1 6,000 tons turned away British dock workers stop grapes · Donation 1O~ ~10 6,000 tons turned away Vol. VII No.1 British dock workers stop grapesJanuary 18, 1974 'Not unloading

The official uoice of the United Farmworkers

Donation 1O~ ~ 10

6,000 tons turned away Vol. VII No.1January 18, 1974

British dock workers stop grapes

'N ot unloading these grapes isthe best way these workers cansupport American farmworkers,'a TGWU spokesman told El Malcriado in a telephone interview.'And it's part of our own classstruggle as well!

He said the workers' action willmean increased hardship forthem in these days of economiccrisis in Britain and harsh gov·ernment policies against labor.'They are going to suffer for notworking, but they understand whythey are doing it.'

400 workers joined in tl-Je deci~ion not to unload the Wild Curliew but the TGWU spokesmansaid' that all 10,000 dockers inlondon and in fact the enti reTGWU membership stood readyto back them up should the government attempt retaliation.

TGWU blocks law

An anti-labor law passed in1970 by the Conservative government prohibits' sympathetic actions' by one union in support ofanother. The law is similar inmany ways to the American TaftHartlev Act of the NLRA, whichprohibits secondary boycotts forall but agricultural workers.

'But the government doesn'twant any more trouble than it already has with the workers,' saidthe TGWU spokesman. 'They donot want a general strike on theirhands. '

'The last time they triedtousethat law against us,' l:le continued,'in th~ summer of 1972. threemillion workers went out onstrike and they had to releasefive of our members from jail 1day after they were thrown In.But even so we had a dock strikefor two weeks.'

Rejects TeamstersThe executive board of the

TGWU voted to support the UFWand condemn the Teamsters at itsSeptember, 1973 meeting. At thattime the unio:l also turned down anoffer from the Teamsters for aneducational exchange.According to UFW representativein England, Donna Haber, this rejection was of extraordinary importance because the TGWU andthe Toomsters have similar membet'6hips and have had fraternalrelations in the past.'ewe have such an effective boy

cott in the U.S. " she said, 'thatthe growers have to look for newmarkets elsewhere. Because ofthis, it's really necessary that theworkers in Europe join us.

'We have to thank the Britishdock workers for their solidaritywith our stru~~le.'

grapes scheduled to arrive inLondon within the nextfew weeks.

Support despite hardship

6-7p.•••

LONDON England -- The spiritof inter~ational workers" solidarity touched the farm workers'struggle when British dock wo~

kers refused tQ unload the ShiP8 Wild C'urliew which had iust ar~ rived in London carrying 6000c.. tons of scab grapes

This action in support of theUnited Farm Workers of Americagrape boycott was organized bythe Workers' Committee of the #One Docks Group at the West India docks in London. The workerswho participated are members ofBritain's largest union, the1 750 000 memher Transport~nd General Workers' Union,(TGWU).

After a meeting with UFW executive board member RichardChavez. the workers also promised they would refuse to unlaod four more 'shipments of

N<ll~

'">:;:, <ll

eno......,

Major grapemarket cracke-d

New Membershipand Dues Policy

ATLANTA, Georgia - The cotts by increasing their shipUFW boycott in the South won a ments to the South.major victory in the drive to des- Lynch attribut"d the boycott'stroy one of the most important success in Atlanta to widespreadmarkets for scab grapes, lettuce support among labor, the clergy,and wines, and the boycott cam- and especially the Black compaign against Colonial, a super- munity.maket chain of 84 stores in "Very few black people crossAtlanta, is beingtemporarily hal- our picket lines. tt he said.. "Atted.. lanta was the home of Martin

According to Atlanta boycott Luther King and under his leaorganizer Jim Lynch, no further dership the black communitydetails of the victory can be re- learned the power of the boy-leased at this time. cott."

Lynch said UFW president Ce-No refuge for growers, sar Chavez will participate in

Victories such as this one are a march to celebrate King's lifeparticularly important because and work on January 15, the datein the past the growers have of King's birthday in 1929.sought refuge from UFW boy-

After the November 16, 1973,Bishops' Conference in whichthey endorsed the boycotts, Fitzsimmons wrote to John CardinalKrol, president of the NCCB,calling the boycotts illegal anddemanding that the endorsementsbe rescinded..

AFL-CIO President GeorgeMeany immediately responded bywriting toKrol that Fitzsimmons'version of the Teamster-UFWconflict contained (, a number ofmisrepresentations and misstatements whose transparencyis obvious enough/}

In his letter to the Bishops,Donneliy pointed out that the UFWboycotts were not illegal becausefarm workers are not covered bythe National Labor Relations Act~

"In my opinion,'; he said, {'theaction of the Bishops in thismatter, and the action of churchgroups generally throughoutAmerica, is a noble instance ofprotest against injustice and ofsupport for the poorest of workers. Please make our Novemberaction effective in your area ofjurisdiction.~:

The Bishops' endorsement ofthe boycotts was an unprecedented collective action. They votedto support· the UFW demand forfree. secret union elections forfarm workers and endorsed thegrape and lettuce boycotts untilsuch elections were !)eld.

'~.o:te1j· zrapee in Sanger, Ca. trash bin symbolize the tightening nosse of the boycott around the necks of thegrowers •. 1,yewlrne ses report a full dumpster and a semi-trailer ,1111 of grapes 'here thro".n out herE: inmid-De~e,,''J_~. Cimilar repo~ s are coming in from other ;,,,r::; 0: tlp a.n.:.~l;.~"a::Q;;".:';li:;'._·~,.r:;;lc,;,'.'~'_~~_~_~~",;.~-__~__~_. .,

Vic t ary in t11 e Sout hAttacks Teamster boss

Donnelly urges bishopsto act on pro.-UFW stan d

"Personally, in private, and inpublic, we should support the boycott by our practice,') BishopDonnelly wrote to the membersof the National Conference ofCa,tholic Bishops (NCCB).

HARTFORD. COJ.~N. -- BishopJoseph Donnelly, chairman oftheCatholic Bishops Committee onFarm Labor, has urged each ofthe bishops to take concrete stepsto implement their recent unanimous endorsement of the UFWgrape and lettuce boycotts.Bishop Donnelly's request was

contained in a letter in which healso attacked Teamster President Frank Fitzsimmons for criticizing the Bishops' support ofthe boycotts.

"Institutions under the jurisdiction of the bishops should beadvised of the boycott and askedto support it,'~ he said.. lIPriestsand religious people should beasked to support the action ofthebishops, bring it to the attentionof the people. and request organized support c1f the boycott.

"Diocesan newspapers shouldconvey the concern of theI}ishops. Priests'Senates shouldbe requested to take 'action. Religious communities, universities I hospitals should be re~

quested not to purchase the products under boycott.')

Safeway:

Tired we comefrom the picket line,We are farm workers.we don't like your wine.

Down with Safewayliberty will be ours,We are farm workersGod will help our Cause.

Safeway:

PUblished every two weeks as theOfficial voice of the

UNITED FARM WORKERSAFL-CIO

La Paz. P.O. Box 62Keene. California 93531

ulk order of 50 prepaid only $5.0Please specify

Spanish or English edition

What do I care,so let me sleep,For I tell you now,I'll not open a peep.

Boycotters:

Y'EL MALeR/ADO

Boycoiters:

About 30 people gathered forthe inauguration of the OXnardService Center on December 16.The service center, which helpsfarm workers with welfare, income tax. legal, and other problems. will serve all of VenturaCounty..

The director of the ServiceCenter is Lorenzo Moreno. andthe secretary is Juanita Zalazar..The madrinas and padrinos whoorganized the reception and provided refreshments are MariaReyes, Carmen Rios. TheresaRios. Irene Ruiz, Angelina Hernandez. Graciela Granados, Antonio Martinez, Joe Garcia, andJose Rocha..

You better get going,and bother me no more.l! you push me too hardI'm going to beat you from mydoor.

that followed hit at the way Safeway has repeatedly denied thesimple requests of justice andequality to this nation's farmworkers.

The acto featured 'Gallo'. anactor dressed as alarge rooster,that also turned the marchersaway.

The pilgrims then sang thetraditional Posada song heardbefore Christmas. throughoutLatin America, but sung withspecial verses written by theboycotters. Some of the versesare translated below:

Service Centeropens inOxnard

governor.At present there are several

growers and at least one Teamster. Art Curto from Santa Maria, on the commission, and nofarm workers. Curto's alternateis al so a Teamster, and his second alternate is a well-knownscab from the Delano area, Dolores Mendoza,.

San Francisco boycott directorFred Ross Jr. reported the demonstration was well-covered bylocal newspapers and televisionstations.

La; ANGELES, CA,. -- Over 115clergy celebrated a specialChristmas Mass December 21 andjoined 700 East Los Angeles residents in a candlelight march todramatize the Safeway Broycott.

The chief celebrant of the ecumenical .Mass held in St.. IsabelChurch was Father J eru, who wasassisted by 15 other priests, andover 100 nuns and clergy of manyfaiths.

The candlelight march to theSafeway store at 4th and SotoStreets was no ordinary march.but a reenactment of 'Las Posadas', a traditional MexicanChristmas procession in whichthe tired pilgrims 'seek room atthe Inn,.'

UFW first executive vice president Dolores Huerta, who waspresent for the evening's activities, told the people the procession was a march of solidarityto bring the Christmas spirit toSafeway. East Los Angeles residents were asked not to shop atSafeway and to continue boycotting scab grapes, lettuce andwines.

Days earlier UFW PresidentCesar Chavez said 'It is our hopethe Mass and procession willsoften the hearts of Safewayexecutives to our people's basicstruggle against poverty and injustice!

When the 'pilgrims' arrived atthe Safeway store. they wereturned away from the 'Inn' byactors dressed as supermarketclerks. The short acto (play)

Goon assau Itcharges dropped

BAKERSFIELD. Ca,.-- Assaultcharges against Teamster goonMike Falco were dismissed bya Bakersfield judge December21. Falco had been chargedwith assaulting UFW-striker JuanHernandez, 60. during a Teamster attack on a picket line atthe Kovacevich Ranch near Lamont, California. on June 28,1973.

Hernandez suffered a fracturedskull during the attack. which wascarried out by Teamster goonsarmed with lead pipes, clubs,belts, and tire chains.. Threeother picketers were also injured..

Judge Walter Osborn dismissed the charges against Falco after Kern County DistrictAttorney said Hernandez was notable to identify the man who assaulted him..

Farm workers demandst ate boa rd seatSAJ.~ FRANCL~CO. Ca. -- 30

farm workers picketed a meeting of the California IndustrialWelfare Commission January 2and 3 demanding an opportunityto address the commission aboutwages and working conditions inthe fields. They were refused bya 15-14 vote,.

The farm workers, mostlystrikers from the Gallo ranchin Livingston, also demanded thata farm worker be allotteda seat on the commission,.Members are appointed by the

Most stores in Delano arecooperating with the Gallo boycott. reports Murguia, and thestores that agreed not to resto::kGallo haven't even been able tosell what they have on ha...'1d.

And the farm worker,,; continueto picket Safeway~ On the picket line there on December 26.several striking workers from thethe Lucky food chain ,~ame overto show their support for theUFW> The next day a truck filledwith merchandise for the Safe G

way refused to cross the UFWpicket line. The driver, a Team~ster member, told the picketershe will refuse co cross UFWpicket lines wherever he sees'them.

MnrgJJia reports. "At Sarewaywe are really hurting ['.12m. Only the growers' ta!JIilies buy t~ere

now. And it's getting so thateven they don't go because thatSafeway doesn't have the vari~ty

of mercha:ldi,,= that they usedto have."

Delano boycott

tween one union and the other."The San Lucas Ranch near De

lano, one of the first to try togo over to the Teamsters. is having even more problems. Eachnight observers have seen boxesof unsold rotten grapes fromlast year's harvest being thrownout. The pruning Is also far behind last year's. The ranch ishurting so badly that it Is reported that it cannot obtain loansIi' om local banks.

S orne of the smaller growershave indicated that they wantto return to their UFW contractsbut huge ranches like Gallo andGiumarra won't let them move.One grower, Jack Radovitch, isreported to have said that hecan't sign a contract until thebig ranches are beaten..

he says.Many ranchers are telling the

farm workers who work for themthat they must sign with theTeamsters or leave. and Murguia reports that the maj ority areleaving..Growers hurtingAt White River Farms

(formerly the Schenley Ranch),the foremen can't get enoughworkers for pruning. Murguiasays it's their own fault."They are very hard on the people..·· he says, "but the peoplecan't be pushed around like before.. They see the difference be-

Members of ! ,ocal 786 of theAmalgamted Meat lutters picketraj Date/Tenneco paC'king shed inInrli'l Ca.

drive them out of the packingshed and into the streets.

The latest charge against CalDate/Tenneco came from theinternational vice president of theAmalgamated Meat CuttersUnion. Max Oss10. He said thecompany br"ught in busloads ofillegal immigrants from Mex!~ali

during the month of December, .as well as scabs recruited fromother parts of California,.

INDIO. CA., - The 350 workersof the Cal-Date/Tenneco Company here returned victoriouslyto their jobs January 2 followinga hard-won strike involving massarrests and tear-gassing by pol:ice and the use of scabs by thecompany..

The workers, members ofFres'; FruI: , .' ,I Vegetable Local78B of the Amalgamated MeatCutters' Union. won a lO-centper hour pay raise effectiveimmediately, increasing the basewage from $1..98 to $2..08. Anadditional 5 cents will be paidstarting April and another 5 centsJanuary, 1975.

All charges against the strikers arising from picket linearrests have been dropped by thepolice.

From the beginning of the strikethe workers, mostly women,fought hard to organize and wintheir demands. They walked outNovember 15 after contract negotiations came to a halt with CalDate/Tenneco and filed chargesagainst the company for unfairlabor practices.. They set up a24-hour picket-line and succeeded in preventing the use of scabs.

Cal-Date/Tenneco likewise dideverything it could to abortefforts of the militant and spirited strikers, most of whom arealso members of the UFW. Itobtained an injunction that limitedthe number and spacing of pickets. When the strikers ignoredthe injunction on December 9the Indio police used tear gas to2 £L MALCRIADO January 18, 1974

Cal-Date strikers win

DELANO Ca.. -- The growershere 'can't get enough workersfor pruning because the workerswon~ scab. reports UFW organl.zer Guadalupe Murguia. and theTeamsters are having a hard timegetting anyone to sign up withthem. And the Delano boycotthas almost entirely cleaned Gallo wine out of the area,.

Murguia reports that in recentweeks the Teamscers havestepped up their campaign attempting to' sign farm workersunder their sweetheart contraet~They are charging $7 a mr):ica indues and. $16 for a medical plan.

THIS ESTABLISHMENT IS COMPLYlN6WITH THE mCOlJ OF BALLO

WINES IN SUPPORT OF THEUNITED FUM WORIERS IAFL·CIII

Establishment

Patronize This

kets and the state- owned liquorstores. For that reason we aresending copies of materials wehave produced to other UFW support com mittees in the Northwestto share our experiences.

'Already there have been twoarrests at the store, but our determination is high.

Sl SE [,LiEDE,"

. scab wine, grapes and lettuce,The store also uses a leaflet that,is well known to Gallo boycottersacross the state, attacking theUFW and distorting the history ofthe Gallo strike,

According to Gary Brown, theleaflet was originally written byJay Cees Mar\cet not Gall as originally supposed •'This marketknows nothtn~ abOut the farm wo>ker struggle:' he reports, "Itwent to the nearby Teamster officeand got some lies there, then madeup a few lies of its own and printedthem up,"

"A Gallo salesman got ahold ofthe leaflet, sent it up to Gallo inModesto where it was changed alittle and sent' b'lck to where it'sbeen Showing up all over California,"

Leaflet requests shoppers to patronize stores not selling Gallo

EL MALCRIADO Janua~v 18, 1974 3

let we distribute to these merchants says in part,

'Since the Whatcom CountyCentral Labor Council (representing g,OOO trade unionists and theirfamilies) has voted to support theUFW (also an AFL-CIO union),and since we are certain that amaiority of the students at Western Washington State College support the boycott, you can see thatit is good business to comply.'

After all the stores that sellliquor have been approached, wewill print leaflets listing thosewho are cooperatmg and thosewho aren't. The leaflets will urgeresidents to patronize the establishments supporting the boycott,

These stores and taverns willbe given signs to post sayingthat they are supporting the boycott

Massive pressure will be neededto clean out the larger super mar-

Boycotters who picket storesthat sell scab wine are being harassed by San Diego police and bya special police unit called the"Red Squad,"

During the campaign against BigCity Liquor, picketers were constantly surveyed and photographedfrom nearby rooftops, and threewere arrested recently, In twoweeks the store agreed to removethe Wine, prompting two nearbystores to surrender also,

Meanwhile, 15 stores in southeast San Diego have been cleared ofscab Wine, including one storethat returned 25 boxes of Galloto the warehouse,

UFW Support Committees herEare talking to local merchants,explaining the issues involved inthe strike against Gallo and ask-.ing them not to reorder Gall(products when their current stoclruns out~ Already three tavern~

and a wine shop are cooperating,While we approach the mer

chants on the basis of goodwill}economics are involved. Thecity's 32 taverns are heavily dependent on students and trade unionists for their business< A leaf-

Gallo wines have become thetarget of many UFW supportcommittees in small townsthro~hout the U.s. In this report, Karl Foreman f]f the Bellingham, Washington, boycottcommittee outlines their campaign against Gallo and thestores which sell it. -- ELMALCRIADO)

San Diegans dump scab wineSAN DIEGO,Ca,-- 400 residents of Liquor stores picketedSan Diego conducted a colorful andcheerful MARCHA HASTA LAVICTORIA (March to ViCtory)through the center of the city December IS, as part of an extensive boycott drive against scabWines,

During the five mile march theboycotters, singing and chanting,including several Gallo workersfrom Livingston, stopped intoeve...-y liquor store and demandedthat Gallo , Franzia and Guildwines be removed from the shelvesuntil those companies renew contracts with the UFW,

Boycotter Gary Brown reportsthat some stores removed the wineand some didn't, Those that didn'the said, "have felt the sting of the. GaII 0 Ieaf Ietpicket line, A little followup and'downtown San Diego won't"have In central San Diego the boycottGallo wme to sell anymore, has met stiff oppoSition from Jay

Cees Market, which pUblishedlarge newspaper ads advertisinO'

UFW supporters in San Dij>go list dtfferent names of Gallo wines in recent MARCHA ,.ETA L!, VICTORIAthrough the city's center. photo: Vince Compagnone

Wine boycott tactics feature special leaflet

•wine

The picketers also requestedthe customers not to shop at thestores, in violation of the injunction.

Quick surrender

wine that's full of leaves anddirt and twigs. He knows itstrue/

Although Gallo has been experimenting with machines forseveral years, they were usedeven more extensively than usuallast summer in an attempt tobreak the UFW strike in theLivingston area.

The strike by nearly all ofGallo's 150 regular workersleft acres of grapes unpicked bythe end of the summer, forcingGallo to turn to machines in alast desperate attempt to har~

vest the grapes.At that time, the machines

could be seen in the fields outside the labor camps where thestrikers lived. They rumbled upand down the 1'0WS like giant insects, throwing off huge cloudsof dust and leaves.

In their wake they left brokenvines stripped of their leaves,giving the vineyards the appearance of having been chemicallydefoliated rather than picked.

Gallo said that the machines'beaters had to flail so hard atthe vines in order to pick thegrapes ·that the resulting pulpwas virtually useless.

Once grapes are broken openin this fashion, they immediatelybegin to ferment, losing theirsugar content in the sun. Chemicals are sometimes added toslow this process down, but timeis still the important element.Within hours, the grapes may betoo rotten for use.

'They're paying a lot for thosemachines" says. Aggie Rose, whowas UFW field office director inLivingston during the strike,'Maybe they're realizing thatthere's no substitute for skilledworkers:"

The next day, Hermanson called the UFWpromisi-niStoremovetire wine. 'We didntt believe himbecause he had lied to us before,'said Ms. Drake.

The following Monday, UFW.representatives and OrangeCounty AFL-CIO labor councilleader Pete Remmel met withKey representatives. Remmeldemanded that the chain dropthe inj:.mction as well as' cleanout the wine or face picketing bythe 84 unions in the OrangeCounty Labor Council.

Hermanson surrendered, theshelves are clean, and the injunction is being eliminated.

Since their arrival in October,the Gallo workers and their supportershave destroyed nearlythree quarters of a million dollars in Gallo sales a month. Among the chains now clean isThrifty Drugs, a chain with 420drul?: stores in California and .Arizona. that was doing $250.000worth of Gallo sales a month.Thrifty agreed to cooperate with..out a fight.

/ Boycott fears?

'What he's really saying,'according to Gallo boycott organizer Aggie Rose, -is that he'safraid of the boycott. We tellpeople that Gallo makes cheap

At that point, the chain seemedto be threatening a long fight,and told the boycott committeethat Gallo would be paying theirlegal fees.

'This made the fight an important symbolic battle against Galloitself.' said Ms. Drake.

On December 28, the UFWbegan picketing all three Keystores, keeping only two picketsat the entrance but as many as 25on the sidewalk.

MODESTO, CA. -- E and JGallo Winery Co. suffered amajor defeat last month in itsattempt to advertise its way outof the tightening grip of the UFWwine boycott.

The company was forced to admit that many of the varietalgrapes it uses in its wines are ofinferior quality because they arepicked by machines.

'The 1973 deliveries of mechanically harvested grapes werevery poor" according to companypresident Julio Gallo. 'Themachines lacerated the grapes,exposing them to oxidation, andthe leaf content was high, imparting undesirable characteristicsto the juice.

'Without improvements to avoid deteriorating the quality ofthe grapes, we will no longerreceive mechanically harvestedgrapes.'

SANTA ANA, CA. -- E. & J.Gallo Winery's monthly saleshave now fallen a total of$750,000 a month with the defeat of another major liquorchain, Key Liquor, reportsOrange County boycott organizerVivian Drake.

The three Key stores, inSanta Ana, Costa Mesa. andLaguna Beach had sold about$10,000 worth of Gallo a month,according' to its owner, BarryHermanson, who once worked asa Gallo salesman for four years.

In mid-December the chainremoved Gallo from its shelvesafter a meeting with Gallo workers and boycott organizers. Butwithin a week the wine was backon the shelves and the chain hadobtained an injunction limitingpicketing to two at the entranceto each store.

The injunction also restrictedpicketers to requesting customers not to buy Gallo ratherthan asking them not to shop atKey Liquors.

Oi rect attack on Gallo,

Bad grapes, bad

Mechanized grapesinferior qualityadmits· J. Gallo

~L.A. BoycottcostsGallo $750,000

Other reports coming in fromboycotters throughout New England give the following pictureof boycott activity:**The Springfield, Mass.SupportCommittee 1s boycotting Big Yand Food Mart chain stores. TheCommittee, directed by RobinGerman, is getting assistancefrom the Task Force on Justicefor Farm Workers.

Task Force members includereligious people and members ofsuch organizations as the Springfield City Council, Church WomenUnited, and the Pioneer VallC!yAFL-CIO Council.**The Worcester, Mass. FarmWorkers Support Committee isboycotting landoll's. the largestchain in the county. Recently, theMassachusetts Public InterestResearch Group charged landoU'swith having a policy of 'discriminatory food prices to a captivemarket of elderly and low-Incomeresidents in the Worcester area.'

landoll's carries scab lettuceand grapes, as does Honey Farms,another chain owned by LouislandoU. According to a GriffenReport on New England food marketing, one of every fi ve fooddollars spent in the county isspent at landoll's.

Worc-=ster's office is located inSt j ohn's Rectory, thanks to theWorcester Urban Ministry. Ac-

Boycott reports

Conti nued on page 5

Bui Iding coal itionsshort struggle under such conditions, leaving the New Englandcommittees to work on the wineboycotts and to go after otherchain stores carrying scab produce.

The New England committees,staffed mostly by volunteers, arein the process of forming an effective coalition of reUgious,labor, and political organizationsand people to work on the boycotts, says Jones.

For example, he reports, financial support from Massachusetts' 2500 local unions pays formost of the Boston staff's food andphone bill, as well as raising between $4,000 and $5,000 eachmonth for the union.

The labor councns of Boston,Somerville, Lowell, Cambridge,

. and Florence have endorsed theboycotts.

The New England chains themselves have published statisticsshowing that the UFW has effectively blocked the sale of scab produce, or else replaced it withUFW prl)duce to the point of influencing 21% of the entire market.

E~ MALCRIADOP. Box # 62Keene, Ca. 9-3531

Send us Newsof your boycott

To

UFW won commitments from fourof the five largest chain stores inNew England to support the boycotts of grapes and lettuce. A&Pwas the exception.

Nick Jones, Boston boycott director. reports that the tentativestrategy of the UFW boycott effortthroughout New England is to concentrate all picket line activity onA&P. He estimates that A&Pwould probably give up after a

Members of Oxnard High School MECHA who conducted extensivefood drive for the United Farm Workers Union,

MECHA organizes food driveOxnard, Ca. -. The Oxnard high school MECHA, a Chicano student group, carried out a food drive December 15, collecting6 carloads of food to be distributed at the Oxnard UFW fieldoffice to farm worker strikers. .

About 30 participants went door to door collecting food andsome clothes. Among the people who organized the drive areVeronica Vasquez, Berna Dian, Christina Tauger, Mr. Lopex,Mr. Fountain, and Mr~ and Mrs. Sanchez.

Another food drive by the Friends of the Farm Workers inSanta Barbara recently provided three carloads of foact. whichwere also deUvered to the Oxnard field office.

J1'2"'---...........

San Francisco, Ca. -- The lettuce growers are joining the grapegrowers in producing propaganda attempting to rescue sales oftheir produce from the grip of the UFW boycott,

The Western Iceberg Lettuce, Inc., is promoting a new halfhour film about I America's favorite salad green' called, 'Lights,Cameras, Lettuce! '

Jersey boycott hits Shop-R ite

Cold weather doesn't stop .J ersey City boycotters from picketingShop- Rite. photo: J De Levine

Jersey City N.J. -- TheJersey boycottis zeroing in on the ShopRite chain i~ northern and central New Jersey. Two Christmasvigils were conducted by UFW supporters, one at the ShopRite which is the largest single store on the East Coast and oneat the -home of Shop-Rite's owner, Joseph Saker. The boycottcommittee hopes to picket 25 Shop-Rites by mid-January.Gate collections at union shops have met with good success, and

a state-wide labor support committee for the union is being. formed. The committee held a New Year's fund-raising party

featuring slides and a film.

Lettuce propaganda film

The New England boycott organization has expanded in r"ecentmonths to cities and states notpreviously covered by committees working with the UFW. Thereare now committees in Maine,Western Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

This expansion was made possible by major victories achievedin June and JUlyin east Massachusetts. During that time the

Northeast Boycott builds onearly Boston victories .4 new cities hit

January 18, 1974EL MALCRIADO

Atlanta., Ga. -- Authorities at the Leavenworth Federal Prisonin Kansas refused to allow a gift ofUFW Christmas cards anda union calendar to be given to a prisoner by the Atlanta boycottstaff. No reason was given for the refusal.

The prisoner, John Gibbs, apparently saw an ad for £1 TallerGraftco material in the Great Speckled Bird, an Atlanta newspaper with a wide national distribution. He wrote to the Atlantaboycott office requesting the cards and calendar free as aChristmas present.

Boycott director Jim Lynch sent the material along with Christmas greetings and a request that Gibbs help organize the boycottinside the prison.

A week later, the material was returned. having been ~ened

and stamped, 'nol allowed.'

4

Prisoner denied UFW gifts

UFW supporters held 24 hour Thanksgiving vigil outside A & Pheadquarters in Poston, A /I.; P is the only maior chain store in Bostonnot cooperating with the boycott.

18 arrested in New York City

First four of 18 New York Ci ty boycotters are arrested December18 From left, Sister Pearl McGivney, Danny Guenzburger, DaveWide me lansky, and Francisco Ordaz (of Fresno, Ca.),

Brooklyn Nt. --18 picketers were arrested at the largest ShopRite sup~rmarket here on December 22 while on a picket lineinvolving more than 90 people.

The arrests occurred following an attempt by the store's manager to disr.upt the picket line bv havin2: his employees drivecars at the boycotters and harass the picket line with shouts. according to Brooklyn boycott staff member Pablo Massa.

Massa said that police first told the store manager that theUFW members and friends had the right to picket, but then arrested the 18 when they refused to leave after being ordered todo so for 'blocking traffic.'

The 18 were charged with criminal trespassing. andangrily refused an offer'to dr~ charges if th.ey would halt thepicket line. .

Vancouver labor union members join UFW picket line at SuperValu chain. From right to left, Penny Powney, Upholsterers Union;Tom Baker, Carpenters Union; and J ohnSquire, Retailer, Wholesaleand Dept Store Workers Local 400,

New England boycott,'continued from page ~

cording to Terry Dix, Worcester mislabelling scab produce toboycott head, diocesan Bishop show, falsely, that it is UFW pro-Flannigan intends to speak with duce, in Hartford, ConnecticutIandoli, a Catholic, about the boy- is clean in the rest of New Eng~cott. Also, the College of Holy land.Cross, a Jesuit school, serves no *"'In Providence, Rhode Island,scab lettuce or grapes. Almacs (25% of the market) and**Portland. Maine's all volun- Big G (8% of the market) are the

teer staff headed by Kathy and primary targets of the boycott. AI,Tom McColka is boycotting Shaw macs has carried scab produceMarkets, which have obatined an since the first grape boycott andinjunction against some picket has neve:- e'JJ:J:'!rated with theactivity. IGA. another chaint.-pro- UFW. The Ecumenical Taskmised to carry lJFW produce Force on Justice for Farm Workwhenever it could, said Kathy Mc- !'!rs is helping the Providence boyColka, but is not living up to the cott staff, headed by Anne Smith,agreement. to get good press coverage. In

Providence, as inHartford. leaf**Finast. the store that has been Iletting is a. main activity.

EL MALCRIADO January 18, 1974 5

,.-" ..::Me,mbers of the National Executi~ Board discuss Union budget for tQ74, From left, Cesar Chavez,

PhillIp Vera Cruz, Marshall Ganz, Eliseo Medina, Pete Velasco, and Dolores Huerta. '

Federation would ignore the injunction. The NDP has also endorsed the boycott.

Another significant endorsement has come from B.C. Minister of Health Dennis Cocke,Who has ordered that grapes notbe served in hospitals and otherinstitutions under his control.

Ed Lawson, provincial president of the Teamsters Union.attacked ('nrke in a novemberpress conference' for helping toboycott grapes and lettuce bearing Teamster labels, which areconsidered scab by the UFW andits supporters.

At that time, Lawson said theTeamsters might take action against the government if the policywas not reversed, and refused torule out the possibility of theTeamsters refusing to handlegovernment supplies. But thethreat was never carried out.

The Teamsters in B.C, aresuing the Federation ofT.. ah'1ur .ndthe Retail and Wholesalers Union because they are unable tomarket theirproduce as a resultof the boycott.

According to Gail Borst, JohnSquire of the Retail and Wholesalers is repsonsible for the factthat all major wholesalers as wellas Safeway stores in B.C. don'tcarry scab produce.

On January 1, the British Columbia legislature passed a newlabor code which in effect outlaws all usual UFW boycott activity. Gail Borst said she is notyet sure what effects the newcode will have on their deter minarion to continue boycotting infull force.

• The boycott offices were instructed to participate in thedrive to impeach Nixon.• The union endorsed the effortsof the Wounded Knee DefenseCommittee. (See story on page 10)

may use union clinics whUe theyare not working by paying $3.50a month to the union under a'Special Health Plan Membership' program.• Under Article 68 of the newConstitution, seven uncharteredOrganizing Committees wereapproved: Santa Maria., MarysVille, Calexico, and Mendota inCalifornia; San Luis, Arizona;Yakima Valley, Washington; andTexas.• More people-power is neededto expand the boycott in NorthAmerica, so that 65 cities mayhave full-time boycott staff members. An intensive recruitmentcampaign will be launched to findvolunteers for the boycott as wellas for the Service Centers andClinics.• A special non-voting. ncn-duespaying membership program ....asestablished for the boycott dties.• The union will encourage othergroups to join the fight againstthe Teamsters, and willencourage other unions andorganizations who have grievances against the Teamsters totake action on them.

No scab produce inVancouver Safeways

Board members

i' .~;

Wiibur Hobby of the Tobacco Workers International Union greetsNorfolk boyrott organizer l.eonard Herrera, family and friends atDurham, North Carolina. photo: CULA

.N 0 union dues will be acceptedfrom known strikebreakers..Union members in CalexicoMexicali and San Luis. California

Among the major actions anddecisions of the Board were thefollowing:

VANCOUVER,British ColumbiaLabor support for the UFW boycotts is so strong here, that noteven the Safeway stores in thearea carry scab grapes or lettuce,reports Gail Borst, director ofthe boycott in Vancouver, thelargest city in the Canadian province of British Columbia (B. C).

The B.C. Federation of Labourkey to the building of labor support all over the province, is nowengaged in a pUblic relations warin the B.C. press with SuperValu stores, the only major chainin B.C. selling scab produce.

Super- Valu has had an injunction against virtually all picketingactivity since OCtober of 1973.This injunction has been repudiated and repeatedly violated bythe Federation of J::,abour and byother UFW supporters,

In November, Federation president George Johnston told the annual provincial convention of theNew Democratic party that the

labor Ra lIy for Norfolk BoycottDONT BflYSCARGRAPES' ,LETTUCEBOYCOTT A·R

LA PAZ, CA.. -- The UFWNational Executive Board gathered here at the union's headquarters December 17-22 to planthe expansion of the boycotts andof farm worker organizing for thecoming year.

For the nine members of theBoard it ....as their first quarterlymeeting since their election by400 delegates representing60,000 farm workers at theunion's first National Conventionin September, 1973.

The Constitution adopted at theconvention empo....ers the Executive Board to control the affairsof the union in the two-yearperiods between conventions.

The members of the Boardcame to La Paz from theirassignments in California andmajor boycott cities around thecountry. They include CesarChavez, President of the union;New York boycott directorDolores Huerta, first executivevice president; Washington, D.C.boycott director Gilbert Padilla,secretary-treasurer; PhilipVeracruz, second executive vicepresident; and Stockton FieldOffice director Pete Velasco,third executive vi.ce president.

The other Board members present were, Detroit Boycott director Richard Chavez; Canada Boycott director Marshall Ganz;Florida Field Office -director,Mack Lyon; and Ohio boycott director, Eliseo Medina

Meeting 12-14 hours a day forfive days, they discussed andvoted on measures dealing withUFW strikes and boycotts. Theyheard progress reports fromCesar Chavez and the directorsof the union's departments, andvoted on a financial budget covering the union's operations for thenext three months.

Major actions

New Executive Boardholds first meeting

New Membership and Dues PolicyAdopted by the First Constit·utional Conven tion

of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO

September 23,1973

Membership policies1, Who can become a member of the United Farm Workersof America?

a, All farm workers,

b, All volunteers who hav'e served the Cnion full timefor at least six monthS,

8. How does a worker become a member?

a. Complete and sign an official application formfor the Cnited Farm Workers of America, AFL-

ClO,

in the United States, For example, if a worker leavesthe fields to get a job in the canneries or in the City,he is leaving the is 'leaving the the jurisdiction of theUF\-\' and 'should obtain a Withdrawal Card,

4, How does a w'orker obtain,a \\'ithdrawal Card?

2, Who cannot become a member of the Cnited FarmWorkers of America?

b, Pledge to meet his L'nion obligations and obey theConstit;tion, by-laws and rules of the L;nion,

Withdraw'al Cards can be Obtained at the nearest l'nionofiice or from the Ranch Committee,

a, Any person whose membership has been terminated and who has not complied fully with the termsof his fine, suspension or expiration.

b, Any person who is an active participant in or activeproponent of another labor organization in the tradejurisdiction of the L:FW, (This does not apply to persons who are forced to join or pay dues to a competing union, such as the Teamsters, as a condition ofemployment and who gh'e no other assistance or support to such a union,

c, Pay an initiation fee of $25.00,

9, \\'hen do the new' members take the L;nion Pledge?

New members sign' the linion Pledge when they applyfor membership, but they officially take the pledgeat the, next local l'nion meeting, administered by a L'nionofficial or representath'e,

10, Can a farm worker who is not working under Cnioncontract become a member of the L;nion?

5, \\'hv should a member without work or leaYing ..,~h~.L'nion's jurisdiction get a \\' ithdrawal Card?

a, So that a worker can be exempt from payment adues and assessments falling due during the periodof his Withdrawal,

b, If a worker returns to the Union's jurisdictionwithin one (1) year of the date of withdra\\'aI, the \\'<ilrkermay apply for readmission to membership \\iithoutbeing required to,pay the $25 Initiation Fee,

c, Any person acting on behalf of an employer or having the right to hire or fire,

3, Does this mear; that lettuce workers paying dues tothe Teamsters Cnion cannot be members of the CnitedFarm Workers?

No, Since the lettuce workers are forced to pay Teamsterdues against their will and as a condition of employment,they are not disqualified from liFW membership,Ho~'ever, if these lettuce workers are giving otherassistence or support to the Teamsters Union, theycannot be CFW members,

No A worker who is not working under a Union contract cannot become a Cnion member unless thereis an Organizing Committee in his area,

11, \Vhat is an Organizing Committee?

An OrganiZing Committee is a group of v;orkers joinedtogether -to organize a union and gain contracts intheir areas, They must, howe\'er. be recognizedas such by the National Executi\'e Board of the l'nion,

12, How can w'orkers become members of an OrganizingCommittee?

c, If a w'orker returns to the Cnion's jurisdiction withintwo (2) years, but o\,er (1) year of the date of withdra\\althat \vorker shall he readmitted to membership uponpaying an Initiation Fee of $15.00,

6. \"'hat is the status of a member w'ho applies for readmission more than tWO (2) years after acquiring aWithdrawal Card?

He is considered a new applicant and must pay therequired 525 Initiation Fee,

7, Does a member who has obtained a \\'ithdra\\'al Cardkeep his membership rights?

6, \\'ho is considered a new member?

4, How about in the grapes?

Field Officeif a \\'orker

No, A member who acquires a \\ithdra\\'al Card withdraws from membership and loses all rights and pri\'ileges of membership until he applies for readmission,This means he cannot \'ote or participate in L;nion meetings,

No. A Withdraw'al Card does not cancel his benefitswhich a member has earned, such as medical and deathbenefits,

work a veal"

8, Does a lTlemba,. with a Withdraw'aI Card lose hisl.:nion benefits?

cognized?

9, ls avalid inobtains a It

2, Who does not ha\'e to pay the 525 Initiati~n Fee?

\Yorkers who wish to form an On:anizing Committeeshould contact the President of the L'hion in wTitingat p, 0, Box 62. Keene, California 93531,

All persons who become new members beginningJanuary 1, 1974,

1, \\-'ho must pa\' -the $25 Initiation?

a, \\'orkers who were already dues-paying membersbefore January 1,1974,

Init i,a t ion fee she become ineligible for

a CFW contract for ninecannery for three months.

No, Since the canneries are not the jurisdiction ofthe L:FW, CF\\' members do not lose their membership for \'oluntarily paying Teamster dues while workingin the canneries,

There is a strike at all the grape ranches, so anyoneworking in the grapes at all, whether under TeamstercontI" acts or not, is breaking a strike and cannotbecome a liFW member,

5, If a

a. A worker who has ne\'er been a member of the Cnion,

b, A worker whose membership has been terminatedand who otherwise qualifies for member ship under theterms of the Constitution,

/

7, How is membership in the Cnion terminated?

a, Death.

b, \'olunteers who become members by reason of fulltime L'nion sen'ice,

c, Workers who join an Organizing Cormllittee in anarea w'here there are no contracts, and w'here the National Executh'e Board has w'aived or reduced the'Initiation Fee,

Yes "A \\'ithdrawal Card will be recognized in anyL'F\\' office,

Leaves of absenceb, Expulsion,

f, By being in default in payment of dues for sixty(60) days.

g. By failing to return to the Cnion's jursidiction w'ithintwo (2) years of being issued a \Vithdrawal Card,

h, For failing to renew an Authorized Leave of Absence one (1) year after it was issued, (An A,uthorized,Leave can be renewed every year.)

4, For what reasons can a member get an authorizedLea\'e of Absence?

For up to one (I) year, but it can also be renewedannually for good reasons,

3, For how long can a member have a Lea\'e of Absence?

I, \Vhat is a Lea\'e of Absence?

A Leave of Absence is an authorized absence [romemplovment with a company or from service with

the L'ni~n,

LTW Contracts provide for Leaves of Absence for areasonable period for the following reasons, w'ithoutloss of seniority:

2, \\' ha t' s the difterence bet\veen a Lea\'e of Absenceand a \\' ithdra\\'al?

A member on Lea\'e of Absence Olav continue to bean acti\-e member witho'ut paying dues, A \\ithdrawnmember has no membership rights or pri\'ileges dUt'inghi;; Withdrawal"

d, Agricultural workers who lea\'e their jobs to joina strike sanctioned or authorized bv the union if theNational Executive Board wai\'es or reduces p;yment.

An applicant who cannot immediately pay the Initiation Fee may sign an authorization for his employerto deduct the Fee from his paycheck within se~'en(7) days.

3, ~f a worker applving for membership cannot~9iatelv pay the Initiation Fee?

The jurisdiction of the liFV': is all agricultural workers

It is an official card issued to members in goodstanding who cannot find work or who are lea\'ing thejurisdiction of the Cnion, Members must apply for thewithdrawal cards; it is not issued automatically,

1, What is a Withdrawal Card?

2, What is the jurisdiction of the United Farm Workersof America?

Withdrawal card

January 18, 1974EL MALCRIADO6

e, For ,full time \'olunteers: By failing to make aninitial dues payment within sixty (60) days of thelast da\' of L'nion sen'ice.

c, By accepting a pOSition which renders a memberineligible for membership, (Cnless a memher temoorarily' assumes such a pOSition, In such a case, amember may retain his membership for thirty (30)days, but may not hold any Cn\on office or participatein any, Cnion election during those thirty (30) days,)

d, For full time \'olunteers, By leaving the full timesen'ice of the Cnion and accepting a position outsideof the l;nion's jursidiction,

Delegates to the 1973 First Constitutional Convention appro\'ed the Union's new membership and dues policy afterthorough debate,

a) for jury duty or witness dury,

b) for illness or injury of worker requiring absencefrom the job (up to 2 years),

c) for military service pursuant to the Selective ServiceAct (without loss of seniority, job rights or other benefit, Upon return from such service, such worker shall,be granted a job equal to that he would have had withCompany had he remained on Company's continued employ,)

d) for valid personal reasons,

e) for workers elected or appointed to a full-time officeor pOSition in the Union (15 days notice must be givento leave or to return to work).

f) For conducting Union business, a temporary leavewill be granted, provided reasonable notice is givento Company..

DuesI, Who pays dues?

Every Union member. 0 dues will be acceptedfrom known strikebreakers"

2, Is anyone exempt from paying dues? Yes:

q, Full time volunteers are exempt from dues whilethey are serving the Union or its affiliated bodies.

b, :-Vlembers of OrganiZing Committees, strikers, andboycotters may be exempted from dues by the NationalExecutive Board,

3, Does this dues exemption apply to strikers who arenow serving the Union full time on the boycott?

Yes.

4, How much does the Union member pay in dues?

Delegates at the First Constitutional Convention inFresno on September 21-23, 1973, adopted a new duesstructure based on 2% of each member's Union wages,

5. Will members still pay the $Ijweek strike assessment?

No, The strike assessment is included in the 2%of the Union wages \\ hich members pay as Union dues,

6, How does a Cnion member pay his dues under this new2% system?

Each time the worker is paid, the grower deductsthis 2% from the Cnion member's paycheck and sendsit to the Union,

7, \\'ho authorizes the company todeduct2%ofa member'swages for Union dues?

Before earning Cnion wages, each Union member mustsign an authorization for the percentage deduction fromthe paycheck,'

8, What should a member do if he finds, after examininghis check stub, that the company has failed to deduct2% for Union dues?

The member must then pay the required dues at the. nearest Union office within seven (7) days of pay day"The worker should also inform the company that thededuction has not made and that he would appreciateit if the company would make the deduction beginning

with the next paycheck,

9, "-hat happens if the company does not deduct the2% and the member does not pay the required dues atthe nearest Union office?

Payment of dues is the member's Obligation, Failureto do so SUbjects him to suspension or expulsionfrom the Union or loss of his job.

10, What happens if a member does not sign the ne~

cessary authorization for dues deduction?

Failure to do so SUbjects the member to suspensionand expulsion or loss of the job.

II, Can a member automatically be suspended or expelledfrom membership if he fails to pay his dues?

Yes, A member in default of payment for any installment of dues for thirty (30) days from the datesuch amount becomes due shall be automatically suspended from the rights of membership, If the defaultcontinues for an additional thirty (30) days, he shallbe expelled from the Union,

12, Can a worker expelled in this way be readmittedto membership?

a, He must pay all dues owing at the time he wasexpelled.

b, He must pay any assessments which accrued duringthe time that he was expelled.

c, He mus.t ~ay the regular $25 Initiation ~ee.

d, He must wait ninety (90) days from the date thathe was expelled•

13, What will happen in the case of members who paidtheir dues ($3,50 per month) in advance for severalmonths of 1974?

Unless they qualify to continue under the Union's'Limited Membership and Death Benefit Program, the

Union will return this money paid for 1974, It isnecessary for all other members working under contractto pay 2% of their wages for dues from January 1,1974 on,

14, Who ualifies to continue under the "Union's LimitedMembers ip and Death Benefit Program by paying 53,50per month?

The delegates at the Convention in September 1973voted to terminate this program, However, theydecided that those members in good standing on OctoberI, 1973, who did not qualify for benefits under the RobertF, Kennedy Plan could continue under this program,

o new members will be admitted into this program.However. the National Executh-e Board in December1973 voted to extend coverage under this programto those members who are no longer working undera Union contract but who struck in support of theUnion between April and AugUSt of 197-3,

IS, Do these workers who struck between A ril andAugust of I 7 have to pay dues to have coverage un erthis program?

It depends:

a) If they are serving the Cnion full time on the boycott,they are exempt from dues and are members in goodstanding,

b) If they are not serving the Union full time they mustpay $3,50 per month.

c) If they are working at a struck ranch, they ,are nolonger members and their dues will NOT be accepted.

16, Do these workers have to pay dues for the timethey were on strike?

No. They were exempt from dues while they were onstrike..

17, What happens if a worker shall become eligiblefor both RFK and Cnion Death benefits?

In this case only the RFK Medical Plan will paythe benefit. The Lir;nited Membership Program isextended to those members to give them coveragewhen they are no longer eligible for benefits underthe RFK Medical Plan.

fromdues wi II be acceptedknown strikebreakers'


I ,

Following a lalifornia Supreme Court ruling that Teamster lettuce contracts were obtained withoutconsulting the workers, UFW general counsel Jerry Cohen filed a $128 million suit in January'harging thr Teamsters conspired to deny farm workers' rights.

More than 60 D'Arrigo strikers travelled 4000 miles across the country to live in Chicago, Boston,and New York to boycott the company's produce distributors. Some of the group gatheredin Brawley, California, prior to departure.

Police in Kern lounty shocked the nation by attacking non-violent UFW picket lines,Union members charged that police acted solely as agents oflhe growers in anattempt to break the effective strikes, photo: Bob Fitch

Police arrested more than 4000 farm workers inattempting to break the strikes. But arrests onlyserved to strengthen the picket line.

9January 18, 1974EL MALCRIADO

'Thousands 01' farm workers struck against grape growers in Coachella Valleyin the spring and summer of 1973 causing them $7 million in losses duringthe harvest. Teamster goons failed to intimidate strikers from fighting to gettheir contracts back, photo: Glen Pearcy

In August, H173, two strikers were killed, one by a sheriff and one by a scab At the funeral of Juande la Cruz, one' of the first Di Giorgio strikers in 1965, thousands of farm workers rededicated themselvesto the non-violent struggle to build the UFW-

ces and ideas.El Malcriado must contribute

to the spirit of unity that movessuch a vast number of unions,churches, community groups andindividuals to back our strikesand boycotts. To do this EI Malcriado must cover other struggles for liberation in this country.

Clearly, we have a lot of workto do. We need your criticismsand suggestions. For the upcoming editions of EI Malcriado, weneed your contributions of news,photographs , opinions and poetry. (Send to El Malcriado, P.O.Box 62, Keene, Ca. 93531).

May the new year bring ourUnion new victories and may wetogether make El Malcriado aneffective weapon at the service ofLa Causa. SI, SE PUEDEl

(3) put together a proposal for individual subscriptions that wouldbetter serve the needs of many ofour readers, especially in thecities.But only with your help will we

succeed in making El Malcriadowhat it should be: a truthful,but not impartial voice of farmworkers.

EI Malcriado must be a newspaper of combat that exposes thegreed, cynicism and racism ofthe growers and their allies. Andit must chronicle the struggles offarm workers to win justice, dignity and power over their ownlives.

El Malcriado must be a newspaper of solidarity that helpsstrengthen the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood within ourmovement. To achieve this ElMalcriado must serve as a forumin Which farm 'Workers and Unionsupporters share their experien-

All of these efforts, the firmand constant support of our leaderCesar Chavez, and the fast- moving and hard struggle against theTeamster-grower alliance andtheir lackeys, have contributed tothe growth and development ofEl Malcriado. In the past year,the circulation of the paper hasdoubled to a peak of 30,000 peredition.

But 'We still have a long way togo. The circulation of the paperhas not yet stabilized. We are justbeginning to gather and write thenews effectively.

To improve the content of ElMalcriado and to resalve the circulation problems, we have initiated the following me:ilsures:(I) analyze critically the contentof the newspaper and make thenecessary changes to improve it.(2) reorganize our prlKluction andcirculation operation here in LaPaz.

the production ofthe paper. Fromthem we have learned very mUCh.Without them, we would still befar, far behind.

After the new editions came offthe press, we would hit the roadsacross California organiZing ElMalcriado Committees amongfarm workers and our supportersto take the paper door-to-door inthe communities . Many sisterand brothers volunteered theirSundays and holidays to help uswith this important work.

Not only did they take the paperdoor-to-door, but they also distributed it in front of churches, onthe picket lines, in schools andthrough small stores in theircommunities.

In the large cities of the countries, boycott organizers beganto see the importance of using ElMalcriado as an organizing toolto inform the American publicabout our movement.

400 farm workers frem around the country gathered in Fresno in Septemb!r 1973 to adopt the Unton'8 first 'constitution. and elect officers.Here, delegates acclaim Cesar Chavez president of thE! Union.

1973 - 1974

EI Malcriado..weapon of the farm worker

I

The beginning of every year isa time of reflection over the advances and setbacks we have experienced in our struggle duringthe past year, so that we may beable to better ourselves for thenew year.- We, your sisters and brothers,on the staff of El Malcriado, wantto share with you our thoughts onthe progress El Malcriado hasmade during the last two years.

We took on the responsibilityof pUblishing El Malcriado without any prior experience in newspaper work. All we now know, we

2 learned only with dedication and;; long hours of struggle, manytf ti mes day and night, to get the pa~ per out on ti me every two weekslJ one edition in English and one ino Spanish..f Many volunteers -- workers,0. teachers, journalists and artists

spent their weekends in La Pazworking with us on the "Crunch,"

fnrmies of the union began their Iq73 campaign by dynamiting the gas station at Forty.Acres, UFW office and clinic complex in Delano. Plast blew an 18 inch hole in a threefoot thick wan In other attacks in 1973 several union offices were destroyed

..",-In cities around the country men and women of all ages rallied to support UFW boycotts in 1973r Here,

marchers picket Red Owl chain in Minneapolis after a 3 mile march, While Richard Chavez speaks to themanager inside. photo: Lisa Jamieson

8 EL MALCRIADO January 18, 1974

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newspapers. books. magazinesAll in Spanish

Large selection of Mexicon curiosand cards for all occasions

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BINGO SUPER MARKET

The UMWA's efforts to win acontract at Eastover is part ofitslarger effort to bring a strongminers' union back to easternfiercest union battles in American history were fought in the1930's and 1940's.15,000 of the 'area's 21,000 min

ers are now unorganized, andsome of the veteran organizers ofthe earlier strikes have returnedto Brookside to fight alongsideEastover Mininli; Co ,

GONSALES BARBER SHOP

~241 EI Camino Real

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Pro. - Cosme Gonsales

lished to fight the company onsafety issues, and medical benefits are guaranteed.

'The coal will be mined safelyor not at all,' UMWA presidentconvention in December. 'Ourlegal staff will defend your rightto walk out of an unsafe mine.'

Duke Power Co., which ownsEastover Mining, is currently under heavy pressure from the federal government to open its minesfor extensive safety inspections.The company's profits totalled$90 million in 1972.

UMWA organizing efforts

EL MALCRIADO10

The main issue in the strike,as in many mine strikes, is thesafety conditions in the mine.Over 100pOOO miners have beenkilled in the last fifty years inthe United states, mostly due tounsafe working conditions.

Before the July elections inwhich the workers chose theUMWA, they had been supposedlyrepresented by a company unioncalled the Southern Labor Union.

Under the SLU contract, theminers could not refuse to workeven in a dangerous emergencysituation. In addition, local hospitals refused to treat miners underSLU contracts because the uniondid not pay its bills.

Under UMWA contracts1 a safetycommittee of miners is estab-

S Safety the main issue

National hospital union formed

NEW YORK, N.Y.-- A new national union of hospital andhealth workers was founded here in late November to organize and unify more than 3 million unorganized workers.

The new union, called the National Union of Hospitaland Health Care Employees, plans to organize professiofiooals, service workers, technical employees, clerical, andall other health care workers. 106 delegates representingOver 80,000 workers attended t~e founding convention.

The already existing Local 1199 of the Hospital Workers,with locals in 14 states and Washington, DC., forms thebase for the building of the new union. It was Local 1199that led an important strike in New York that challengedthe Nixon Administration's right to control wages.

Coretta Scott King and UFW president Cesar Chavezwer,e among those who addressed the convention. Chavezurged the -, workers to take political as well as economicaction to fight the Nixon administration,

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- An organization of Latin tradeunionists has blasted Texas Congressman Henry Gonzalezfor backing the Farah Pants Company against 3500 strikingFarah workers.

Gonzalez has offered to aid the Farah Co. in obtainingfederal money to reopen two factories in San Antonio,Texas, which were closed because of the effectiveness ofan AFL-CIo-sponsored boycott of Farah pants.

In a December 19 telegram to Gonzalez, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement described Farah as'the worst type of reactionary employer, ' and told theCongressman, 'Your identification with scabs and supportfor union-busting tactics are cause for great concern.'

MeanWhile, the U.s. Civil Rights Commission charged thefuel shortage will affect the 'aged, disabled, and poor' thehardest.

Women workers hold conference

PHILADELPHIA, PA. --Three hundred women from nearlyforty labor unions met December 8 in Philadelphia to organize an East Cost regional division of the Coalition of LaborUnion Women.

The conference was part of a series of such meetingsaround the country designed to build a national workingwomen~ organization.

Among the issues discussed by the delegates were theproblems of organizing unorganized women, the battle fordaycare facilities, and the problem of the rising cost ofliving which hurts working women and women on welfare.

Latin unionists blast scab politician

Brookside, Ky. -- The refusal ofahuge coal company to accept itsworkers' choiee of the UnitedMine Workers of America astheir representative touched offa •militant strike here that is now inits fifth month.,

Bolstered on the picket line bytheir wives and families, nearly200 miners have closed down theEastover Mining Co. mine in thissmall eastern Kentucky town.

No scabs have entered the minesince late October when nearlyfifty of the minersP wives joinedthe picket line to break an injunction which limited picketingto two at each mine entrance.

The company had obtained theinjunction in response to thetightly organized 24-hour picketline set up in late July when thestrike began.

Kentucky Miners strike'~ for right to join UMWA

..J~

Pol ice given new search powers

Wounded Knee Trials begin

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Police may search people they havearrested on minor charges for evidence of more seriousbut unrelated charges, according to a recent U.s. SupremeCourt decision.

In a 6-3 ruling, the Court stated that as long as an arrestis proper, any search is proper and any evidence obtainedmay be used to prosecute a person for charges other thanthe one for which he or she was arrested.

The decision has been attacked as a serious blow to the4th amendment constitutional protections against' unreasonable search and seizure. In voting against the decision,Justice Thurgood Marshall pointed out that it raises the'possibility that a police officer, lacking probable cause toobtain a search warrantp will use a traffic arrest as apretext to conduct a search.'

ST. PAUL, MINN...- An historic trial of 24 Native Americans begins here January 8. They are among the 300Oglala Sioux who occupied the Pine Ridge reservationvillage of Wounded Knee for 71 days in early 1973 in anattempt to expose the plight of the American Indian andthe corruption of the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.

A federal grand jury has returned more than 120 indictments, with charges including burglary, civil disorder andassault on federal officers.

As part of a nation-wide protest to the Wounded Kneetrials, demonstrations were held December 12 at the Federal Court Houses in San 'J ose and Los Angeles, California.

Promising more demonstrations until charges are dropped,the American Indian' Movement spokesmen said 'Indiansthroughout America will not allow the U.s. Government toconduct a 'kangaroo' court to railroad innocent citizens intogovernment jails for political purposes.'

At its recent executive board meeting, the UFW votedto endorse the efforts of the Wounded Knee Defense Committee.

Heat cut-off kills

NEWSBRIEFS

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- A married couple both in their90's were found frozen to death in their unheated home hereon Christmas Eve. Police said that Katherine Baker, 91,and her husband Frank, 93, had been dead for two days.

A spokesman for the Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. saidelectricity to the Bakers' home had been cut off becausethey had not paid their bill for five months.

O.MlloFA.ONSIRIKE_.rl:~~jde

Mine workers at Brookside mine gather at picket line near EastoverCoal Co, Earl Dotter/UMW Journal/LNS

---.-

Woodcutter at work in Alabama.

Continuous organizingMeanWhile, many of the-wood

cutters are travelling throughoutthe back roads of the southernforests spreading the message ofthe strike to their fellow workers.Already the union has nearly 2dozen locals in foor states.

'And we know there are manywoodcutters who haven't joinedyet who are in sympathy with us:says Carney. 'They just can't afford to strike yet.

'We're jUst cutting enough woodnow to get by, especially throughthe holiday season "'But we'll beback on the picket lines soon.'

SPECIALIZING INBRAKES, SHOKS &TUNE-UPS

MEDINA '5 GULF

Hwoy 101 So. Soledad. Calif.Salinas. Ca. 93901 Phone 678-2117 •. Viva La C~uso ..

ME DINA '5 EXXON

SPECIALIZING INBRAKES - SHOCKS& TUNE;-UPS

RESTAURANTE TLATLEPAOUE & BAR:&758 C. St. Oxnard, Calif. 93030 se especlaliza en

.. 'i\ toda close fiestas.Comldas y Ant?Jltos Mexlc0r1<?s I Bodas Bautlsos.Cervesas Mexlcanas y del pOlS J \horos. 10; am to 2; am dlorio ~ .• ,

Estey con La Causa j{1~' '.Boycott GolI~ & Grapes prop. Antonio Z. Rodriguez

431 Abbott St.Phone 422-5123

especializQ enBirria de ChivQ,Estila Jalisca.

This year's strike was aimed atimproving safety conditions forthe woodcutters and at fighting thecontrol that wood dealers, who actas agents for the companies, haveover their lives.

Among the demands were thepublication of payment ratesfrom the companies to the wooddealers, and participation by thewoodcutters in the weighing ofthewood.

'T 0 us, wood dealers are like thelabor contractors are to farmworkers: says Carney. 'Theyare the middlemen -- we sell thewood we cut to them and they sellit to the comapnies.

'But they don't tell us how muchthe companies pay them, so wedon't know how much they keepbefore paying us. It's probablyhalf the money.'Demand unionrecognition

In late September, a federaljUdge in Alabama ruled that thewoodcutters were legally employ"ees of the paper giants despitethe companies' claim that theywere'independent contractors.'

Following this ruling the woodcutters pressed their de mand thatthe GPA be recognized as theirunion for contract bargaining. Butthe companies appealed the rulingand obtained the anti-picketinginjunction.

ManagerPhi I ip Sanchez

Co. ManagerLuis Gonzalez

Mon.-Fri. 12 to 5Saturday II to 3

LA RAZA BOOKSTORE

Ph. 732- 8696

TUR F L10UORS

100 EAST 5th STREETOXNARD. CALIFORNIA 98030

OPEN DAILY6 a.m. ·2 a.m.

,,~~AL,r;~,~~. 11Visalia.. Calif. 93277

Vivo La Causa

1228 F. StreetPhone: 446 -S133Sacramanto, Ca.

95814

CHATHAM, Ala. -~2500 black andwhite woodcutters- of the Gulfcoast Pulpwood Association havetemporarily halted their strikeagainst giant paper and pulpwoodcompanies in the South.

According to GPA leader Delbert Carney; acombinationofeconomie necessity and a companyinjunction prohibiting picketingled the woodcutters to return towork in late November.

'We'll strike again when thetime comes,' says Carney.

Sharing resourcesThe strike lasted for two months

through the most critical woodcutting season. And through itall the workers supported eachother and their families by sharing food and money through theGPA, which could not afford topaystrike benefits.

In a similar fashionthey won astrike in 1971 that broughtimportant wage gains through highlyorganized inter-racial unity.

A ;~

Farm worker strike picket line in 1973 provides model for workers of many unions in 1974 in the fightagainst corporate power.

Woodcutters promise new strikesWood dealersare labor contractors

PA UL'S BIG D.

895 Front St.Soledad. Col. 93930

dE SHELL GAS- DAIRY PRODUCTS

COLD BEER •

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• (408) 724 -8998

* Beer and Tequ i 1a Imported FromMexico •

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====== GUT I ERR E.Z ======<

hospital worker recently. 'But wedon't have anything left to sacrifice.'Fighting unemployment

Adding to workers' anger willbe rapidly increasing unemployment at a time when corporateprofits continue to rise. Someeconomists estimate that unemployment may dooble by springbecause of the fuel shortage.Already 86,000 auto workers havebeen laid off by one company alone, General Motors.

But as evidence mounts that thefuel shortages are being deliberately created by the oil companies, workers may turn to strikesto prevent further layoffs and toprevent their employers fromspeeding up the work pace of remaining workers at the cost oftheir hea~th and safety.

Organize the unorganized

1974 will also see extended efforts by unions to organize workers who are now unorganized.On a nationwide level, only one ofevery four workers belongs to aunion.

Such unions as the United MineWorkers of America, the Hospital and Drug Workers, and theTextile Workers, as well as theUnited Farm Workers of Americaare waging campaigns to increasethe number of workers underunion contract.

In the southern part ofthe U.s.new organizational drives willtake on special importance, because very few workers there belong to unions and because the 0p

portunities for fighting racismare so evident.

But for these millions of unorganized workers to win unionrecognition, many long and hardstrikes will be necessary.

~@!!!~@g~Editor seeking original

stories and poems by Chicanowriters in English or bi-lingual for anthology of 120 !lain St:" Wltsollville. Ca

Chicano literature. All I:"oo-~=========~royalties donated to UnitedFarl1} Workers. Write:Dr Dorothy E. Harth, Department of Modern Languages, Onondaga CommunityCollege, Syracus~ New York:

5

tu IJjJ" Ii" i i Ii ii'" i' Ii i )

As thousands of farm workersprepare to resume their strikesin 1974, millions of other American workers are also readyingthemselves for strikes to protect and expand their union contracts and to fight the Nixon administration's economic policies ..

Fueled by the 'energy crisis,'discontent over increasing pricesand decreasing wage::; may explode in 1974, making farmworkerstrikes part of a wave of strikesunparalleled in recent yearsOver 5 million workers belong

to unions whose contracts eitherexpire this year or contain provisions for negotiable wage increases. Among them are workers in such critical industriesas steel, communications, railroads, and clothing manufacturing, as well as longshoremen,machinists, miners, -and metalworkers."Many of these workers and their

unions have generously supportedthe United Farm Workers ofAmerica in its strikes and boycotts.

Increase in strikesMore strikes took place in

1973 than in 1972,. already reflecting increased determinationby workers to fight against thedeteriorating economic situation.In the first nine months of 1972,according to government statistics, there were 3,585 strikes,while during the same period of1973 there were 4,200.

But now with the industry-induced 'energy crisis,' workerseverywhere are feeling evenmorerestless than before. They aretrapped on one side by neverending price increases in food,gasoline, and other commodities,and on the other side by theNixon wage freeze.

Prices have increased 30%since 1969, while the buying power of wages has steadily diminished. Even though wages appeared to increase on paper in 1972,their actual value decreased by3.30/0-

'Nixon and all his rich friendswho jet around the country keeptelling us to sacrifice,' said a

Workers' anger to explode in 1974 strikes

RIVERA L1CUORS

:6~~~~t 2'~p~;;~~~d ~805-486-8138

RIVERA L10UORS"2 _3610 South Soviers Road __805-487 -9517

EL RIO L10UORS" 328ta Vineyard Avenue _805-485-1617 -

OXNARO. CALIFORNIA 93030


Se~ond in a Series

The Case for ImpeachmentOf Richard M. Nixon - Now

Richard M. Nixon has committed an impeachable oHenseby creating a special and personal secret police. answerable only to the White House and operating totally outsidethe constraints of law.

In mid-197L President Nixon. by direct and secret order.created within the White House a special investigationsunit known as the "plumbers."

Not only was its creation secret. but its existence andfunctions were secret. E. Howard Hunt. one of the "plumbers" and a convicted member of the Watergate burglaryteam. once described it as "above the FBI and CIA."

On May 22. 1973. President Nixon acknowledged his creation of the unit:

"This was a small group whose principal purpose was to- stop security leaks and to investigate sensitive securitymatters.... The unit operated under extr~mely tight securityrules. Its existence and functions were known only to a veryfew persons in the White House."

This was the. group which plotted and carried out theburglary of the office of the psychiatrist of Daniel Ellsberg.The "plumbers" committed this crime with the clear knowledge that it was a crime. They committed this crime underthe clear impression that they were ordered to do so by thePresident of the United States.

Why did the "plumbers" think they were operating underthe orders of the President of the United States?

President Nixon admitted. in his May 22 statement. thathe personally told Egil Krogh. head of the "plumbers" unit.to "find out all it could about Mr. Ellsberg's associates andhis motives" for making the Pentagon Papers public. ThePresident added: "I did impress upon Mr. Krogh the vitalimportance to the national security of his assignment."

So certain was Mr. Krogh that he was under presidentialorders that he sent a memo to Presidential Assistant JohnEhrlichman stating: "We would recommend that a covertoperation be undertaken to examine all the medical filesstill held by Ellsberg's psychiatrist."

So certain of presidential approval was Mr. Ehrlichmanthat he sent the memo back marked: "approved-if doneunder your assurance that it is not traceable."

John Dean. counsel to the President. testified that Mr.Krogh twice told him that the orders for burglary came "fromthe Oval Office" of the President. Mr. Krogh. now underindictment for lying under oath about his role in the Ellsberg case burglary. has pleaded not guilty. claiming thathe was ordered to lie in order to preserve the secrecy ofthe "plumbers" and its operations.

Mr. Ehrlichman later told the Senate Watergate Committee that the President had told him in March of 1973 that theEllsberg case burglary "was an important. vital national

security inquiry well within the constitutional function ofthe President:'

Not only did Mr. Nixon order that the existence and operations of the "plumbers" be kept secret. but he personallytook extraordinary steps to keep it hidden.

He obstructed justice by personally ordering that evidence of the "plumbers" involvement in the Ellsberg caseburglary be kept from the judge presiding over the Ellsbergtrial.

On April 18. 1973. Assistant Attorney General Henry E.Petersen went to Mr. Nixon to tell him that if details of theEllsberg case burglary were not disclosed to the judge. theDepartment of Justice would be party to a conspiracy toobstruct justice.

Mr. Petersen testified that as soon as he raised the matterof the burglary with Mr. Nixon•. the President told him: "Iknow about that. This is a national security matter. You stayout of that:'

The President did finally release the information - butonly after Mr. Petersen and then Attorney General RichardKleindienst threatened to resign.

Mr. Nixon has gone to other extraordinary lengths to keepthe existence and the operations of the "plumbers" secret.

He directly ordered that the investigation of the Watergate break-in be limited to keep the "plu~bers" activitieshidden. On May 22, he stated that he had "instructed Mr.Haldeman and Mr. Ehrlichman to ensure that the investigation of the break-in not expose ... the activities of theWhite House investigations unit," and that this eHort be"personally coordinated" with top officials of the FBI andthe CIA.

~

He has insisted that the "intelligence" activities of the"plumbers" had no connection with the Watergate break-in---despite the fact that both G. Gordon Liddy and E. HowardHunt were members of the "plumbers" unit and now areconvicted principals in the Watergate break-in.

He has sought to preclude further' revelations of the"plumbers" activities by classifying these as "national security" matters. In revealing the creation of the unit. headded that he "also assigned the unit a number of otherinvestigatory matters.... Additional assignments includedtracing down other security leaks:'

At this time no one knows what these assignments were.or. for that matter. whether they too were illegal.

Richard M. Nixon has committed an impeachable oHenseby creating a special and personal secret police. by hidingits illegal activities behind "national security." and by obstructing justice in the name of "national security."

Therefore. Richard M. Nixon. President of the UnitedStates. should be impeached-now.

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, 815 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006~7

EL MALCRIADO January 18 t 1974

Truckers hit racismin Teamsters Union

---- '

EL MALCRIADOp.O. Box 62Keene, California 93531

Have you Wl itten

to Fitz?

Mr. Meany sterwould be the first step tOW"'H'i>-~

peace with justice for all in theagricultural community. We areoutnged by what is in eff~ct arepua1ation of that agreement.

Watergate and what has followedhas sensitized Americans topolgitical and social corruption anddishonesty where'ever it is found.We want our unions, as well asour government, to be democraticand representative. We expectthat you will be aware that violent and corrupt union practiceswill be 'resisted, and that you willdo whatever is necessary to honoryour agreement with Mr. Meanyand the United Farm Workers.Sincerely yours,Rev. Priscilla A. ChaplinExecutive Director,Southern California Council of

Churches

Dear Mr. Fitzsimmons,

~ Bas ic dishonesty'

This letter is sent to expressmy displeasure at your announcement of November 7, 1973, thatthe Teamsters will honor their'moral and le-.l1 commitment tothe grape growers oICalifornia.'I abhor the Teamster intervention1n the grapes ana DaSIC Olsnonestyregarding the agreement with theUFW.l really write this letter inthe hope that you will be sensitive to the opinion of a concernedeitizen who would like to see aninjustice righted and honorableagreement reached for the UnitedFarm Workers.

Sincerely yours,George W. WebberPresidentNew Theological Seminary

Send a copy of. your letterto:


You said recentlythatthe Teamsters would honor 'moral and legal' obligations to Californiagrape growers. Because therehave been no free union electionsfor farm workers in Californiaduring this past year in whichfarm workers could choose theunion to represent them, contracts negotiated by the Teamsters can be neither moral orlegal.

We people of the churches of ~ ...Southern California had ferventlyhoped that your agreement with

~Your kind willnever dominate'

Really, I guess I should not besurprised at this most recent decision ,outrageous as it is. Yourpast actions and words have beennothing but violence, corruption,and dishonesty with regards tothe UFW and its efforts. Yourstyle of operating is definitelyparallel to Nixon and his Watergate mess.

Someday, but not because ofyour efforts, justice will reign.

Si Se Puede,Lupe De LeonState Chairman,Indiana La Raza Unida Party

cra in September of this year involves a moral act also, namelya repudiation of your ownaction~

and words.

~Campesinos willovercome'

Sister Elaine HagedornDes Moines. Iowa

Mr. President,

When will you ever learn?Aren't you a man of your word?I believed that a business manlike yourself had integrity, nowI wonder if you have a heart?

The campesinos will overcome.You shall regret your methods ofdeceit.

Mr. Fitzsimmons,

Intermountain Express, wherethe only 3 black drivers out of108 were all laid off several weeksago.

The lawsuit demands $50 million in damages from both thetrucking companies and theTeamster Union for minorityworkers who were victims ofdiscrimination. The damageswould provide compensation for'minority workers not hired, notadvanced, or laid off unfairly,as well as pay for the establish-ment of extensive training programs.

~Just plaindisgusted'

It seems unbelievable that all ofasudden you are concerned withyour'moral and legal obligation tothe grape growers ofCalifornia..'I am appalled, disappointed, andjust plain disgusted with the recent decision by you and theTeamsters Union regarding thegrape growers. Apparently it hasnot occurred to you that goingagainst the agreement you reach-ed with the UFW and the AFL-

Viva la Huelga!Bonnie ChatfieldSacramento, California

But, Mr.- Fitzsimmons, yourkind of control will never dominate th~ free spirit which is willing to struggle and sacrifice,

and yes, even die for what isright and just. Farm workershave fought for their own unionnow for eight years. They havebrought their cause to the peopleof this nation, and the peoplehave, and will continue to supportthat cause.

The Teamster hierarchy haslong been identified with corruption. Your 'deals' with thegrowers and your lies tothe pUblic strengthen the belief that youare just another Hoffa. It tooktime to bring Mr. Hoffa to justice,but the poor and weak always havetime on their side. We will fightuntil justice has overcome.

"The Teamsters use their hiring hall to choke off blacks andChicanos," according to attorneyWilliam Gould, who filed thetruckers' suit. "They keep separate seniority lists for over theroad drivers and for local drivers and warehouse workers.Almost all the minority workersare on the second list and can-ttransfer to the other."

'ewe want the seriority listsopened up," he said.

Gould said that his suit appliesnot only to drivers who have been"discriminated against in promoction, but also to people who didn't

",

'Choke off' minorities

Neither moralnor legal'

It is difficult for me to writeto you in a calm andrationaltonefor I am seething inside.Seethingbecause yo\.! have once again u~ed

your power to deceive and cheatnot only farm workers but also themillions of Americans who support their just cause.

The idea that you would evenuse the words, 'legal and moral

obligation'! For you., legality issomething you buy and moralityis whatever works -- you havebought injunctions and murderedfarm workers to control fieldworkers in California.


SAN J alE. C. -- Seven truckdrivers have joIned canneryworkers and farm workers incharging the Teamsters Unionwith racism in hiring and advancement.

A lawsuit tiled by the driverson December 20 charges thatthe Teamsters and a group oflarge trucking companies are involved in "vicious and systematic racial discrimination againstChicanos and blacks." eXcludingthem from high-paying long-distance driving jobs.

Within the past month, similarlawsuits were filed by a groupof Teamster cannery workers inModesto, charging racism in promotion and job assignment, andby a group of UFW farm wor 1(pPc,

in the Coal' ... ~l1 - '1~11

Teams t '

are

La Cabana

49 Main St.

,atsonville,

.lifornia

Pedro Sanchez Gas Station _~ Mechanic ~

~ Courtesy ProPlptness U(400-722-6700)

175 'lain St. • Watsonville, Ca

RestaurantReal Colima

74 Porter uriveWatsonvill e

724,0080

Authentic cookinqfrom the state of'

Col ima

Manuel Cahero V•• owner

struggle'To whom it may concern:

My name is Freddie TabarezI live in a small town of about1,500 people..

The reason that I'm writingthese few lines is rather simple..

When the first picket lineswere thrown up I was working forCaratan cold storage..

Mrs.. Dolores Huerta told usthat we w;)u~d not lose our jobsif me and some other men walked out.. In this case I was verymuch concerned because I knowthat it would benefit us all:

I did not only tell her that I.would talk to my fellow workers,but later on I left the job toprevent from breaking the strike.

I moved south to where I'mpresently residing..

I now have a good job workingfor Glass Bottle Blowers Association, but neverthe less, sinceI was raised in Del~nn since Iwas 5 years old and worked inthe fields, I cannot and willnot forget what struggle our people are going through.

I am presently SUbscribing issues of EL MALCRIADO.. I received the first bundle of 50 issue which I distributed to all theneighborhood which consistsmainly of farm workers..

Yours truly,

Freddie E.. Tabarez"Que viva La Causa"

~Thanks to E I Malcriado'

Pablo Espinoza, DirectorOficina UFWLamont. California

Dear brother Editor:

In behalf of the Unitd FarmWorkers ofAmerica in Lamont.California. we want to commendyou and the entire staff of ELMALCRIADO for your fine workand the news you bring us throughthe paper, especially the newsfrom our union in Florida, Texas,Arizona, ~ew Mexico and, ofcourse, Cal1fornia. The paperis very Important to both thegeneral pUblic and the farm worker.

Also, we don't want to forgettwo persons who helped us withtheir technical assistance duringthe month of October this yearClemente Macias and Bartol~Aragon. They helped to repairthe floor of the Union officewhich Is located at 10913 Mai~Street, Lamont, California 93241..

These brothers lifted a greatburden off our shoulders whichwould have cost the Unio~ $250..Once again we_want to give thesebrothers our most sincerestfhanks.

Venceremos siempre,

Pablo Espinoza, DirectorLamont Field Office

Sisters fast

for boycott

(The following letter wa" received by Geoqe SherUau, director of t'1e boycort !:l Connecticut.--E:' MALC-{T/,.DCl,

Dear Mr .. Sheridan:

In response to your recent appeal in behalf ofthe UFWA cause,the Dominican Sisters of Northwest Catholic Convent ( 28 sisters) have agreed to support theUFW Boycott by abstaining fromnon-union lettuce and grapes, bynot shopping at the local FirstNational Stores until they complywith the UFWA pollcy, and byoffering a day of prayer and fas.tingfor the intentions of the peaceful and just cause of the farmworkers.. Enclosed is a checkequivalent to the amount we wouldhave spent for our main mealon that particular day of fasting..Please keep us informed of future developments and be assuredof our continued prayers.

In Christ.

Sister Betsy McDonoughWest Hartford, Conn..

(EnClOSed check for ~42.00)

FARM WORKER ALERT: New Government paymentsfor blind, aged, disabled

You have the right to appealif vou ·are declared not to beeligible.. A Campesino Centercounselor will represent you inyour appeal..

If there is no Campesino Center near you go at once to yournearest Social Security office toapply for SSI if you think you areeligible. Social Security officesare listed in the phone bookunder 'UnitedStates Government'

If you cannot go in person, callor write. Get you application innow..

And pass the word

the end of January. But don'twait..Right to appea I

Your Campesino Center willhelp you determine if yOU areeligible for SS!. They have beenattending special meetings tolearn everything possible aboutthis new program.. They wm alsohelp you apply by going with youto the nearest Social SecurityItffice..

You should come in immediatelyso that you don't lose any moneyby being late. If you apply anytime during a month, your checkwill be for the entire month.,

In order to get money from thefirst of January (the beginnin.; ofthe program) you must apply by

*All SSI recipients will beeligible for Medi-Cal.. Most willnot be eligible for food stampsbecause their checks will be morethan the amount for food-stampeligibility..

Counsel ing avai lable

.

W' ~ Official Voice of the United farm Workers

*if you are disabled, you may re~

celve payments for up to 3 month;;while your claim is processed..If it is finally determined that youare not eligible, you will not haveto pay the money back.,

*if you are older than 65 and inimmediate need at the time o!appli:ation, you may receive anadvance payment of up to $100..

*your child may be eligible because of a birth defect 0:- alater illness or injury.

*even If you are now receivingw'elfare as an 'incapacitated parent' under the Aid to Familieswith Dependent children program*even if you are now receivinggeneral Welfare because you arephysically unable to work.. (Before, you had to be permanentlydisabled..)

You should also know

Replaces welfare

*if you are now receiving welfarefor the aged, disabled, or blind,because it will be converted intoSSI automatically..

*if you are not receiving welfareor social security and are blind,aged. or disabled. and have anincome below a certain level.

*if you are now receiving socialsecuroty but at the lowest end ofthe scale..

You are eligible

You can work and still receiveSS!. You can be getting Social Security and still receive SS!. Thisis not a welfare program..

It replaces the present welfareprograms for the aged, blind, anddisabled which have been run bycounty welfare departments..Grown children will not be asked

to contribute to their parents. Aclaim will not be placed on thefamily home..

Eligible persons living in theirown household, with no other income at all. will get a check (inCalifornia) for $235 a month forone person, or $440 for a couple,!A blindperson in California willreceive $265 a month.Those with an additional incomecan receive at least $20 more permonth., In other states than California the amount may be different because each state legislature can add whatever it wantsto the Federal payments..

Farm worker ~ report to yournearest Campesino Center immediately if you are 65 or older,or disabled or blind., Federalmoney is now available for yoursupport.. This is a new programcalled 'SSI' It stands for Supplemental Security Income and isadministered by the Social Security Administration.. You do NOThave to have worked under socialsecurity to qualify. You do NOThave to be a citizen of the U.s..

Three million people who werenot ~ligible for welfare are eligible for this money.. You might beone of them..

Campesino Centers are locatednear the field offices ofthe UnitedFarm Workers of AmericainDelana, Lamont, Coachella, SantaMaria, Oxnard, Stockton, Calexico, and Selma, California, andin San Luis, Arizona.

These Centers are run by theNational Farm Workers ServiceCenter, Inc.., and are open 6 daysa week.,

If there is no Camoesino Centernear yOU, apply in person (or

by phone or letter) to the nearestSocial Security office.. If you cannot do this yourself, a friend orrelative can apply for you.. Theprogram goes into effect January1, 1974.. Readers of El Malcri.ado: please help us find farmworkers 65 or over.. disabled(no minimum age limit), or blind..Tell them to go to a CampesinoCenter or Social Security office..Or send in their name, address,and a telephone number..

Teamsters in the canneries

'Fairy tales andslippery stories'

[oTTRAPES

grace to belong to this Teamsterunion, they still haven't sent memy membership card-- that little Ca;d that cost me $45..501

That s Why they're so rich,those miserable bumsl When Iused to hear complaints abouttheTeamster abuses I would yellsarcastically: "Viva los Teamster." But now that they havescrewed us. I say, "Mueran losTeamsters," (Death tothe Teamsters."). There is no other unionlike our Union of the AFL-CIOunder the sun.) For our dues money we havemany benefits and those Teamsters charge ~37.50 plus $9 everymonth for "benefits" that aren'tworth catshit.

When I mentioned Mr. Chavez'name to those Teamsters. theyturned pale and said, "But youdon't know what we are doing!"

I said, "Yes I do. And itSTINKS! .

wayl"But these Teamsters are the

most cynical bunch that we'd everseen, and so when I calmed downI told the m, "What you all need isto bring Sr. Chavez down here sothat he can teaeh you how to makecontracts that protect the worker..What you cover under your contracts is the boss, and you leavethe worker an Jrphan at the mercyof the company. They don't needprotection, they (the company)are always associated and incor.porated. We are the ones thatneed your protection. Ifsenioritydoesn't exist, I would at least liketo know why I was laid off."

To this, the Teamsters answered, "Well, they can lay you offjust because they don't like theway you comb your hair."

"What is this?" I answeredback. "Is this a cannery or abeauty school?"

But the truth is that the contractis designed to kill two birds withone stone: they kick out thoseWho've already paid their duesbacause the company would haveto pay them $2.60 per hour. MeanWhile they exploit the new wor-

kers at $2.34 an hour until the 30days are up, when they can fleecethem of $37.50 more.

What a deal! It saves the company money and at the same timeit brings in new Teamster mem~bers and they get rid of so manyworkers this way that there's noone around to show up this thie.very..

And even th(!lugh I have the dis-

"Because we didn't know thatyou were going to cheat us likethis," we answered back..

Finally, a woman Teamsterthere told us, "If you had askedme about seniority I would havetold you,"

"Not able to contain myselfany longer I told her, "Take yourunion, your lousy l:ootracts withthe comDanv and cram it all the

We were all furiOllsJ trying toconvince him to represent us, telling him to not waste our time withhis explanations; fairy tales andslippery stories that they use onworkers like us..

In that charged atmosphereanother man told us, "It's no usetrying to explain this to you.. Youdon't understand, you don't knowanything about unions or seniority.And furthermore, as soon as youleave here you'll call us a bunchof S.O.B.'s"

One of the workers quickly an·swered, "We don't need to leaveto tell you thaU"

At these biting and hardhittingwords another man came out ofthe office and said to us, "You saythat the Teamsters are racketeers?"

"And aren't they?" I returned.Then the secretary· said to us,

"I began to take care of you, butyou didn't ask very many ques·tions."

"How," we answered her, "ifyou answered everything weasked with 'I don't know"'''

"Why didn't you leave if youdon't like our union?" asked another Teamster..

'So when I calmed down I told them, what youshould do is bring Mr. Chavez down here sothat he can teach you how to make contractsthat protect the worker.'

Imagine our surprise whenonly days after they took our$37.50 myself, Mrs. Nancy Maureand three other women were laidoff! It was even worse for someoftheother women, who paid duesin the morning and were laid offthat same afternoon.

On November 13 they took ourjobs and on the 14 we went to theoffice enraged at thedoublecrossthey had played on us..

Seeing us there, a secretaryasked us, "Have you come foryour withdrawl?"

What a shock when we answeredher, 'IN 01 Since w~e paid our$37,50 to this union to representus, we're here to make sure youtalk to the company so that theygive us back our jobs. Our seniority has been violated and they havediscriminated against us terribl~

They laid us off after we paid ourdues and were working only 7weeks, yet they've kept othersworking who haven't paid theirdues and have barely a couple ofweeks working."

One man there answered, "Wecan't do anything about it. Thereis no seniority the first year, nomatter that those laid off haveworked months and those that re.main are just beginning. We can'tdo anything about it...

by Guadalupe P. OlivaresPortersville, California.

I hope these line; are publishedin our newspaper, so that the public can become aware of anotherone of the Teamster' Tricks.

Not knowing other jobs besIdespicking grapes (especially formarket) and not wanting to breakthe grape Strike, I decided to gowork for the cannery of Consolidated Olive Growers In Lindsay,which has a contract with theTeamsters, Local 94 in VisalIa.

Many other persons have donethe same. Once employed at $2..35an hour with over·time alter 8hours, they began to call us to jointhe Teamster union and pay the$37..50 initiation fee - that is alter30 days working•• plus the $9 permonth membership fee..

The organizer, or 'union lady'as they call them, could never answer our questions. Her only answer was:I don't know.' The onlything she would tell us was thatwe had a $1,000 life insuranceWhich was double in case of fatalaccident. So we signed with thehope that they had given ~s that wewould work until the WetSort wasfinished, or until December..

Get GALLO out ofthe stores!

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35~ 0Farm Worker Cal·endar1974

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LA CAUSA

(For the United Farm Workers of Americaand for Christ at Christmas, 1973)

I will make it.---- ~Maximina de la Cruz

Her face is strong IHer fullness flows from folks who've knownThe tearsThat irrigate the human crop,Who've spent the sweat that flavors face withEarth's eternity.Yes, she will make it.Yes, she will make it.REFRAIN:TOur Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us:Pray for us, La dy:Guadalupe Lady, shed tears ofCompassion on our dry Earth:Cause the gushing streams to flow,The gardens to grow green againShepherd us, good Lady, into folds of life:Lady of loam-brown we love,Color of earth from which we grow,Grant us compassion to love those whoTake lives in violence,Who walk through the valley of the EarthAnd its graceBetween purple shoes and scarlet umbrella,Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us now in our need.)

Juan has !l0! oE.lx. giv~n !limsel.f. i!l l!f~--but !le !l~ n...Q.w giv!CE. h.i.i:l.Q.nl)' liLe Q.n ~_h.!.s. ea!:.t!l fQ.r us, fQ.r !li~ c!li},.d!:.'9n ~nQ !Q.r ~11. !.2.r!!!.~orker~ w!l0 ~u[f~r ~n.Q w!lQ. ~g !lu.!!ED'. !n t!li~ l~n.Q 9i ple~.

--Cesar ChavezJuan de la Cruz,Son of Aguascalientes,Son of Mexico, of man, and of America,Your sweat flOWing from 60 years of labor IIWashes and wets our weary feetAs sooth and gushing waters of Sierras.Your blood shed for us allMakes fertile, strong and sureOur stripped and sorrowing valleys:Your face of smile and strength, remembered still,Srases bitterness and fear and hatred.The tears of widow and of mourning millionsIrrigate again th~ parched and hungry EarthFrom which we grow.We are stronger in our unity and love because of you.In the valleys of our struggle,In our mountains of achievementWe will celebrate you always,

REPEAT RSFRAIN (Our Lady of Guadalupe, •.• )

The hand !hat ~tE...uck Brothe!:. .t'I~$! now. trembles iE. fea.!:.. I! too is !h~

victim of the climate of violence, racism and hatred created ~ tJlo~~

~eE. ~iho-owneveITthrn..5.~aJ2d}s.il!. what !h~ .£.a!lnQt-ow.E..------Cesar Chavez

Nagi Mohsin Daiffullah,24-year son of Yemen and of man and of America,Allah be with thoBe of us who mourn youAnd who celebrate your sacrifice; IIIAllah, help us purge our hearts,Scourge the evil of the sneaking whispererWho whispereth against ourselves and brother men.Allah, lay the healing hand of ancient, forcefulDesert god on hearts of those whoSlay in violence and in fear.Allah, lay your word of understanding on th'Powers that pay the slayers of the worthyAnd the worshipful of Sarth and God and Man in onn.Allah, help us in the law and logic of nonviolence:Allah, help us all to, by our lives,Make Nagi's death have meaning.Hump our souls to hold long years of love and of enduranceIn the struggle,As you humped the camel's backTo give him strength in desert thirst.Allah, gird us with the sword of brotherhood and loveAnd of nonviolence.(111 the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,The King of mankind,The God of mankind,From the evil of the sneaking whisperer,Who whispereth in the hearts of mankind,of the Jinn and of mankind.

--The Koran, Surah C IV: .1-6

Her body squeezedLike grapes too soon from vine-- IVGreen laughter, sprouts of loveToo soon ploughed back to soil:But let her memory ripenTo a succulent, sweet fullness,And scent our lives with meaningAs sachet of seasoned, ever-pungent leaves.

Reina, Reina, sacrifice of greatest sorrow,Succour in the arms of sweet Our LadyAnd our love:Reina, Reina, child.sweet and child lovedBeyond your short five years,Mark our sorrow for the losl of innocence you represent;Mark our dedication to the cause for which you diedFrom this day on.Mark our lives With your sweet tOUCh,P.nd we: tch us.

REP8AT REFRAIN (Our Lady of Guadalupe, ••• )

--Larry Godfrey

16 El MAlC~IADO 18 de ener~ 1974

1 6,000 tons turned away British dock workers stop grapes · Donation 1O~ ~10 6,000 tons turned away Vol. VII No.1 British dock workers stop grapesJanuary 18, 1974 'Not unloading

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