Cesar Chavez And The Bracero Movement

“The consumer boycott is the only open door in the dark corridor of nothingness down which farm workers have had to walk for many years. It is a gate of hope through which they expect to find the sunlight of a better life for themselves and their family” (Cesar Chavez) As one can see the United States has had many reasons for unsuccessful organization of farm workers. Even thought the National Farm Labor Union enjoyed little to no success they faced many obstacles with the manipulation of the bracero program. With the help of many people Cesar Chavez overcame those obstacles and led the first successful organization of farm workers in U.S history. Japanese and Mexican farm workers attempted to come together to fight for better wages and better

This arrangement was an agreement between the United States ands Mexico, which helped depress wages in the agricultural labor by recruiting temporary workers. The program became Public law in 1951 and it began during World War II when growers had a shortage of workers. Even though it was an agreement to just be recruited meanwhile the World War II was on it continued way after the war. The Public Law stated that no bracero could replace a domestic worker but all of this changed when they were paying them less and helped depress the wages of the farm workers. By 1962, Cesar Chavez was able to join all other unions, churches, community and form one group that was in favor of the civil rights movement. This helped them put pressure on the political parties to end the braceros

This movement eventually became the UFW (United Farmworkers Movement) in Delano, California. Cesar Chavez traveled from town to town trying to convince groups of farmworkers hoping that one day they could group together and form and effective union. When the movement came up the UFW was formed with 1,000 members. The farm workers wanted better wages and better living and working conditions. That’s all they asked for and it wasn’t being granted. In August 1965, Mexican and Filipino grape workers held an independent walkout in Delano, California. This caught the attention of the leader and organizer of the UFW, Cesar Chavez. Even the largest strike by the Filipinos against all grape companies in Delano was supported by the UFWA. Eventually this strike was unsuccessful in providing field workers civil rights. Even though César Chavez knew that neither a march nor a strike would be effective in negotiating with the grape producer’s, he still went on and organized a march to California’s state capital hoping it would inspire farm workers to join the union. The UFWA decided that they needed to call a boycott and they did. They boycotted the Schenley Liquor Company who owned the majority of vineyards in the San Joaquin Valley. This boycott was a success and sooner than later other grape producers were forced to sign contracts. After this boycott everyone decided to boycott all table grapes for about four years.