More about Cesar Chavez, Synanon Cult, Marches

Early Strategies and Tactics

• Chavez initially employed tactics inspired by Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.

• Addressed the contrast between the struggling, exploited farmworkers and the allegedly exploitative farmers.

• Advocated for assistance for the farmworkers.

The Role of Catholicism

• Anti-Catholic sentiment was prevalent due to associations with Irish and Italian immigrants who were not considered white for many decades in America.

• JFK's Catholicism was a barrier during his presidential campaign; his victory signaled a shift away from anti-Catholic sentiment.

• Bobby Kennedy, also a Catholic, felt an affinity towards Chavez due to their shared religious background.

• Chavez was portrayed as genuinely devout.

The 1965 Strike and Growing Support

• The 1965 strike led to widespread support for the farmworkers' cause.

• Boycotts were organized across the country.

• Religious groups traveled to Delano to support the movement.

• Advocacy extended to state governments and lobbying for federal legislation.

• The significant support made it surprising that farmworker legislation took a decade to achieve, highlighting the agricultural industry's influence.

El Teatro Campesino

• A grassroots theater group emerged, starting on flatbed cotton trailers in the fields.

• Theater students from San Francisco State and Berkeley provided support.

• The group performed comedic plays depicting the lives of farmers and farmworkers.

• The theater troupe traveled throughout the valley and eventually across the country, spreading their message in a lighthearted way.

Support from Prominent Figures

• Support from the Kennedy family, particularly Bobby Kennedy, was crucial.

• Bobby Kennedy's public association with Chavez, including sharing meals, lent significant credibility to the movement.

March to the Border

• A major march extended to the border, passing through Coachella Valley, the origin of Larry Iliong.

• The march aimed to demonstrate support and acknowledge the instrumental role of Filipinos in the UFW's growth.

Opposition to the Bracero Program

• A key objective was to end the Bracero program, which allowed farmers to import temporary contract laborers.

• Farmers used Bracero workers to undermine strikes by replacing striking workers.

• Chavez directly appealed to Bracero workers not to pick crops during strikes and publicly called for the end of the Bracero program, arguing that it was initially intended to address wartime labor shortages but persisted long after the Korean War.

Stance on Undocumented Labor

• Chavez opposed undocumented labor, viewing it as a means of exploitation and strike-breaking.

• He argued that undocumented workers drove down wages and harmed the interests of Mexican Americans.

• This stance caused division within the UFW, with some, like Dolores Huerta, favoring alliance-building over condemnation.

Growing Boycott and National Impact

• The boycott gained traction, with support from figures like Joan Baez and actors like Marlon Brando and Robert Redford.

• Boycott signs were seen across the country, even in places like Boston.

• Consumers boycotted grapes in various cities, amplifying the movement's reach.

Contract Victories

• The UFW secured contracts with major grape growers, covering a significant portion of grape production.

• These contracts stipulated that grape growers negotiate with the union, ensuring worker input.

• Union grapes were identified by UFW stickers featuring an eagle, allowing consumers to support fair labor practices.

Federal Legislation in 1975

• The passage of federal legislation in 1975 marked a peak for the UFW.

• The legislation, named similarly to New Deal labor laws (Labor Relations Act), aimed to include agricultural workers under the same protections as other laborers.

• It established a California Labor Relations Board, akin to the National Labor Relations Board, to address labor conflicts.

Key Provisions of the Legislation

• Union recognition: Farmers were required to negotiate contracts with the union.

• Wage increases: Workers experienced notable wage increases above the minimum wage, with some receiving a 70% raise.

• Benefits: Workers gained access to health care, disability, and retirement pensions, mirroring benefits available to other workers.

Focus on Pesticide Use

• Addressing pesticide use became a priority due to its harmful effects on workers' health.

• Past practices involved spraying toxic chemicals, like Agent Orange-type defoliants, leading to severe health issues and air pollution.

• The San Joaquin Valley suffers from unique diseases like valley fever, linked to soil bacteria dispersed during soil disruption.

• Regulations were sought to prevent spraying pesticides while workers were in the fields.

Pathway to Citizenship

• The legislation introduced a pathway to citizenship for undocumented migrant workers who had contributed to Social Security and established an economic base in the country.

• This marked a significant departure from previous policies.

The Unraveling

• Internal conflicts and disagreements among leaders emerged shortly after the passage of the legislation.

• The unity of the union began to fracture.

Chavez's Secularization

• Chavez's image became secularized, downplaying his unconventional practices.

• He hosted retreats at the Synanon compound, a community for recovering addicts with cult-like aspects.

• Chavez became increasingly paranoid, suspecting espionage and assassination plots.

Filipino-Mexican Divide

• Filipino members of the union felt marginalized, lacking representation in leadership despite their contributions.

• This divide exacerbated internal tensions.

Absorption into AFL-CIO

• The UFW joined the AFL-CIO, a federation of unions that often serves as a lobbying group.

• This move signified reduced power for the UFW as it became subject to the AFL-CIO's restrictions, including a no-strike clause.

• The UFW's primary source of power was its ability to strike, which was now curtailed.

Decline in Worker Conditions

• Worker conditions deteriorated, with farmworkers eventually earning less than the minimum wage, a stark contrast to the gains achieved after the 1975 legislation.

Chavez's Mysticism and Controversial Practices

• Chavez's mystical inclinations and association with Synanon contributed to the union's decline.

• Synanon was a community for recovering addicts with a cult-like structure and practices.

• Chavez was impressed by Synanon's orderliness and befriended its leader, Charles Deirdre, who was later charged with murder.

The "Game"

• Chavez adopted a practice called "the Game" from Synanon, where individuals were subjected to verbal abuse and insults in a group setting.

• He implemented this practice within the UFW, causing discomfort and driving people away.

• Chavez became increasingly isolated and distanced himself from the UFW by the end of his life.

La Paz Compound

• Chavez resided at a compound called La Paz, mirroring Deirdre's compound.

• La Paz is now a national monument, though it evokes traumatic memories for many former union members.

Newspaper Expose

• A 1984 newspaper article exposed Chavez's activities at La Paz, including his embrace of "the Game."

Description of "The Game"

• The Game involved attacking a participant for perceived mistakes or improprieties, with the group joining in with screaming and obscenities.

• The victim was expected to apologize, offer excuses, or deflect the attacks onto someone else.

• Chavez introduced the Game to La Paz, leading to discomfort and resignations among union members.