlyone row. The chemist told me if therewas any left over to throw it in thestreet."

According to Juan's account andthe testimony of other workers at Pan­dol, the company regularly endangersits workers by exposing them to dan­gerous pesticides.

Juan Tejas relates how the work­ers are used to cover up the use ofpesticides which may be illegal. Hesaid that supervisors at Pandol gavehim a can labeled "Roundup" (a widelyused herbicide). He was told to placeanother pesticide inside the "Roundup"can so, his supervisor said, "we don'thave any problems with the inspec­tor."

In violation of the law, thecompany does not issue protectiveclothing. In its handbook, Pandolpromises workers they will have "safe­ty equipment and protective clothing"when working with pesticides. This isa lie.

Juan Magana says, "They do notgive me any kind of protection•• nogloves, mask, glasses, not even waterto wash my hands. I put my hands inthe chemicals and mix them with thewater. Then we go with the machinesto spray it on the fields.

"One day we sprayed Dinoseb.Everyday we spray something dif­ferent. I am covered with the materialso that I am white. The spray fallsinto my face."

What kind of safety precautionsdo the company officials take? Accord­ing to the workers, the most they do istell the workers not to eat the fruitthey are working with.

Jose Luis Cejas, a Pandol worker

9

Rabbi Joseph B. Glaser is the ExecutiveVice President ofthe Central Conference ofAmerican Rabbis.

But the Bible also says: "Rob notthe poor...for God will plead theircause and spoil the soul of those thatspoiled them" (Proverbs 22:22F). Yes,those who so do wrong know it, andtheir sense of guilt at treating fellowhuman beings shamefully eats quietlyaway at one's spirit, and does indeed"spoil the soul."

How liberating and joyful itwould be for growers to open theirhearts to their brothers and sisters andshare more of the yield of their labor!They would gain more than the work­ers. But, until they do, we who hearthe call of justice from Sinai must bethe echo chamber by expressing ourdispleasure of the mistreatment ofGod's children by word and deed. God'sjustice will prevail.y

11

"Thou shalt not oppress a hiredworker who is poor and needy," com­mands the book of Deuteronomy, thefifth book of the Holy Bible, (24:14).Even as the children of Israel were stillon the march through the wilderness tothe promised land, this simple rule ofjustice became a part of their values,as ordered by God. All Jews,Christians and Moslems, the spiritualheirs of those slaves freed fromEgyptian bon·dage, are bound by thatlaw, whether they live in the MiddleEast, in New York -- or in California.

Yet the law is violated daily,year after year, by growers who treatfarm workers with disdain and neglectborn of greed and driven by arrogance.Elections are ignored, promises bro­ken, agreements and judgments vio­lated, lethal pesticides are strewn, oftenwithout warning or advisement, andviolence sheds blood and tears. It isoppression -- un-Godly oppression.

GUEST COLUMN

Thou Shalt Not OppressBy Rabbi Joseph B. Glaser

close to him to apply pesticides. Hecomplained to the supervisor becausehe was afraid the chemicals wouldmake him ill. Jorge said that thesupervisor responded, "You're not go­ing to die. Anyway there's lots ofMexicans to take your place."

How does Pandol respond to theseaccusations of blatant disregard for hu­man welfare and the law? He doesn't.He refused to return any of severalcalls placed at his office.

Juan Magana continues workingto support his family. He said, "I takecare to put my shoes and clothes in thetrunk of my car when 1 come home,and I lock it. I know they are dan­gerous chemicals. They (company offi­cials) don't care. They are angry be­cause the workers want the union.

"The growers meet at theirorganizations. They have their meet­ings. Why don't they let us have ourorganization? Let us have a meeting?"

y

said, "Most of the time, the foremantells us the fruit is very dangerous andpoisonous to eat."

Another precaution the foremantakes is to stay away from the chem­icals they have ordered the workers tospray. Juan Magana said, "When theycheck to see if 1 am applying thechemicals properly, they stay in theirtrucks. They seem to be afraid of thepesticides. They roll up their windows.They know what poisons are beingsprayed. If they want to talk to you,they make motions to shut thespraying down; then when everythingis stopped, they come over to talk toyou. We are bathed up to our ears withthese chemicals."

Juan Magana said he regularlysuffers from headaches, nausea andrashes.

Jorge Cordero, another Pandolworker, said he recently was workingin a field when a sprayer came very

Juan Magana and other Pandol workers gather at the UFW office in Delano, CA todescribe their working conditions and relate pesticide horror stories.

Chris Hartmire, general manager of theSocial Marketing Department.

UFW InauguratesOrganizationalDivisions

After several week-long planningsessions covering a year and a half, theUnited Fann Workers has now inaugu­rated a new organizational plan formany of its programs and projects.

The broad title is MarketingGroup, headed by Group ExecutiveCesar Chavez, UFW president. Report­ing to the Group Executive are theGeneral Managers of four divisions:Social Marketing, Recruitment Market­ing, Public Relations, and Donor Mar­keting.

"We needed to make adjustmentsto keep pace with the new marketingmethods business and advertising areusing," Chavez said. "It was a case of

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'do or die' if we intended to keep thefann worker cause moving ahead."Social Marketing

One of the new divisions isSocial Marketing, headed by Rev.Chris Hartmire, general manager. Un­der this division are such programs astelemarketing, the direct-mail program,advertising, and research. The primarygoal of this division in the present lifeof the fann worker movement is towin the UFW's international boycottof table grapes.

"Practically everything we arenow doing is directed to winning theboycott," Hartmire said. "If we don'tdo that, we won't have any union to dosocial marketing for."

One of the key elements in thisdivision is research. In addition toreaching boycott supporters throughmailings and by telephone and per­sonal contact, much prior research andtesting have to be done. "Sprayingmailings all over the country isn'tgoing to produce much support,"Hartmire said. "We have to target thepeople most likely to help us and thenreach them as efficiently and as inex­pensively as possible."Recruitment

A ~econd division of the Market­ing Group is recruitment, headed by itsgeneral manager, Roberto de la Cruz.This division emphasizes, not surpris­ingly, the recruitment of volunteerswho are concerned about helping fannworkers.

"For the first time in ourmovement's history, we have deve­loped a wide-ranging program that willattract good candidates, that meets theirpersonal needs while they work withus, that orientates them to our move-

Roberto de la Cruz, general manager of theRecruitment Marketing Department

Armando Garcia, general manager of PublicRelations.

ment, and that trains them for posi­tions they are interested in," De laCruz said.Public Relations

The third division under theMarketing Group is Public Relations,with Armando Garcia serving as itsgeneral manager. The primary items inthis division are films and filmstrips,video and audio cassettes, and a varietyof printed materials. This divisionpresently produces monthly publica­tions for fann workers (El Malcriado)and supporters (Food and Justice).

"We are probably the least­developed division of the MarketingGroup now, but we're off and running,and in a few more months there'll beno stopping us," Garcia said.Donor Marketing

Under the umbrella of the fourthdivision, Donor Marketing, headed byArturo Rodriguez, general manager andalso a member of the union's nationalexecutive board, are such programs asunion leaders' media tours, visitinggroups, the solidarity membershipdrive (see following page), a speakers'bureau, boycott endorsements, and theboycott pledge card program.

"Nearly everything we do rightnow is aimed at winning the tablegrape boycott, and we love it,"Rodriguez said. "But we also want towin that fast so we can get going on alot of good projects that are now onhold because of it." Y

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Arturo Rodriguez, general manager of the Donor Marketing Department.

Amalia Larios, born with a piece of herspine missing, is just one.victim of pesti­cide abuse featured in the UFW's new film.

viewer goes into the homes of twofann worker families tragically affectedby pesticides. One child, four-year-oldAmalia Larios, will never walkbecause she was born with a piece ofher spine missing. Her mother workedin fields sprayed with deadly pesticidesin the first months of her pregnancy.

The film also points out the dan­gers of pesticide residues to consumersand the pesticide threat to residents oftowns bordering fields full of pesti­cides.

Fann labor leader Cesar Chavez,interviewed in the film, says thismadness has to be stopped and can beif consumers join the boycott andpressure growers into agreeing to stopusing these deadly pesticides.

The 14-minute color film isavailable in 3/4" video, 1/2" VHSvideo, and 16 mm. For more infor­mation on "The Wrath of Grapes"film, please write: Cesar Chavez,P.O. Box 62, Keene, CA 9353L Y

UFW ProducesNew BoycottFilm--ActorMike FarrellNarrates

The United Fann Workers nowhas available a new film -- "The Wrathof Grapes" -- professionally producedwith narration by actor Mike Farrell,well known for his role in the TVseries "M.A.S.H."

The dynamic and moving fUmgraphically illustrates the extent towhich grape growers have gone toprevent fann workers from partici­pating in free and fair elections. Onescene includes dramatic footage ofcompany thugs destroying a pollingplace and terrorizing fann workers andstate agents during an election.

There is also a moving interviewwith Dolores Lopez, whose 21-year­old son Rene was murdered by acompany agent shortly after leaving apolling place during a state-supervisedelection.

Most of the fl1m, however,focuses on growers' reckless use ofdangerous pesticides and their threat tofann workers and consumers. "TheWrath of Grapes" takes the viewer intothe fields to see the effects of pesticidespraying on fann workers. Then the

positive," he said.In exchange for weekly contribu­

tions, supporters receive union recogni­tion and union publications. They alsoreceive something more important.

"The program will allow suppor­ters to become actively involved;'·Rodriguez said. "It will bring consum­

ers and fann workers together. It willnot only help fann workers with theircause, but it will also help consumersbecau~e the boycott is for consumerstoo."

The classifications for the groupsolidarity membership are: GoldenEagle Membership ($25 per week);Silver Eagle Membership ($10 perweek); Black Eagle Membership ($5per week).

The classifications for individualsolidarity membership are as follows:Golden Eagle membership ($10 perweek); Silver Eagle Membership ($5per week); and Black Eagle Member­ship ($1 per week). y

UFW Opens Membership toSupporters

The United Fann Workers recent­ly announced a new program whichwill allow union supporters to becomeunion members.

The program was initiated be­cause many supporters, have askedhow they can become members of theunion and help the table grape boycottcampaign. The Solidarity Membershipprogram was designed to meet thisneed.

Arturo Rodriguez, national execu­tive board member and general mana­ger of the Donor Marketing depart­ment, is in charge of the program. Heexplained, "Through weekly contribu­tions to 'The Wrath of Grapes' cam­paign, groups and individuals can be­come associate members of the union:'

Rodriguez noted that the LosAngeles County Labor Federation hasalready become a member, as well asindividuals in New York, NewMexico, California and Texas. "Initialreaction to the program has been very

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