1. How has Cesar Chavez's contributions affected both farm workers and society?
"Chavez had a huge impact on our society in terms of contributing to both the Chicana/o movement and raising our collective consciousness about farm workers. Whether intended or not, Chavez and the UFW became a key symbol of the Chicana/o movement and inspired many Mexican-Americans. In addition, the UFW provided the initial training ground for many contemporary Latina/o labor activists. These people, in turn, have been building the contemporary labor movement in the cities. In terms of farm workers, Chavez had less of an impact, especially after the UFW lost few contracts."
2. What are some recent struggles that farm workers face today?
"They are some of the most exploited workers in the US. They receive very little pay, have no job security, work in a very dangerous occupation, and endure great hardship on the job. Organizing is very difficult because of 1) the power of growers, and 2) a continuous supply of new labor through immigration- authorized and unauthorized."
3. Who opposed the farm worker movement? How did these people demonstrate their opposition?
"The major force to oppose the farm workers' movement were the growers. They did not want to see their profits curtailed, nor did they want to allow workers to have more power in determining the conditions of employment and compensation. Growers were used to having immense control over the workforce and fought tooth and nail to keep it that. In addition, the local state (eg: sheriffs, police, judges) largely did the bidding of growers."
"Chavez had a huge impact on our society in terms of contributing to both the Chicana/o movement and raising our collective consciousness about farm workers. Whether intended or not, Chavez and the UFW became a key symbol of the Chicana/o movement and inspired many Mexican-Americans. In addition, the UFW provided the initial training ground for many contemporary Latina/o labor activists. These people, in turn, have been building the contemporary labor movement in the cities. In terms of farm workers, Chavez had less of an impact, especially after the UFW lost few contracts."
2. What are some recent struggles that farm workers face today?
"They are some of the most exploited workers in the US. They receive very little pay, have no job security, work in a very dangerous occupation, and endure great hardship on the job. Organizing is very difficult because of 1) the power of growers, and 2) a continuous supply of new labor through immigration- authorized and unauthorized."
3. Who opposed the farm worker movement? How did these people demonstrate their opposition?
"The major force to oppose the farm workers' movement were the growers. They did not want to see their profits curtailed, nor did they want to allow workers to have more power in determining the conditions of employment and compensation. Growers were used to having immense control over the workforce and fought tooth and nail to keep it that. In addition, the local state (eg: sheriffs, police, judges) largely did the bidding of growers."