EVERY year, on March 31, the day of his birth, Cesar Chavez Day is celebrated in honor of the late farm worker, civil rights activist, and leader. Together with farm labor activist, Dolores Huerta, they founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which later came to be known as the United Farm Workers.
While Cesar Chavez may be a more iconic figure during the farm worker movement in south and central California, there was another man who stood alongside Cesar Chavez who fought wholeheartedly for farm worker rights. Larry Itliong, a migrant farm worker from the Philippines, was a labor leader in Alaska and California, where he founded the Filipino Farm Labor Union.
Filipino farm workers have contributed invaluably to the farm worker movement and to the creation and accomplishments of the United Farm Workers. In the early twentieth century, through the recruitment efforts of employers, more than 100,000 men leave the Philippines to work in the fields of Hawaii, and the mainland United States, through ports in San Francisco and Seattle. By 1930, Filipino farm workers made up approximately 15 percent of the all California farm workers, nearly all asparagus farm workers in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, and approximately 80 percent of the Salinas Valley lettuce crop workers.
As the Filipino farm worker population increased, so did the demand for labor leaders to step up and help their fellow kababayans. Larry Itliong rose to the occasion, along with fellow Filipino labor leader Philip Vera Cruz, to form the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee.
Under the leadership of the newly formed Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, Filipino farm workers initiated the Delano Grape Strike on September 8, 1965 in the fields of Delano, California. What started as a fight for fair wages, became the most important date in farm worker history in California and the United States.
In response to the strike, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, under the leadership of Itliong, joined forces with Cesar Chavez’s National Farm Workers Association to create the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO. Following Chavez, Itliong became the 2nd Vice President of this powerful committee. Through the efforts of the United Farm Workers, a contract was awarded to the grape growers after five long years of fighting for labor rights.
Even years after this victory, Itliong and Chavez were a powerful team in protecting labor rights in fields across the state. In 1977, at the young age of 63, Itliong passed away. Chavez described Itliong, as “a true pioneer in the farm worker movement.” And that he really was. His fight for the rights of the working people and immigrants were so powerful that his impact is still felt today in the ongoing battle for social justice.
Itliong is an unsung hero to all workers and to all the communities. It is unfortunate that someone who played such a significant role in a major labor movement in history is often overlooked. Itliong was such a great communicator and leader, and deserves greater recognition for his work.
His leadership and work is a true example of the power of Filipino activism and empowerment. Let us continue to remember his work and rich account of the farm labor movement; educating others and our future about the significant role of Itliong and that played by the Filipino people.
While Cesar Chavez may be a more iconic figure during the farm worker movement in south and central California, there was another man who stood alongside Cesar Chavez who fought wholeheartedly for farm worker rights. Larry Itliong, a migrant farm worker from the Philippines, was a labor leader in Alaska and California, where he founded the Filipino Farm Labor Union.
Filipino farm workers have contributed invaluably to the farm worker movement and to the creation and accomplishments of the United Farm Workers. In the early twentieth century, through the recruitment efforts of employers, more than 100,000 men leave the Philippines to work in the fields of Hawaii, and the mainland United States, through ports in San Francisco and Seattle. By 1930, Filipino farm workers made up approximately 15 percent of the all California farm workers, nearly all asparagus farm workers in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, and approximately 80 percent of the Salinas Valley lettuce crop workers.
As the Filipino farm worker population increased, so did the demand for labor leaders to step up and help their fellow kababayans. Larry Itliong rose to the occasion, along with fellow Filipino labor leader Philip Vera Cruz, to form the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee.
Under the leadership of the newly formed Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, Filipino farm workers initiated the Delano Grape Strike on September 8, 1965 in the fields of Delano, California. What started as a fight for fair wages, became the most important date in farm worker history in California and the United States.
In response to the strike, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, under the leadership of Itliong, joined forces with Cesar Chavez’s National Farm Workers Association to create the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO. Following Chavez, Itliong became the 2nd Vice President of this powerful committee. Through the efforts of the United Farm Workers, a contract was awarded to the grape growers after five long years of fighting for labor rights.
Even years after this victory, Itliong and Chavez were a powerful team in protecting labor rights in fields across the state. In 1977, at the young age of 63, Itliong passed away. Chavez described Itliong, as “a true pioneer in the farm worker movement.” And that he really was. His fight for the rights of the working people and immigrants were so powerful that his impact is still felt today in the ongoing battle for social justice.
Itliong is an unsung hero to all workers and to all the communities. It is unfortunate that someone who played such a significant role in a major labor movement in history is often overlooked. Itliong was such a great communicator and leader, and deserves greater recognition for his work.
His leadership and work is a true example of the power of Filipino activism and empowerment. Let us continue to remember his work and rich account of the farm labor movement; educating others and our future about the significant role of Itliong and that played by the Filipino people.
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