Changes

[[Image:Cchavez.jpg|right]]

[[Image:Cchavez.jpg|right]]

'''Cesar Chavez''' or '''César Chávez''' (1927-1993), was an American labor leader and [[Latino]] civil rights activist, founder of the '''[[United Farm Workers]]''' ('''UFW'''). His public-relations approach to unionism and aggressive but nonviolent tactics made the farm workers' struggle a moral cause with nationwide support. By the late 1970s, his tactics had forced growers to recognize the UFW as the bargaining agent for 50,000 field workers in California and Florida. However by the mid-1980s membership in the UFW had dwindled to around 15,000.  His work is said to have led to many improvements in the working conditions experienced by farmhands.   

'''Cesar Chavez''' or '''César Chávez''' (1927-1993), was an American labor leader and [[Latino]] civil rights activist, founder of the '''[[United Farm Workers]]''' ('''UFW'''). His public-relations approach to unionism and aggressive but nonviolent tactics made the farm workers' struggle a moral cause with nationwide support. By the late 1970s, his tactics had forced growers to recognize the UFW as the bargaining agent for 50,000 field workers in California and Florida. However, by the mid-1980s membership in the UFW had dwindled to around 15,000.  His work is said to have led to many improvements in the working conditions experienced by farmhands.   

Chavez was charismatic; a self-taught rhetorical genius he created commitment by inspiring well educated Latino idealists with undiscovered organizing potential and encouraged them to offer a liberating, self-abnegating devotion to the farmworkers' movement.  Claiming as his models the violent Mexican warlord [[Emiliano Zapata]] as well as non-violent leaders [[Gandhi]], [[Nehru]] and [[Martin Luther King]], Chavez called on his people to, "Make a solemn promise: to enjoy our rightful part of the riches of this land, to throw off the yoke of being considered as agricultural implements or slaves. We are free men and we demand justice."

Chavez was charismatic; a self-taught rhetorical genius he created commitment by inspiring well educated Latino idealists with undiscovered organizing potential and encouraged them to offer a liberating, self-abnegating devotion to the farmworkers' movement.  Claiming as his models the violent Mexican warlord [[Emiliano Zapata]] as well as non-violent leaders [[Gandhi]], [[Nehru]] and [[Martin Luther King]], Chavez called on his people to, "Make a solemn promise: to enjoy our rightful part of the riches of this land, to throw off the yoke of being considered as agricultural implements or slaves. We are free men and we demand justice."

With the UFW and Teamsters in competition, by 1980 the entry-level hourly wage moved up over $7, and working conditions had significantly improved. The UFW had 50,000 workers under contract and hundreds of militant activists and organizers.   

With the UFW and Teamsters in competition, by 1980 the entry-level hourly wage moved up over $7, and working conditions had significantly improved. The UFW had 50,000 workers under contract and hundreds of militant activists and organizers.   

Under Chavez the essential activity of the UFW was support work and publicity, primarily the boycott, rather than organizing farm workers in the fields. The very best farmworker activists, the strongest "Chavistas," were removed from the fields and direct contact with farmworkers, so that they could be sent to work in the boycott offices of major cities.  The UFW was one of the least democratic unions in the country, with local officials appointed by the UFW executive board and under the direct control of Chavez. Most union staff served at his pleasure, and any local leaders who sought any real power independent of Chavez were fired by him. Chavez's insistence that the union's best strategies were marching and fasting resulted in the departure of key staffers who needed more than the union's salary of $5 a week and room and board.  But by 1990 all the gains were lost. The lack of organizational strength among farm workers, together with fading support for boycotts, and a new Republican governor in Sacramento in 1983, allowed the largest growers to replace union contracts with labor contractors or to refuse to renegotiate UFW contracts when they expired. Average hourly wages fell to to $5 and the UFW lost 80% of its membership as only 1% of California farm workers were union members.<ref>Frank Bardacke, "Cesar's Ghost: Decline and Fall of the U.F.W.", ''The Nation'' (July 26, 1993) [http://www.thenation.com/doc/19930726/bardacke/single online version]</ref>     

Under Chavez the essential activity of the UFW was support work and publicity, primarily the boycott, rather than organizing farm workers in the fields. The very best farmworker activists, the strongest "Chavistas," were removed from the fields and direct contact with farmworkers, so that they could be sent to work in the boycott offices of major cities.  The UFW was one of the least democratic unions in the country, with local officials appointed by the UFW executive board and under the direct control of Chavez. Most union staff served at his pleasure, and any local leaders who sought any real power independent of Chavez were fired by him. Chavez's insistence that the union's best strategies were marching and fasting resulted in the departure of key staffers who needed more than the union's salary of $5 a week and room and board.  But by 1990 all the gains were lost. The lack of organizational strength among farm workers, together with fading support for boycotts, and a new Republican governor in Sacramento in 1983, allowed the largest growers to replace union contracts with labor contractors or to refuse to renegotiate UFW contracts when they expired. Average hourly wages fell to $5 and the UFW lost 80% of its membership as only 1% of California farm workers were union members.<ref>Frank Bardacke, "Cesar's Ghost: Decline and Fall of the U.F.W.", ''The Nation'' (July 26, 1993) [http://www.thenation.com/doc/19930726/bardacke/single online version]</ref>     

[[Image:Chavez1969.jpg|thumb|280px|''Time'' magazine July 4, 1969]]

[[Image:Chavez1969.jpg|thumb|280px|''Time'' magazine July 4, 1969]]

==Image and Memory==

==Image and Memory==