Posted on 03/31/2021 5:27:16 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The legacy of labor rights activist César Chávez continues with the first family bringing renewed focus to it amid national debate over raising the federal minimum wage.
On Wednesday, First Lady Jill Biden is visiting Delano, California, for an event with organizations that include the Cesar Chavez Foundation, United Farm Workers and the UFW Foundation, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Chávez helped unionize farm workers by co-founding the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers of America.
Former President Barack Obama supported César Chávez Day with presidential proclamations. California has made March 31 a state holiday, and other states also recognize it.
"Alongside Dolores Huerta, he founded the United Farm Workers, and through decades of tireless organizing, even in the face of intractable opposition, he grew a movement to advance 'La Causa' across the country," Obama noted in his 2014 proclamation.
"In 1966, he led a march that began in Delano, California, with a handful of activists and ended in Sacramento with a crowd 10,000 strong. A grape boycott eventually drew 17 million supporters nationwide, forcing growers to accept some of the first farm worker contracts in history."
President Joe Biden has also brought attention to Chávez's cause by placing a bust of him in the Oval Office.
Chávez was born on March 31, 1927 near Yuma, Arizona, and would have been 94 this Wednesday. He died at the age of 66 on April 23, 1993.
Ah, yes, Cesar responsible for many farms increasing the use of automation, thus solving the employee problem.
Cesar Chavez HATED ILLEGAL ALIENS(Wetbacks), and he was very adamant and Vocal about it
I have to give Cesar Chavez credit for looking after the rank and file by opposing illegal immigration. He even had members volunteering to mind the border.
Something that the spoiled brat college kids of the time were oblivious.
His modern supporters conveniently ignore this fact.
Ah, yes, Cesar responsible for many farms increasing the use of automation, thus solving the employee problem.
A decent wage for farm workers sounds like an admirable thing, but if the workers become too expensive, they will be replaced by machines. Same thing is true for fast-food workers. But, amazingly, no one seems to learn the lesson.
He was a hack.
In the 1980s he played up health scares about pesticides. When students asked him the grape boycott should extend to all products (table grapes, raisins, wine, etc) he said no, that he only represented one of the unions.
He played an emotional card and health scare when really he was trying to negotiate benefits.
Chavez was basically a mafia don. He used extortion and protection rackets to enrich himself and, indeed, beat up the “wetbacks” (as he calls them) to eliminate the competition.
His brother was a real piece of work too.
“A decent wage for farm workers sounds like an admirable thing, but if the workers become too expensive, they will be replaced by machines. Same thing is true for fast-food workers.”
I watched a show last night about automation in fast food.
Burger machines that do everything from make the patty, cook it, then assemble the burger with bun and requested condiments, then package and deliver it. All in front of the customer. Employees only needed to keep the various hoppers full.
Picnic inc. makes a pizza oven that is nearly completely automated. A worker places the dough/shell (any size from personal size to extra large) on the conveyor. The machine takes over applying sauce, cheese and toppings as ordered. One employee to load the dough another to keep sauce, cheese and topping bins full. Again, all right in front of the customer.
The day of the fast food worker is fading. They will join the buggy whip makers in the trivia pages.
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