Changes

==Farm Workers==

==Farm Workers==

In 1962 Chavez resigned from the CSO, moved to Delano, California, and founded the National Farm Workers Association ('''NFWA'''), precursor of the UFW. Dolores Huerta (b. 1930), was cofounder, first vice president and director of negotiations.<ref>Richard A. Garcia, "Dolores Huerta: Woman, Organizer, and Symbol." ''California History'' 1993 72(1): 56-71. Issn: 0162-2897</ref>  Both Chavez and Huerta were personally mentored by Fred Ross.<ref>[http://action.ufw.org/page/s/fredross Ask President Obama to award Presidential Medal of Freedom to Cesar's mentor, Fred Ross Sr.]</ref>

In 1962 Chavez resigned from the CSO, moved to Delano, California, and founded the National Farm Workers Association ('''NFWA'''), precursor of the UFW. [[Dolores Huerta]] (b. 1930), was cofounder, first vice president and director of negotiations.<ref>Richard A. Garcia, "Dolores Huerta: Woman, Organizer, and Symbol." ''California History'' 1993 72(1): 56-71. Issn: 0162-2897</ref>  Both Chavez and Huerta were personally mentored by Fred Ross.<ref>[http://action.ufw.org/page/s/fredross Ask President Obama to award Presidential Medal of Freedom to Cesar's mentor, Fred Ross Sr.]</ref>

At first, Chavez concentrated on building a grassroots power base among the field workers. In 1965 the NFWA first engaged in militant action by supporting a strike of Filipino grape pickers organized by the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) led by Larry Itliong.  Although the NFWA was weak, Chavez led his 2,000 members out on strike in support of the smaller group.  

At first, Chavez concentrated on building a grassroots power base among the field workers. In 1965 the NFWA first engaged in militant action by supporting a strike of Filipino grape pickers organized by the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) led by Larry Itliong.  Although the NFWA was weak, Chavez led his 2,000 members out on strike in support of the smaller group.  

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>     

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==

On the highly symbolic date of July 4, 1969 ''Time Magazine'' featured Chavez on its cover and hailed him  as the "mystical" and "earthy" leader of the Mexican American civil rights movement, and the Chicano Martin Luther King Jr.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,840167,00.html "The Little Strike That Grew to La Causa," ''Time'' July 4, 1969]</ref> resident Bill Clinton awarded Chavez a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom; the Post Office issued a first-class stamp with his picture in 2003; and California made his birthday an official state holiday. Schools, libraries, and streets have been named for him in California, Arizona, Texas, Minnesota, and other states.

On the highly symbolic date of July 4, 1969 ''Time Magazine'' featured Chavez on its cover and hailed him  as the "mystical" and "earthy" leader of the Mexican American civil rights movement, and the Chicano Martin Luther King Jr.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,840167,00.html "The Little Strike That Grew to La Causa," ''Time'' July 4, 1969]</ref> resident Bill Clinton awarded Chavez a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom; the Post Office issued a first-class stamp with his picture in 2003; and California made his birthday an official state holiday. Schools, libraries, and streets have been named for him in California, Arizona, Texas, Minnesota, and other states.