Central Coast Farm Labor Organizing Collection

A quiet moment in an escalating struggle. A UFW supporter takes time-out to snuggle up to his son. The eagle on the back of the boys shirt is the emblem of the UFW flag. The black eagle represents a re-birth and is borrowed from the Aztec myth.

During the early 1970's, UFW organizers and supporters took to the streets more than once to dramatize the union struggle. Durante los primeros años de la década del 70, organizadores y partidarios de la UFW se lanzaron a las calles más de una vez para enfatizar la dramática lucha de la UFW.

Constant bending over in the fields permanently injured the backs of many field workers. Working with the short-handled hoe, or el cortito, was considered one of the worst of agricultures labor-intensive jobs.

A family of sharecroppers, including children, plant strawberries the old fashioned way-- with the short-handled hoe [el cortito]-- in Santa Maria Valley fields. The UFW and its supporters succeeded in banning the backbreaking tool in 1975.

Immigrant workers marching with two flags expressing bicultural determination to preserve cultural identity while embracing a new national identity.

But not all was lost. Although the UAW would suffer some of its worst setbacks in the coming years, farm workers had won important social gains. Thanks to the UAW, toilets and fresh drinking water in the fields became work place improvements upon which campesinos now depend.

Early signs of a coming struggle. In 1969, Pete Velasco, UFW Treasurer, center facing right, came to spread the union's message in Tagalog, to immigrant Filipino workers in the Oceano area. Thirty-year resident, Paulino Pacheco, strands in the center joined by other Filipino farm workers. Tempranas señales de la lucha próxima a librarse. En 1969, Pete Velasco, tesorero de la UFW, al centro de cara a la derecha, vino para difundir el mensaje de la UFW en Tagalo a los trabajadores migratorios filipinos en el área de Oceano. Residente por 30 años en el área, Paulino Pacheco, de pie al centro, está acompañado de otros trabajadores agrícolas filipinos.

Members of the Santa Maria chapter get a national perspective when they attend their first UFW union meeting in Fresno. Chavez addresses the gathering from podium; UFW co-founder Dolores Huerta stands to his right. Miembros de la UFW de la región de Santa Maria pudieron apreciar una perspectiva nacional cuando asistieron a su primera reunión con la UFW en Fresno.