Speaking at the panel on the grape strike, Andy Imutan, a leader of Filipino farm workers, described how the strike began when 1,000 Filipino farm workers struck over the growers’ refusal to meet their demand for wage increases. The National Farm Workers Association, led by Cesar Chávez, soon backed the Filipino workers and the organizing drive took on new momentum.

After five years of organizing, walkouts, and an international grape boycott that mobilized tens of thousands of Chicanos, unionists, and students, the California grape growers were forced to sign contracts with the UFW in 1970. Several people on the panel on the grape boycott described these efforts.

After honoring many of the original pioneers of the union, UFW president Arturo Rodríguez spoke about the recent vote to organize farm workers at Giumarra Vineyards, which employs about 4,000 workers. In a close election September 1, the union received 1,121 votes with 1,246 voting against. The result against the union has not yet been officially certified as there are 171 challenged ballots, which will be examined by a labor board, AP reported. The last time the UFW had a contract with Giumarra was in the early 1970s. Rodríguez said, “The union will go after Giumarra until we get a contract.”

There are signs of resistance in the fields. In the past year five workers have died of heatstroke, two of them at Giumarra. Workers make low wages and face speedup and grower harassment. “They yell at us really bad,” said Juana Carbajal, a grape picker and union organizer at Giumarra. “People are tired of being treated like dogs.”

Rodríguez also reported that the union signed a contract with E & J Gallo Winery of Modesto in Napa County—the state’s largest winery—after a two-year fight. Farm workers’ wages will increase 9.5 percent to $8.98 by the end of the 30-month contract, according to the UFW. For the first time, the pact also covers contract farm workers, who make up 228 of Gallo’s 308 employees. These workers will have the same wage rates and ability to file grievances. The contract workers, however, do not get health coverage. In place of health benefits they will receive a $400 bonus.  
 
 
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