Delano Grape Strike

Who?/What? 

Through out the 1960s, former leader of the National Farm Workers of America, Cesar Chavez, was recognized for his tireless work on behalf of farm workers across the country but especially in the southwestern states. Chavez and his mostly Latino organization joined forces with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee and went on strike against Delano, California area grape growers in protest of years of poor pay and poor working conditions of its workers.

What? 

Chavez and his fellow organizers, along with the AWOK, began a five year strike against wine and table grape growers in the area. Workers were protesting poor treatment and the inability to unionize. The strike for fair wages and better conditions gained support from activists, politicians, students and groups within the civil rights movement. Chavez's dedication to the cause (or La Causa) really brought forward the struggle and plight Latinos had been dealing with especially within the agricultural industry. The five year protest was nonviolent and included a 340 mile march from Delano to Sacramento to draw attention to the strike.

When and Where?

A lot of the 1960s through much of the 1970s saw a lot of the famous and well known protests, including the Delano Grape Strike, but the work of the UFWA has been tireless and continues today. Much of Chavez's work took place in California and in Arizona. Protests spread across the southwest and eventually across the country. Chavez visited groweries in many states even well after the grape strike. Chavez was born and died in Arizona. Before beginning his work with the UFWA he moved to Delano, California. In 1965 the five year Delano grape strike began.

Why?

Chavez joined the AWOK in its strike and cause in order to gain fair wages and to be able to unionize. Delano area grape growers like Schenley industries and the DiGiorgio Fruit Corp., were major grape distributors and the strike affected the areas wine and table grape business, which eventually ushered in union contracts and higher wages. Chavez worked his entire adult life to ensure fair treatment to workers within the agricultural industries.