INSIDE: • Temos 'sell out' Bruce Church workers p.l

• Goons and Guards assault organizers p.3

• San Joaquin &Coachella round-ups p.8-9

• Watergate leaks into fields .: ~ p.ll\'

J e 29,

Chavez51

TeamstersNO!

ganizer pointing his fingerat Jerry. All of the workerswalked out with him.

That afternoon, the BruceChurch workers declaredthemselves on strike at twomeetings held at BruceChurch Camp #2 and StarrCamp. Hundreds of farmworkers from other let­tuce companies attended themeetings.

The strikers elected a'Strike Committee comprisedof one representative fromeach crew: Hilarion Silva,Crew # I; Juan M. Rivera,#3; Ramon Garcia, #4; JesusHernandez, #6; Ulises Sa­lazar, #7. Manuel Hernan­dez heads the committee asmain organizer and is assis­ted by Manuel Bernardo Ro­driguez.

In the morning of June 7,15 Teamsters arrived in ashow of force telling theworkers, "You have yourjobs back." Company su­pervisors also announcedeveryone could go back to·work.

The Strike Committee saidthe workers would not goback to work until the Team­sters got out of the fieldsand the company signed acontract with the UnitedFarm Workers. To showtheir solidarity with thestrikers, workers from InterHarvest, Freshpict, HardenFarms, Norten, Grower Ex­change and other companiesare helping out with pickets,food and donations.

The Bruce Church work­kers also struck the companyin 1970 when more than 7,000farm workers paralyzed thelettuce and vegetable indus­try in California protestingthe contracts the growerssigned with the Teamsters.

out'a work stoppage, do it un­der our flag."

The Teamster organizerspassed out the blue Teamsterflags the the workers, whowent out as Teamster mem­bers to stop the rest of thecrews. The thinning crewwalked out.

The machine crews wereabout to walk out when thecompany supervisors camesaying the walkout was ille­gal because it did not havean official sanction from theTeamsters Union.

"We then went to theTeamster organizers whowere visiting the fields andwe asked them to help us getthe word out to all thecrews," the strikers recall,, 'but they just sat down andthen left for their office."

See page 2 for report of The truckdrivers, allTeamste.r J members, failed

out to the camp with several to respect their own flagsUnion organizers and met and crossed the picket lines.with the workers. Sensing they had been be-

The workers decided to tr ayed, the workers went todo a work stoppage to force Uribe. Uribe told them thethe company to rehire the 26 walkout was a "wildcat"men. The other crews living strike and you should go backat the camp agreed to join to work."the work stoppage. The ..And why did you give uscompany buses, which take the flags," they asked.the workers to the fields, Uribe answered: "Be­were empty as they left the cause you asked for them, notcamp. because you were going to

The Teamsters did not strike."make another appearance at The walkout continued.the camp until the company The company ~alled for acalled them about the work meeting with the Teamstersstoppage. When they ar- and the Union. Jerry Kayrived, Jerry told them: "You went with the workers to thebetter do something about Teamster headquarters forgetting these men rehired." the meeting.

.Louie Uribe, realized he A heated discussion brokewas losing control of the out between the workers andmean as he eyed the .red,- the Teamsters. The Team­black-eagled Union flags steres shouted, "We wantsome Inter-Harvest workers nothing to do with Cha­had brought them. He said, vistas." "Get him out of, 'If you are going to do_. here." said a Teamster or-

soldBruce Church strikers.

'Temos

A DOLLAR AN HOURThe lettuce cutters asked

Ramon Roblero, a companysupervisor to bring in theother crews, which werenearby, to help finish thefield quickly.

"No one tells me what todo," said Roblero, "All ofyou go into the field, or no Cesar speaks to Bruce Church strikers in SaUnas.one goes in." Twenty-six Cesar's address.of the workers, the majority, automatically fired. told the workers: "You havestood firm looking at Ro-' On their way to the camp, your jobs back."blero. the workers demanded they But company supervisor

J1m .Powell, . another su-' be taken to the Teamsters'. Ramon Roblero said, "I'vepervisor, arrived and told office in Salinas. "Since already fired you and I don'tthe workers their refusal to we had been forced to work want you back again." Theenter the field amounted to under Teamster contracts Teamsters promised the"leaving the job." I for two years," says Manuel problem would be resolved

The workers explained Hernandez, who heads the by 5:00 p.m•.they wanted to work, but also Bruce Church Strike Com- At 5:00 p.m. the Team­wanted the company to consi- mittee, "We decided to see sters arrived at Camp #2,der that they would only make if the Teamsters could really wilere the members of$1.00 an hour in that field. settle our problems with the Crew #6 live , and began

Roblero ordered Jose Co- company." making excuses. They saidrono, a foreman, to take up The workers explained no settlement had beena "list of those refusing their situation to Louie reached because neither theto enter the field so they Uribe, director of the Salinas "top head of the companyc an be taken to the camp." Teamsters office. Uribe nor of the Teamsters were

While the list was put to- promised he would help them around."gether, Hector Zamora, ad- and sent two Teamster or- The Teamsters assuredministrator from the com- ganizers to look at the field, the workers they would comepany's main office also came accompanied by Manuel Ber- back with 'a settlement theand repeated the same or- nardo Rodriguez and Juan next 'morning at 5:30 a.m.ders and threats. M. Rivera, who represented They didn't show. The

The workers still refused the crew, and two company workers then called Jerryto move. Zamora said, "You officials. They rated the Kay, Salinas United Farmcan go to the office for your field "good for nothing." Workers office director.checks," meaning they were The Teamster organizers Jerry immediately went

SALINAS, CaliforniaTwo hundred Bruce Churchworkers struck June 7 inan effort to oust the Team­sters Union from the fieldsand to force the company tosign a contract with theUnited Farm Workers.

Events leading to thestrike began June 5 when thecompany took the 47 lettucecutters of Crew #6 to cutlettuce in a field that hadbeen cut the day before.

Workers' rights overlookedAn example of Bruce Chruch's'regqr:d for workers'

rights was demonstrated when company supervisors putup a bulletin board at Camp #2 as stipulated by a courtinjunction.

They nailed the small board up on the outside wallof one of the barracks at the edge of the camp grounds.Jerry Kay asked the company officials if the boardcould be placed in a central location where most of theworkers could see it.

"Well, let's leave it here and see how it worksout," they replied.

Pressing them, Jerry asked, "What if the 'werkerswant to move it?"

Call us and we'll consider," said the company of­ficials.

Company gets, court injunction.Judge Elmer Machado of the Monterey County Superior

Court in Salinas is'sued an injunction June 8 forbiddingoutside meetings in Bruce Church labor camps. Theinjunction also limits the pickets at the camps to threeon each side of camp entrances.

The injunction is based on the company's claims thatits workers wde being intimidated by Union organizers.The only evidence presented was a company lawyer'stestimony that he had been told by a company officialthat he had been told that some workers had been in­timidated.

Field office director arrestedSalinas Union Field Office director Jerry Kay was

arrested by Salinas polic~ as he went into Bruce Church

More deve lopments .on Bruce Church stri ke .....Guards film food caravan Camp #2 to talk to the workers. The police told him The injunction also gives the Union the right to set

Bruce Church, Inc. brought in three private guards he was trespassing. Jerry told them he was invited up bulletin boards at the camps, make a.nnouncementsto join the two already stationed at Camp #2 when by the workers. during meals at camp dining hallS (whlch have beenUnion supporters arrived to visit the strikers June 10. "But the company doesn't want you here," the police closed by the company) and hold meetings inside campThe supporters, headed by Frank and Anne Plaisted said. Jerry turned to the workers, who said, "WE barracks.of Pacific Grove, brought several carloads of food want you here." Jerry refused to leave and was ar-for the strikers. rested.

As they met with the strikers inside one of the Later he was released and the Monterrey Countybarracks the new guards arrived, accompanied by District Attorney affirmed Jerry had the right to entercompany supervisors. One of the guards, from the company camps at ~ invitation of the workers.Achates Security Agency in Salinas, walked around thecamp filming license plates and anyone that came outof the barracks.

The supporters came out to ask company officialswhat the guards were for and why they were filming.

The company officials, who refused to give theirnames or talk to an EL MALCRIADO reporter, said"We just want to know who is on our property."When asked what was the company's policy on visi­tors, they replied, "We have no policy on this matter."

--Manuel Hernandez, head of the Bruce Church

strike committee appears happy about food con­tributions.

Members of the Monterey-Pacific Grove food caravan are

ereeted by strikers.

Strike H avSALINAS, California -- "Your

s trike dealt a heavy blow to theother (Teamsters) union," UnionDirector Cesar Chavez told BruceChurch strikers who filled the Sa­linas Union Field Office June 9.

"That is why I believe the strikeour brothers at Bruce Church havebegun is of great significance," hesaid. "You have dealt that otherunion such a hard blow that theydon't know what to do about it:'

"It greatly weakens their poli­tical position. How can they tellthe public, the churches, the wholeworld that asks them, that theyhaveunion contracts, but that the peopleare on strike? It is a great em­barrassment to them."

"It is possible, " Cesar said,"that the Bruce Church strike willbe what convinces the Teamstersto get out /of the fields."

Cesar said farm workers areentering a -new stage in their de­velopment. "In 1970 you went onstrike because it was a noveltyBut now, you have lost all fearsand you go out on strike because

.it is a nec~ssity:' ."The strike is now something

serious that is used against the..the growers and Teamsters who2 • EL MALCRIADO. June 29, 1973

try to destroy not only the Union,but also, the spirit of men andwomen who want to be free andwho want a union that really re­presents them:'

He told the strikers we have tomake a great effort so that we andour children can some day get outof poverty. "It is an illusionthat you can make a lot of money'by working piece rate," he said,"because time is too short andbecause their are no benefits apartfrom the wages. The day you don'twork you don't eat and the day youdo work the pickings are bad."

, 'Why should we accept that wehave to work all the time? Weare enslaved, while the growers

. grow rich and we remain the same."They give us a raise, but then

food prices go up. Weare stuckin- the same mess. That's why

. we have to strike the growers andTeamsters where it hurts themmost."

In his report on the CoachellaValley grape strike, he said: "Wemust win that strike. One of twothings, we win the strike or webreak the grower. We have I to hurtthe growers so badly that they don't

just lose money, but also , so thatthe grapes rot on the vines. Thegrowers have got to suffer irre­placable loses."

And to win, he saiQ, maximumpressure is being applied on theforemen who try to take advantageof the strike to bring in strike...breakers. Those foremen will bedisciplined, he said.

Cesar asked the strikers, "Ofall the benefits the Union offerswhat is the most important thing

. for a farm worker?" All agreedthat money, while necessary, isnot the most important. What ismost important is dignity, human

- rights, the right to be tre~ted withrespect.

"The Teamsters talk a lot aboutthe wages and benefits they havegotten for farm workers, but theyhide what is most important: whena worker has a grievance, that grie­vance has to heard. His or hergrievance cannot be left for lateron. It cannot be left unresolvedbecause the union failed to moveon it," he said.

•'The Teamster cannot solvegrievances for wor'kers because theyare here at the invitation of thegrowers," said Cesar.

Nagi Kob~re after window was smashed into hisface by a Teamster .goon•.

The car windows were smashed by a goon who warned Nagi and Cipriano to " stay away from Elmco".

Violence flaresTeamster goons assaultArab organizer in-Ducor

in San Joaquin ValleyGrowers' private guardsbeat Lamont organizer

June 29, 1973 • EL MALCltIADO. 3

In an unrelated case, threeoff-duty guards of the De­lano Private Patrol, Box 244,Delano. were arrested in

- connection with an armedrobbery in BakersfieldJune 12. _

They were released fromcustody as there was notenough evidence to prose­cute the case, police officerssaid.

Then, Walker pulled hisgun and ordered her away.

The two complaintants anda witness, Gayanne Fieting­hoff, met with Kern CountyDistrict Attorney Albert M.Leddy June 15 and he pro­mised them he would con­dllct an investigation. Hetold them he would be gonefor a week, but on his re-

- turn he would report the re­sults of the inquiry.

Plums rot on the ground as the Roberts' strike continues in the Lamont .area.See centerfold , pages 8-9 for round-up of strike activities in Coachella andSan Joaquin Valleys.

DUCOR, California -- An office. Kobarre and Ferrel. One LAMONT, California The two were saved from "Perez tried to force him"Arab Union organizer was The men identified them- goon smashed the windows Pancho Botello, a Union or- further .assaults by•. the into a car.seriously injured when selves as Teamsters and with a crowbar. ganizer, and Isidra Chavez guards when Kern County Botello told EL MAL-Teamster goons in at least asked him why he didn't The same day there were a Roberts Farms striker, Sheriff's deputies arrived on CRIADO he was afraid he"five vehiCles forced his.car come to work for them. three shooting inCidents in filed a formal complaint a- the scene. . The deputies 'would be beaten if he wentoff the road and smashed in The conversation was the area involving Team- gainst two Delano Private made no arrests!. into the car. He t.ol~ Pe.rezhis car windows with a crow- friendly he said. sters. Frank and Percy Patrol guards in connection he wanted to remam m sl~ht

bar the afternoon of June 14. Later, when he and Ferrel Mendoza had their pistols with a June 5 beating Bo- The incident began when of the ?ther worke~s •whIleNagi Kobbare was treated were driving to the picket- confiscated by sheriff's de- tello recieved. Perez told Botello he was they waited for sheriff s de-

for facial cuts inflicted when line, Kobbare said he noticed puties at the Elmco picket- . - - . under arrest for tres- QutieEJ._.the goons shattered the car's the car the men had been. line that morning for firing The guards, Jack Perez passing. Botello denied thatwindows. Cipriano Ferrel, driving, a dark brown Buick over the heads of pickets. and another known only as he had been trespassing, as Perez attempted to forcewho was with Kobbore, said Wildcat, was following them. At press time, there had Walker, beat Botello after he had been talking to one Botello into the car andthe Teamsters wanted to The same men who talked been no arrests in the as- arresting him. Mrs. Chavez of the Roberts' Farms fore- struck him with both hisfight Kobbare after he had to him at the post office were saults,. but Union lawyers objected. Walker drew his: men, but he offered no resis- fists and a blackjack. Atbeen' hit. An Arab in the in it. The have been iden- were filing complaints. yistol and ordered her away. tance to the arrest until this time, Mrs. Chavez leftTeamster mob, identified as tified by a third witness as the picket line and toldMohamed "Fresno" Ghalib, Frank Mendoza (husband of Perez, "What's the matterthrew a pistol he was wear- Dolores Mendoza)and a for- with you? It looks likeing to the ground and told mer labor contractor) and you don't even know the lawsKobbare "to get off the car" , Percy Mendoza. - of the police,"Ferrel said. They began motioning for

Ferrel said the goons Kobbare to pull over andbacked off when they saw honked their horn. KobbareKobbare bleeding badly. The and Ferrel refused to stopTeamster who had broken the and continued driVing to thewindow walked around to picket line.where Ferrel was sitting The Buick was joined byand said, "Stay away from a white & "reddish" piCk-upElmco. .. and then by a blue Ranchero

About that time Kobbare driven by Elmco supervisorwas able to drive the car Ray Daniels.through the crowd and make The three cars chased Ko­an escape. He was treated barre and Ferrel at ,highat the Union's cliniC at the speeds trying to pass andForty Acres in Delano. force them off the road.

Workers at Elmco are on A witness, ManuelRobles,strike because the Team- who was working near wheresters signed sweetheart con- the cars finally came to atracts with the company stop, said he knew somethingwithout the workers' know- was going on because thereledge. Teamster goons and were large clouds of dustorganizers moved into the coming from the road.ranch before the Union's By the time Kobbare andcontracts expired. Ferrel were trapped there

Earlier the day he was were at least five vehiclesattacked, Kobarre said he involved in chasing them.was approached by two men Then 10 to 15 goons jumpedwhen he went to the post out of the carsand surrounded

Improvisation: clinic's key to success

Salinas Clinic is quick to serve farm workers' families

days. They work from 10:00a.m. until their services areno longer needed, sometimesa late as midnight.

The doctors come at per­sonal sacrifice: they some­times come long distancesand may drive as much astwo hours for a two-hourevening shift.

Specialists in internal me­dicine or cardiac pediatricscome to the clinic per­iodically. The clinic can alsocount on specialists in urio­logy ( kidney and bladder),orthopedics (bones), as wellas a gynecologist. The clinicis now looking for a derma­tologist (skin specialist).

New services to be of­fered soon by the clinic willbe a doctor five days a week,home visits by a nurse formaternity cases and an im­munization program.

The clinic is open to strik­ers, Union members coveredby the Kennedy P Ian andmembers forced to work un­der Teamster contracts, inreturn for a sman co-pay­ment.

Clinic staff members saythey are completely at theservice of farm workers.In addition to their workat the clinic, they frequent­ly get out on the picketlinesbecause they want to fightthe socio-economic con­ditions that result in poorhealth among farm workersas well as helping to Gureillnesses.

enough hours under the .Ro­bert F. Kennedy Farm Work­ers Medical Plan to qualifyfor treatment. The clinicwas able to obtain minor sur­gery for him at a very smallcost.

And for still another work­er. the clinic was able toprovide extensive labo.ratoryevaluations even though thefacilities for such work arenot directly available at theclinic.

The Salinas Union Clinicwas established recently bythe National Farm WorkersHealth Group • which alsooperates Union clinics inDelano. Calexico and Sanger,plus a medical station in theCoachella Valley.

Working with MargaretMurphy are: Eileen Haley,lab technician; CherylMiller, nurse; CarolDonnelly, nurse; Anna Flo­res, health organizer, Jua­nita Elias (0' Arrigo strik­er), health aide and TashaDoner. receptionist and ar­chivist.

On the days when the clinicis closed, the clinic staffdoes follow-up visits for pa­tients treated by specialists,follow-up on diagnostic testsand takes some patients todoctors in .Monterey forfree medical care.

They are joined three daysa week by volunteer doctorswho come to work at theclinic when it opens on Tues­days, Wednesdays and Sun-

Inter Harvestsuffered from a

but did not have

SALINAS. California-­Improvisation is the key tosuccess for the Salinas Cli­nic staff as it struggles tobring better medical careto farm workers in the Sa­linas Valley. says MargaretMurphy, who administers theclinic and assists the me­dical staff in their work.

By improvising, the cli­nic is able to find the right)Specialist or put togethera correct program of ac­tion when emergenciesarise.

One case is that of JoseVillapando • ; an Inter Har­vest worker who had suf­fered from a chronic ail­ment for five years. Hehad never been to a doc­tor and had never had x­rays taken.

One of his fellow work­ers brought him into theclinic. The clinic called Dr.Jerry Lackner of San Joseand Villapando was admittedinto San Jose's Valley Hos­pital as the doctor's privatepatient.

In another case, a patientsuffering from venereal di­sease had paid $30 in doctorVisits, laboratory work. in­jections and a prescriptionfor the wrong medicine. Hecame to the clinic a week la­ter and for a few dollarsreceived the proper treat­ment.

Anotherworkergrowth.

Margaret Murphy is the headof the salinas clinic.

Hospital refuses to co-operate with clinicthrough. Fridays, but noemergency work. They alsoinsisted that patients "whoare ill enough" be turnedover to the hospital for treat­ment.

Margaret told them thehospital's services wereneeded as a back-up to theclinic because patients pre­ferred to go 10 111 e c lin ic.The hospital administratorsbalked.

In an interview with Mar- lasquez the hospital's topgaret Murphy, who heads the administrator, ThomasSalinas Union Clinic) EL Skoures, had told them theyMALCRIADO found that the didn't have to de it.Salinas General Hospital's Clinic doctors had to treatrefusal to cooperate with the him without the necessaryclinic recently could have X-rays. said Margaret, "andhad dangerous consequences it could have resulted in afor Inter Harvest worker very dangerous situation forRicardo Velasquez. 63, who Ricardo Velasquez."needed to have an X-ray done The next morning, Mar-immediately. garet took Velasquez to the

One evening Velasquez. hospital and de mandedsuffeced from difficulties in X-rays be taken. Skoureselevated blood.pressure and apologized saying he had nothgh temperature. CliniC noticed Velasquez' high tem­doctors ordered that X-rays perature. .be taken at once.

He was sent to General .The General Hospital hadHospital where the clinic originally agreed to servehad been getting X-rays and farm workers upon authori­electro - cardiograms done. zation by the clinic ( and thebecause the clinic lacks the clinic would then pay the

. necessary facilities. bill). But then. with in-X-ray techJlicians told Ve- creasing frequency, things

4: • EL MALCRIADO·. June 29, 1973

didn't get done.By June 3, it became ob-

vious General Hospitalwas not interested inhelping the clinic. The hos­pital's assistant administra­tor, Wolfgang Hass, toldMargaret the hospital wouldno longer do laboratory workfor the clinic and would nolonger serve patients untilhe met with her again.

Margaret told him, "I hopeyou have at least done thetwo throat cultures we sent In the heated discussionyou yesterday." that followed, Margaret told

"I hope they (hospital lab them the "Union has donetechnicians) didn't throw more for farm worker healththem away," said Haas. care by improving the eco-

Present at the meeting nomic and political positionsJune 6 were Margaret, health of farm workers so they canorganizer Anna Flores, afford medical care, as welland Hass. Haas told them as better food, liVing con­the hospital would do regular ditions and working condi­work for the clinic Mondays tions."

"No," replied Haas, "Thereal answer to the 'problem'is for farm workers to leavetheir kids in school."

Ana Flores , whose com­ments had been purposelyignored by WOlfgang andHaas, challenged them:"How can farm workers keeptheir kids in school when theyneed them in the fields toearn a liVing?"

At that point t\1e meetingended. Margaret said thiswas not the first confronta­tion with hospital adminis­trators. Once during a tele­phone conversation, ThomasSkoures told Mar.garet, "Youguys keep the shittiesthours.' .

"Our hours maybe shittyfor people who work Mondaythrough Friday, " she toldhim, "but not for people who

need our services."The clinic then turned to

other sources :fer theback-up services it needs.

X-rays are now done bya private radiology group,which gives the clinic boththe reports and the films.The hospital handed backonly the reports.

Electro-cardiograms aredone by a laboratorythat gives the clinic next­day service. The hospitalsometimes took more thanthree weeks in gettingX-ray reports back to theclinic.

"The clinic doesn't needthe hospital now," said Mar­garet, "and we wouldn't con­sider using the hospital againfor two reasons: poor me­dical care and inefficiency."

r--. .

Mel. Finerman Strike Committee: (left to right) Edilberto Izquierdo, co-ordinator; Teofilo Ramirez, co-ordinator;~nrlque Ultreras, treasurer; Noe Duran, secretary; Francisco Cortez, representative' Jesus Duran representa-tIve. ' ,

~:;~iej~~~~p:;~~~\l~:·Mel Finerman cuts off talks, tells Union ...~i~:~:~:~::~~e::~C~:thin:~'Call us when~you give us what we want'Salinas Californian, Finer­man said the Union did notnegotiate in good faith andthat the company has losthlJ.Ildredsof thousands of dol­lars because of work stop­pages and millions more be­cause of poor quality lettuce.

But Burciaga explains thatthe company was establishedin 1954 with its offices in Ox­nard and did not start togrow until it signed a con­tract with the United FarmWorkers in 1971. Since then,the company has grown intothe second largest lettucecompany in the country, se­cond only to Inter Harvest.

The huge company doesnot own land, but buys upentire lettuce and cabbagecrops covering more than20,000 acres in CaliforniaArizona, Texas, New Mex­ico and Colorado.

"It is Obvious," said Bur­Ciaga, "that Mel Finermanis involved in the plot todestroy our Union."

Meanwhile, company su­pervisors like Clemen­te Trujillo and Vicente Me­dina, are bringing in scabs.despite the workers' pleas.The supervisors say theymust obey the company be­cause that's where their pay­check comes from.

The strikers, headed byJesus Villegas and theworkers' Ranch Committee,went to the national Unionheadquarters in La Paz June16 to plan a strategyof strikes and boycotts aimedat forcing the company tosign a new Union contract.

OXNARD, California -- 40workers struck Mel Fi­nerman Company, Inc., June15 after the company brokeoff negotiations with the U­nion over a new contract,fired the workers and begantQ bring in scabs.As the strike spreads it willeventually include 600 to 800workers.

The contract expired May5 and negotiations continueduntil company negotiatorstold David Burciaga, Uniondirector of negotiations"call us when you are readyto give us what we want."

The company, which wasrepresented at the negotia­tions by Jerry Colstine andMarshall Davis, nevernego­tiated in good faith DavidBurciaga told EL MAL­CRIADO.

He said the company waswilling to discuss only whatit wanted on its own terms:

A management rightsclause on a take-it-or­leave it basis.

The right of the compa­ny to bring in machines with­out regard to the future offarm workers.

The right of the compa­ny to increase production.without at the same timeincreasing wages.

Eliminate the sUccessorclause which stipulates thatif the company sells its o­perations , the contractcon-"tinues in effect under thenew owner.

That the contract be ineffect only during the har­vest and that the Union pro­mise not to organize work­ers of companies that dobusiness with Mel Finerman.For example , if the Unionwere to accept the company'sproposal the Ul1ion would

SecurityFarms fa ils to break strikeSlR~\ BER ItS

FOR SALE

There are few strawberries tosell and the fields smell likeStrawberry Hill wine from theunpicked fruit as it spoils.

SANTA MARIA, California- your right."During the last two weeks, The workers jeered himSanta Maria Valley strikers shouting they would not breakhave successfully thwarted the strike at Security Farms.attempts by the strawberry Furukawa is one of the com­company Furukawa to use panies that signed acontractits own workers to break with .the Teamsters in 1970.the strike at Security Farms. The strike against Secu- .0

A Furukawa worker heard rity Farms continues. 200the grower talking by radio farm workers from Interto Yataro Minami, the owner Harvest, Freshpict, Mel Fi­of Security Farms, and pro- nerman and others, alongmising him help. The worker with students and sup­immediately warned the porters, came from OxnardUnion. to join the picketlines.

Union organizers went into During the day, one ofFurukawa's fields to talk to Security Farms' lettucew.orkers asking them not to thinning crews walked outbreak the strike. Furukawa of the fields. Apart fromcalled the police. produciug strawberries, Se-

The next day a group of curity Farms also has aboutwomen Union organizers en- 2-3,000 acres in lettuce.tered the fields to talk with Some of the indicatorsthe workers again. During showing the effectiveness ofthe conversations, the work- the strike are:ers complained Fur1.!kawa Minami admitted publiclydidn't even give them a rest that production has fallenperiod during the day. 30 per cent.

Later Union organizer When the strikers wereManuel Echavarrfa warned working, they could pickFurukawa that if he broke 30-40 boxes every day.the strike at Security Farms (E ach box contains 12 bas­a strike would start at his kets and weighs 15-20 poundsown place. He also demand- full) The scabs, many ofed that Furukawa give the them students and relativesworkers rest periods. of the Teamster organizers

Angry, Furukawa gathered (like Lupe Juarez, John Mi­his workers and said, randa's uncle), can only pick"Where is the big mouth about eight or nine boxeswho sent to the Union?" each day.All said they didn't know The fields smell like winewho. Then Furukawa an- and flies are abundant amongnounced, "From now on you the rotting strawberries.will have one rest period Pretending production isin the morning and one in up, company trucks some­the afternoon. But remem- times leave the fields withber, you have this not be- boxes apparently ready forcause of them (Union or- shipping, but they are emp­ganizers), but because it is· ty.

JlUle 29, 1973 • EL MALCRIADO • 5

BOYCOTT SAFEWAY- BOYCOTT A&PSaJeway sued in 'watered ham fraud'

SAN DIEGO, California -- State and federal regula- t..n #83) was brought to ourSafeway stores in the San tion require that water- attention by a sympatheticDiego area add as much as added ham be identified with source."10 percent water to their labels clearly marked "Wa- "However, subsequentpackaged ham in direct vio- ter Added" in letters not random testing in the Sanlation of state and federal less than 3/8 inches in Diego area on May 23 andregulations, charged a $1.2 height. 24 , and June 7 indicatedmillion consumer protection "The water fraud is not Safeway was ignoring thesuit filed today in San Diego a case of unintentional labeling processes andSuperior Court. errors on Safeway's part," selling watered ham without

"On a one-pound slice of proper consumer warning.-ham costing $1.69 Safeway Gaenslen said. "On April On May 23 ham purchasedcustomers are being charged 12 the chief of Safeway's, at five out of eleven Safewayas much as 17¢ for water," Southern California meat ,stores selected at randomsaid J. Anthony Gaenslen, operations ]. E. Parker, showed water content levelsthe attorney bringing the instructed his store man- of between .2 and 9.9 per­class-action lawsuit. Gaen- agers to take care to add, cent. On June 7, ham sold

pressure sensitive labels to at four out of seven random­slen said the giant market its Easter sale of ham with ly selected Safeways showedchain systematically fails to the "Water Added" legend. a .2 to 6.2 percent waterlabel its water-added ham as A copy of this bulletin content. All tests were con­required by law. (Meat Merchandising Bulle- ducted at Agri-SCience La-

boratories, -Inc. of Haw­throne, California.

"Safeway is deliberatelyflouting the law protectingconsumers because itsqueezes a little more pro­fit on its meat sales.

The customer ends up withthe tab," Gaenslen said.

Gaenslen said the suit asksfor an injunction to halt il­legal Safeway ham labelingand restitution of money es­timated to have been chargedfor water over the past 3years.

The suit was brought byKaren Lepper and JaneWaite, both of San Diego, onbehalf of all affected con­sumers in the San Diego 'area.

TABLE AND DESSERT WINES- '

WinemastersGuildTavolaRomaF amigUa CribariJ. PierrotLa BohemeCresta BlancaMendocinoGarrett·AltaC.V.C.Virginia DareLadiLa Mesa (Safeway only)

'SPECIALTY WINESOCean Spray Cranberry RoseYin Glogg(Parrott &. Co.)

SpARKLING WINESWinemasters' GuildTres GrandCook's ImperialRoma ReserveCribari ReserveJeanne D'ArcLa BohemeCeremonyVersaillesCresta BlancaSaratogaJ. PierrQt

BRANDYCeremonyGuild Blue RibbonRomaSt. MarkCitationOld san FranciscC'\Parrott V. S.

Farm Workers'Don't

Patronize List ....The Union urges all farm workers and supponers~ot to /patronize wire s and liquors bearing thelabels of Guild Wineries and Distilleries untilWhite River Farms signs a new Un1n contractwith its workers:

warnsLabor SafewayDALLAS, Texas -- A delegation of three top Texas

union leaders paid a visit to Safeway's Dallas head­quarters June 11. In the delegation were Garland

to the ongoing injustice to approximately 15,000 lettuceworkers and tens of thousands more farm workerswho cannot freely organize with the current precedent'of grower ·selection of a union. she said. - ,

Ms. Kiely 'was hired by Calvin Pond and MalcolmGrover, both Safeway Vice Presidents. Her conclu­sions included the findings that:

lettuce workers are being denied their· choice ofunions.

the lettuce workers have chosen the UFW to re­present them and the growers have ignored fair em­ployer practice by failing to recognize this choice.

The Teamsters have acted in their own interest,not the farm workers~

It is hoped Safeway will listen to the very advicethey have solicited, she wrote.

Safeway told,

iSI S£ PUf»E!San Antonio police'kidnap' boycotters

San Antonio boycotters and ding to Bill Chandler, thisUnion supporters recently type of detention, a favoritecharged City police with al- practice of the Texas Ran­lOWing themselves to be used gers, has already been suc­by the growers and Deluxe cessfuly challenged in courtSupermarkets "to thwart the as 'kidnapping'.farm workers' movement," At the northside store, po­City police continually har- lice wrote out citations char­rassed boycotters as they ging boycotters with "bloc- Ham, director of the UAW's CAP organization in Texas,picketed Deluxe Supermar- king the entrances" to the J. W. Sifford, representing the Texas AFL-CIO, Darylkets, a two-store supermar- store. Picketing were four Greer , who works with UAW -locals in Oklahoma andket chain that refuses to boycotters for five en- Texas.stop selling non-Union trances. They demanded to see the division sales managergrapes and lettuce. When asked Why different Carry Ford, but an attempt was made to push them

Police threatened to en- tactics were used against off on Safeway's public relations man for the area,force a state anti-mass pic- the boycotters at the two. Ira Kiker.keting statute that was pro- stores, Chandler explained When Ford finally agreed to meet with the laborven unconstitutional last the cops at each store are leaders he had his top produce man there too, asyear. The conflict climaxed neighborhood cops and were well as Kiker. Kiker then talked for a hal~-hour aboutJune 9 when police removed probably trying to help out Safeway's neutrality. 'He handed the delegation allthe picketline at the chain's their friends the store ma- kinds of leaflets and promotional literature aimedsouthside store, took the pic- nagers. So he said, "They at conVincing them of Safeway's position.keters to a vacant lot and lec- just used their own imagin- A moment of silence followed Kiker's talk. -tured them as to Why they ation in trying to get rid Greer stood up, threw the Safeway propaganda on theshould not go on picketing. of the pickets, and thus their floor and said, "This is a bunch of shit."

The police took up names actions weren't co-ordi"' The produce man, very upset, said, "Whata ya mean?and addresses and ran nated. You guys don't want the growers to have a choicea check on each person to Despite the periodic har- to make between the two unions for their employees.see if they had Warrants. rassment by Texas law en- The growers ought to have that right."

One hour lat~r, the police forcement authorities, the The labor leaders replied by telling them thattold the boycotters, "Well, Union refuses to reco.gnize if Safeway doesn't take off the non-Union grapes andyou can go now to what you the validity of anti-mass pic- lettuce, there will be a boycott throughout Texas likewere doing before," Accor- keting laws. they have never seen before.

6 • EL MALCRIADO e June 29, 1973

Support boycottA graduate student hired by Safeway to conduct

an independent study of the lettuCe boycott and tomake recommendations has advised that the super­market chain "boycott the lettuCe of growers withTeamster contracts." She also said growers with nocontracts at all should be included' in the boycott.

The student, Jane Yett Kiely of the Graduate Theo­logical Union, Berkeley, California, told Safeway inher recommendation that it would be difficult forthem to obtain enough lettuce, because' the Teamster­grower conspiracy had corrupted nearly the entirelettuce industry. '

The Teamsters and the growers would cause alot of problems for Safeway, she predicted, but thedisruptions would not compare in magnitude or impact

BOYCOTT, LETTUCE .- BOYCOTT GRAPESChicago will never be the same

CHICAGO,Illinois -- The D'Arrigo strikers and theSI, SE PUEDE brigade of the Arizona Recall campaignwho are in Chicago to work on the boycott reportgreat successes in their area.

They turned away 14',000 people from A&P storesin 24 days. With an average of $20 per customer, they'estimate A&P lost $280,000 in less than a month.They are working 35 picketlines and in one day turnedaway 2,600 customers.

WHen they first arrived , they initiated a guerillatactic operation where they would enter a store andphotograph meat. lettuce, managers, etc. and handout leaflets to customers. They would check thecoolers for scab lettuce and hand the manager a let­ter telling him if he bought any scab lettuce or grapehe would be picketed without mercy.

One day at the produce market they were picketingin front of 30 boxes of D'Arrigo onions. After se­veral hours, the owner told them' to take the onionsand leave. They took the boxes and left, giving onionsaway to people on the street and' talking about thestrike.

Scap grapes have just started to arrive in Chicagoand the boycotters are going to have a full-scaledemonstration at the produce terminals. They willbe joined by members of the clergy and other volun­teers.

Coloradoans support boycott

BOULDER Colorado -- The Union's boycottS oflettuce and' Safeway food stores are receiving widesupport from people here a poll conducte~ ~y twoUniversity of Colorado students last month mdicates.

The poll based on telephone cal~s to 300 pe:sonsshowed that 76 per cent of the city s 80,000 resIdentsknow about the boycotts. Of these, 35 pet cent were ac­tively supporting the lettuce boycott and 41 percentwere not shopping at Safeway. The reason more peoplesupport the Safeway boycott is that area stores havebeen picketed every weekend since mid- January.

The pollsters found that of those not shoppipg ~fe­

way, about 40 per cent had been turned away by the,picketlines. At one store alone, supporters have turnedaway 5,000 shoppers since the boycott began.

The power of the picketline was again illustratedby the poll. It showed the picketline was second onlyto the general media in informing people about theboycotts.

The survey was conducted as a Class project underthe supervision of a Journalism School professor. Ithas an accuracy of about 95 per cent.. In other area news, EL MALCRIADO llearned thatth'e University of Colorado student senate endorsed theLettuce' Boycott and has banned the use of head lettuceon campus indefinitely. The ban was approved by theschool's administration near the end of last semester.

New Texas Boycott officesTexas Boycott director Bill Chandler reports new

boycott offices with full-time volunteers have openedup in Dallas, Fort Worm Austin and Houston. Thenew boycotters are already turning away between 1,000and 1,600 customers from Safeway stores every week­end.

In San Antonio, the Boycott Committee headed byIrene Ramos Chandler is wor1<ing on non-Union grapesand lettuce. They are visiting produce terminals andhave cleaned out more than 25 large independent foodstores.

He says Safeway is getting very concerned about hepicket lines, especially in Austin where boycotters arecovering every Safeway. Even in the rural areas suchas in Waco and Wichita Falls, where people are supposedlyconservative, people are responding very positively to thebcycott.

21 guilty of aiding Union

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado -- Twenty - one pic­kets' arrested March 24 at a local Safeway storewere found guilty of "using the stores property atthe owners' objection." They were fined $10, ofwhich $5 was suspended. The group included twopriests, three nuns and Richard Longoria, head of theDenver Boycott Committee. The following week a groupof housewives were picketing the same Safeway storein connection with the Meat Boycott and the manage­ment served them coffee and donuts.

Price control violationsLOS ANGELES, California -- The Internal Revenue

Sevice has found that Safeway violated the federalprice control program. They "voluntarily" rolledback their prices until the $80,965 they had over­charged customers was made up. The violationsoccurred at 553 West Coast and Southwest stores.

Labor women support Cesar

SAN FRAl'llCISCO.- Working women, who were urgedMay 19 at a conference here to become more aggres­sive, took a lunch break to demonstrate outside aSafeway store in support of Cesar Chavez and theUnion. They were attending the first State AFL­CIO Women's Conference.

Unsanitary conditionsDALLAS, Texas -- u.s...District Judge Sarah T•.

Hughes May 19 fined Safeway Stores, Inc. $10,000for maintaining unsanitary conditions at the company'sGarland Texas warehouse. It is the second time injust ().v~r two years Safeway has had to pay fineson federal charges of operating an unsanitary ware­house there.

On May 3, 57 Safeway stores were ordered to rollback meat prices for violating meat price ceilingsimposed March 29.

Bumpersticker" song' takesTexa~A new song by country singer Kenny Price is climb­

ing the charts throughout Texas) called the "Bum­persticker Song."

In the song Price laments the fact there are somany cars all over the place 'and highways like cob­webs throughout the country. 'He says that in orderto make their cars look different , people use bum­perstickers. ' Then for the rest of the song, Pricereads off the different kinds of bUn'lperstickers hehas seen and among them are "don't eat grapes orlettuce and don't shop at A&P.

Two arrested at SafewayOXNARD, California -- Two Union members,Julio

Salinas Romeros and Cristobal Lopez Contreras, werearrested here June 8 , when 90 people left the ce­lery fields early and went to picket the Safeway storethere. The two were arrested for violating a courtinjunction which limits the number of people in theparking lots to five.

When they left the Safeway store, 40 of the pic­kets went to the Oxnard Elks Club, where the FarmBureau Federation was holding a dinner meeting.They picketed there for two more hours.

Teamsters join picket lines

OAKLAND, California -- More than 75 rank-andfile Teamsters demonstrated at a Safeway Store hereJune 16 in support of the Union's strikes and grapeand lettuce boycotts.

The Teamsters organized the picketline to showfarm workers and the public that no all Teamsterssupport the strike-breaking activities of Mohn, Fitz­simmons and the rest of the union's leadership.

"We're with you brothers and sisters, we are notstrikebreakers," a spokesman said. The picketlinewas organized by the Committee of Concerned Team­sters from Bay Area locals #923, #315, #70, #85,#853and # 588.

The committee is planning a caravan to Delanoin late July to bring food 'and supplies to strikersthere.

Church wants worker etectionsLOS ANGELES -- The Episcopal Diocese of Los

Angeles passed a resolution calling for secret ballotelections for farm workers involved in the labor dis­pute in California and Arizona.

Canadians behind boycottsSASKATOON, Canada -- The Saskatchewan Pro­

vincial Council of the Canadian Food and Allied Workershave passed a resolution of support in the Union'sbattle with both lettuce and grape industries.

'Time to stand united'SEATTLE, Oregon -- "When an outside faction

starts raiding an associate of the AFL-CIO, it's timeto stand united," Michael H. Welch, president of theCommunications Workers of America's Seattle localsaid in a letter accompanied by a $100 check to the Unionstrike fund.

Woman raises $1,482LOS ANGELES -- Dora Keyser donated $1,484 in 1972

'to the Union. She raised the money by selling ceramicsdecorated with the Huelga Eagle and Union slogans.

She makes the ceramics herself and has been anindomitable friend and supporter of the Union sinceits beginning.

Her funds were directed toward two projects: theeducation fund for farm workers' children-and the fightto defeat Proposition 22 in last November's elections.

Labor council endorsementST LOUIS, Miss. -- The City'S Labor Council passed

a resolution condemning the contracts obtained by theTeamsters Union- in the California grape fields. Theresolutions said the United Farm Workers were therightful representatives of the workes and that theTeamsters had singed back door contracts with thegrowers.

Non-boycotters pay growers

SALINAS, California -- People who ignore the LettuceBoycott pay through the nose for their ignorance. Thegrowers have harvested only half the lettuce they didlast year. But because they are asking four timeswhat they got last year, they are making t"-;;ice the,profits. They have attempted to put the high priceof lettuce on the shoulders of the Union, but 95. percent of the costly lettuce is under sweetheart Team­ster contracts.

JlUle 29, 1973 • EL MALCRIADO • 7

tinue in their struggle tovindicate their rights.

The follOWing morning Bi­shop Flores led a pray­er service for the strikerswhile he stood on the bedof a pick-up truck at a pic­ketline in Thermal.

As of june IS only 245,337boxes of grapes have beenpicked. Last year at thistime two million boxes hadbeen shipped. Growers at­tribute the difference to thecool weather and to someextent to the Union's pre­harvest strike. Picketlineshave swelled to nearly 1,000pic~~ers.

The weather and the pre­harvest strike have takentheir toll already. Thegrapes are of very poorquality. With inexperiencedworkers in the fields, thegrapes are bing packedpoorly.

One of grower Henry Mo­reno's crews walked out-­only 6 of the 50 workersstayed in the fields. 50per cent of his grapes had

A special fact-finding to be repacked because ofcommittee was sent to the bad packing. He' complainedCoachella Valley june 8 bitterly about this to.a jour­to see how the strike is nalist yesterday saying he

,going and to find ways of has never had to repack forputting to end the Team- sloppy work before.ster's strikebreaking activi- Many growers are havingties in the fields. to repack their grapes due

Serving on the commit- to green grapes without thetee were: john Henning, E- proper sugar contents. Onxecutive Secretary for the I june 13 and investigator forCalifornia State AFL-CIO; the National Farm Workerjoseph Keenan, Secretary of Minsitry filed a class actionthe International Brother- suit in Los Angeles againsthood of Electrical workers; three chain stores apd, twoand Paul Hall, President of Coachella Valley growersthe Seafarer's Union: and because of their saleAl Wohl, General Counsel of grapes that failed to meetfor the AFL-CIO. federal state standards for

During their visit to the sugar content•valley, they spoke to the Once green grapes arestrikers. found in a shipment that has

, 'We have no quarrel with reached the market the ship­the Teamsters in the cities ment has to be destroyed byand towns," said Henning, the authorities. So all boy­"but we do have a disagree- cott offices and consumerment with the Teamsters in groups that share the Union'sthe fields. We represent concern for quality pro­1.6 million working people duce will be checking forin California. You are not the sUbstandarq,grapes inalone, we'll be with you un- the coming days and weeks•til you wino" The poor quality of the

Keenan said , "We are grape and the bad pack arehere to try to work out some reflected in the price theysort of program to settle ate bringing on'the market.this thing once and for all Last year at this time, per­in the agricultural areas of lettes were bringingCalifornia. We have never in, $1l.50 per box. Now theylet any organization that has are bringing in only $9 orbeen chartered by the na- $10 per box. (Only Lioneltional AFL-CIO go down the Steinberg and K. K. Larsendrain and we have a res- are getting $ll per box)ponsiblity to see this Cesar predicts that therethrough. won't be enough workers

"This fight will not be to get all the crop out.won or lost here," said The poor quality will con­Paul Hall, "this fight will tinue. The price of thebe won or lost throughout junk grape will fall tothe country. If the Team- 10 cents per pound in Ca­sters continue they'll be in- lifornia markets. "Thesevolved in a whole number of bad grapes won't make itplaces with a whole lot of in the New York market:'people. A journalist said yester-

day that a broker in ChicagoBishop juan Arzube, sid he wouldn't bUy any

Archbishop of Los Angeles, scab grapes , because theand Bishop Patricio Flores, "boycott there has teeth inArchdiocese of San Antonio it. II Another Chicago bro­concelebrated Mass for the ker admitted to the repor­strikers at the Friday ter that Steinberg's UFWevening meeting june 8 in grapes were bringing in $19Coachella City Park. 'a box for him, while the

Concelebrating with them scab grapes were sellingwere ten farm worker for $16. This was subs tan­priests from Texas and tiated by the Teamsters whoCalifornia. Both bishops were upset over the UFWexhorted the strikers to con- premium.

June 29, 1973. EL MALCRIADO • 9

Coachella, 1,000 on picketlinesUnion grape strikers won

a court victory JURe 'IS inIndio Superior Court thatswept away restrictions ontheir use of power mega­phones on the picketlines.

The restrictions imposedby judge Fred Methenyjune II limited UFW to two45 minute periods of unin­terrupted use of powermegaphones at each rancheach day. The Teamsterswere given the right to two15- minute rebuttle periods.

Cesar Chavez and 50 Union: strikers crowded into thecourtroom to hear the rulingwhich was arrived at in thejudge's chambers.

judge Metheny has beenpresentd with 181 deposi­tions from the strike'rs insupport of the free and un­restricted use of loudspea­ers. The deposition weregathered by the Union legaldeaprtment whose rankswere strengthened by 14California law students ser­ving with the Union for thesummer.

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Photos clock-wise, be~inning in the lo­wer left corner.--Rank-and-file memters of the Mexi­can-American CannerY Education Com­mittee, Teamsters Local 679, San jose,pledged their suppor: to the strikersat a june 17 rally in Arvin.-- jacinto Rodriguez alks Lupe Valderra­ma, Roberts striker br her phone num­ber, boss-Temo chapa:-ons.--Union supporters look as Teamstermembers speak aglinst their union'sstrike-breaking lladership at arally june 17.--Cesar joins strikErS on picketline atBagdarsarian Vineya"ds in the CoachellaValley.--Bishop Patricio Fltres celebrated massat Coachella Park on june 8.--Union supporters ook on at CoachellaValley demonstratior.

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,SELMA -- The field office

here reported there arethree strikes in the area:D'Arrigo; Ben Hamilton; andGianini.

Last week a person dri­ving a Gianini truck triedto hit some of the workerson the Giani picketline. Inhis attempt, he almost hita sheriff's deputy. The of­ficer is filing charges a­gainst the driver for assaultagainst a law enforcementofficer.

sters june 14. The next daythe workers were on thepicketline, and no one showedup to work except one car­load which left when theysaw the picketline. Laterin the day, about five scabswere seen in the fields.'Workers from Eugene

Nalbandian's farm near herefired 10 Puerto Rican work­ers and 7 Mexican workersfor not signing with Team­sters. The workers reportedthey had beenVisited IS timesby the Teamsters , but theystill refused to sign.

At the Roberts' farm thereare plums rotting on the'ground, where there are lessthan 100 scabs trying to pickthe fruit the normal forceof 500 would be picking.

LIVINGSTON -- Union re­presentatives negotiatingwith Gallo Winery met withCesar Chavez june 17. Theyreported there were stillproblems with the company,but" things look promising."There has been a lotof Teamster activity in thearea, but many workers werecoming into the LivingstonField Office and rejectingthe Teamsters and signingup with the UFW.

Aggie Rose, Livingstonoffice director, reportedthat a committee here sold750 copies of EL MALCRIADO to workers in the areaduring the last edition.

'stri'ke lOne'

STOCKTON Arealeader and Union Vice-Pre­sident Pete Velasco reportedthat over 95 per cent of theworkers in his area havsigned cards author~zing theUnion to represent them incollective bargaining nego­tiations with the growers.

He said that nearly 2,000workes havs signed and or­ganizers are still' workingin the Lodi area, includingWoodbridge, Galt Acampo,Victor and Lockort.

Although most of the con­tracts with growers in the

LAMONT-- Adelia Ra- area have expired, workersmona, a striking worker are still in the fields whilefrom American Products negotiations with the com­said the company gave their panies continue.checks to the Teamsters or- "The people arc willingganizers in the area and they to go on strike if necessary,"took them into the fields. Velasco said.

The Teamsters called the The Teamsters, who haveworkers together and told signed sweetheart contractsthem they would have to with many growers in othersign Teamster authorization areas have been unsuccess­cards before they could re- ful here. They were quiteceive their pay checks. active last month, but have

The American Products since moved to a "classy"workers have ben on strike office in downtown Stocktonsince june 14 when they were and have stayed away fromgivsn the choice of signing the fields.with the Teamsters or losing "We have strong memberstheir jobs. in this area--we don't worry

Another new strike began about the Teamsters gettingat the Gagasian farm where in here," Velasco said. "We60 workers out of 80 re- will kick them right out iffused to sign with the Team- they try."8 • EL MALCRIADO • June 29, 1973

San Joaquin

ARVIN -- Members ofthe Mexican-American Can­nery Educational Committeeof Teamsters Local 679 inSan jose came to demons­trate their solidarity with200 strikers june 17 at theArvin City Park.

Included in the Teamsterrank-and-file delegationwere Rudy Garcia, TommyRodriguez, Eduardo Mar­tinez, Ricardo Real, DanielVillasenor and FranciscoArse. They were accom­panied by long-time Unionactivist Fred Hirsch.

DELANO -- There arefive strikes taking place inthis area, with 180 strik­ers receiving strike bene­fits. Teamster ,goons havemoved into the area, butBen Maddock, director ofthe Delano Field Office said"As far as we are con­cerned , they can bring intheir whole damned union:'

On june 10, Bay Area re­presentatives brought a foodcaravan to the area's strik­ers. They also brought con­tributions to the strike fundthey raised within their ownlocals., There are strikes at Ro­berts' Farms at the PosoRanch, McFarland and Pop­lar; the Tenneco farm atDucor and Elmco farms al­so in Ducor.

The 1973 War of the Grapesis rapidly spreadingthroughout the San joaquinValley as growers andTeamst:!rs continue in their• •sweetlleart-Contract" lovef fair a 11 the expense of farmworker::.

Unior -breaking tacticswhich b ~gan in the CoachellaValley early in the springhave spread north withscabs, ~oons and guards in­vading lhe fields like cancer.

As a result, violence haserupted at the numerousstrikes which are being de­clared daily. The goons,scabs cJld guards have littlerespect for the rights ofstriker>, pickets-and Unionorganizers. (See relatedstories page 4)

The growers and theTeamsters are paying a highprice for their disregardfor the wishes of the work­ers. The goons are costingthe Teamsters $67 a dayand the growers' fruits arealready rotting on theground.

I

,rHI SeAl·AfT~ GOD HA.DF'~lSHED T~

.~TfLESJJA~LTHE"-roAD A~1) THe- .VAMPI2E" .He TOOlL1He- W02.STOF WHATWA~ LeFT AN t:>MADQ THe: <;cAB;

10. EL MALCRIADO • JlUle 29,_ 1973

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Nixonites'~" Teamsters ~ '-'N'azls unite against' "Oni'IJlf';"':':':

The petitions , which werec aIling for placement of Pro­position 22. on the ballot,were' misrepresented asbeing "favorable to farmworkers" and to lower foodcosts. "

Monies from PresidentNixon's re-election cam­paign and the TeamstersUnion were secretly shuttledto a Los Angeles advertisingfirm and the California Na­zi organization in an effortto "defeat farm labor leaderCesar Chavez," two Califor­nia newspaprs reportedearly this month.

The Los Angeles Timesreported on june 7 that Ro­bert j. Walters, head ofAmerican Advertising,which was hired to promoteanti-Union Proposition .z~'

received $10,000 from thePresident's committee.

The report came afterHugh W. Sloan, jr., formertreasurer of the Nixon cam­paign, testified at the SenateWatergate hearings that hedisbursed the money,in cash, to Lynn Nofziger,former director of the Ca­lifornia Committee to Re­elect the President, for anunspecified project.

Nofziger told the Timesthat the money had goneto Walters, a disgruntled for­mer coordinator for the A-

merican Independent Party. seph Tommasi, head of the make a down payment for the At that time he was offeredWalters gained notoriety National Socialist White nation's largest Nazi head- $5,000 to use his storm troo­

during the 1972 election cam- People's Party ( a Nazi or- quarters at 4375 N. Peck pers as registrars.paign when he admitted using ganization) received funds Rd.in El Monte. Walters' fraud conviction"fraudulent and misleading" from both Walters and the Walters denied he hired stems from the use of "dog­means in obtaining Proposi- Teamsters Union to destroy the Nazis, even when shown ged cards" which preventedtion 22 petition signatures. the Union. photostat copies of checks Proposition 22 petition

For his misconduct, he "Tommasi sqid that Wal- 'made out to Tommasi with signers from readi.!1g whatwas fined $500 by a Los ters had given him 'an un- Walters' signature. _ they were signing.Angeles muncipal judge and disclosed' amount of money Tommasi, 22, leader ofplace,d on a year's probation.from Teamster Union funds the Nazi group, said thatto be terminated upon to send his troopers into the Walters approached him atpayment of the fine. fields in the Coachella Valley his headquarters in CX:tober

In a related story in the to 'stir up' trouble," the of 1971 in the name of Atty.june 8 edition of the San Tribune's report said. ,Gen. john Mitchell and jebGabriel Valley Tribune it The Nixon campaign funds Stuart Magruder, the Nixonwas revealed that Lt. jo- were used by Tommasi to campaign's deputy director.

$1.3 million Temo deception plan

'Temos are bunch ..0.1rack~teers "

"The Teamster contractswere no good to us. TheTeamsters never tried to getus ' organized. They nevershowed us the contract. Wehave not gotten one benefitfrom them. Every eight daysthey would deduct $7.00 fromour paychecks (Teamsters saypUblicly their dues are $7.00per month). They are abunchof racketeers."

With these words, strikersRosa Escamilla, 22, RosarioReyes " 20 and Beatriz Mo­rales )6, who worked undera Teamster contract at Se­curity Farms for two years.

The sisters, strikers duringthe 1970 strike in Santa MariaValley, said that apart frombeing racketeers, the Team­sters failed completely to de­fend their rights. Forexample, they said, the waterthe company gave us to drinkwas horrible: "When we drankit we got sick to our sto­machs," And what did theTeamsters do? Nothing, theysaid.

They also reported that atthe Point Sale Company work­week even when they don'tsign up with the Teamsters.

"almost like the Marine sleeves rolled up, shortCorps. I have never met hair--It's the way we re­people so dynamic. Watch- member America."ing them go into negotiations. So, while the Teamsters'on a labor €ontract is like goons continue their violencewatching the ti~ers go after in the California vineyards,the Christians,' the American public is being

"Hoover insists he is be- spoon-fed Teamster lies byginning to feel like a Team- a flag-waVing con man. Inster ,tI the journal's report true Teamster tradition,says. "I'll stop at -a truck Fitzsimmons has hired onestop and talk to the drivers. of his own to polish theThey're beautiful people-- mafioso image.

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It is known federal inves­tigators have questioned theTeamsters about unreporteddonations to the Nixon cam­paign in the neighborhood of$175,000.

Hoover is enthusiastic a­bout handling the Teamsters'account. "The Teamstersare very proud:' he says,

The newly formed corpora- mons said in the report.tion, whose stationery is noteven printed in a union shop,is headed by "Duke" Hoover(he chooses not to revealhis real first name). Hooveralso handles the account ofa ! .as Vegas casino, Cir­cus-Circus, which is repor­tedly in debt to the Team­sters' Central States andSouthwest Areas Pensionfund.

(The june IS, 1973 issueof EL MALCRIADOreportedthe Teamsters are involvedin a major scandal because'of the uncovering of a Mafiascheme to loot this samepension plan.)

Despite the disclosure thatall of the firm's consultantshave long cI'iminal recordsand at least two are stillinvolved in pending crimi­nal action, Teamster Pre­sident Frank Fitzsimmonsis ", satisfied with the firmso far,"

Hoover says he has fouremployees adVising Team­ster officials engaged in at­tempting to replace the U­nited Farm Workers inorganizing workers in theCalifornia vineyards.

At times it appears Hoo­ver has put the Teamsters'foot in their mouth. He re­ported they gave $175,000to Nixon's re-election fund,while the records show that'a total of only $18,000 wasdonated to the Nixon financecommittee.

"I don't know where he gotthat information:' Fitzsim-

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -­The Teamsters Union, whichis involved with organizedcrime, Watergate, and thethe use of goon squads todestroy the United FarmWorkers is spending $1.3millon to feed the Americanmass media lies about itsatrocities.

Most of the distorted re­ports from the CoachellaValley , where the Team­sters are involved in aneffort to break the UnitedFarm Workers ,originatefrom thIs million-dollarae­ception plan.

While Teamster goonscontinue violent attacksagainst Union pickets andsupporters, the mass mediachannels are fed with hard­to-swallow stories of Team­ster innoncence.

The Teamsters have hireda public relations firm to"polish the union's tarnishedimage," a Wall Street jour­nal report said. From allindications, the Teamstersare not getting very muchgood publicity for their mo­ney.

The Teamsters' public re­lations firm is a Las Vegasbased operation by thename of Hoover-Gorin &Associates. The firm in­corporated eight days aftergetting the Teamster con­tract and is represented bya group of consultants inseveral American cities,"All of whom have criminalrecords," the Journal re­

,port said.

June 29, 1973 • EL MALCRIADO • 11

Tired of fatten i,ng' pigs•'The people are tired of

fattening pigs that give nolard," says Javier Roblesabout the Teamster organi­zers. Robles, striker fromBruce Church's Crew-.#l inSalinas, says the workershave never seen the much­flouted Teamster contracteven though they have askedfor it many times out of cu­riosity.

"They just deduct $7.00from our checks every monthand many times they do itevery week or every otherweek depending on when thepaychecks come," he said.

And the Teamster medicalplan? "We haven't evenseen it on television." And

unemployment benefits?"Never.'·

He says under a Team­ster contract, "you can makea grievance, but nothing isdone about it." And, asweetheart union like theTeamsters, doesn't defendyour job when you start get­ting old.

Robles says the food theywere fed at the camp was ofpoor quality, but they werecharged $30 a week board."It wasn't worth anything,"he says, "a lot of potatoes,a lot of peas ,and lots ofpig feet. But very few tor­tillas because they are 'ex­pensive'." The strikers a­round him laughed in agree­ment.

,12 • EL MALCRIADO • June 29, 1973

action did not begin imme­diately.

The violations includel'~

-Referring migrant farm­workers to employers whoviolate minimum wage andchild labor laws.

-Allowing employers todiscriminate by allOWingthem to determine in ad­vance what race, nationalorigin, sex or age group thefarm workers dispatched t ,them were.

-Referring migratory an .seasonal farm workers t,jobs where the liVing an'working conditions violatehousing, health and sanitar_laws.

-Referring farm workerto unlicensed crew leaderor labor contractors wh J

operate illegally.The opinion came in

suit filed by 88 farm workers and 17 organizations thattry to help farm workers

It affects a nationwide network of more than 2,00public employment officeset up in 1969 to provide services to unskilled, unem­ployed farm workers displaced by automation.

In general the court foun,<that the agencies designeto aid the workers have beergrossly insensitive to theircomplaints.

derally funded state employ­ment programs. U. S. Dis­trict Court Judge CharlesR. Richey warned the La­bor Department that he woulduse his court's power to seethat this illegal practiceceased.

The court found that thestate agencies and the De­partment of Labor are guil­ty of violating the Consti­tution and laws of the Uni­ted States and that he wouldcut-off funding if corrective

r~~,-"",~,.....I

Agribusiness machinerydisplaces farm ~rkers

JWle 29, 1973 • EL MALCRIADO • 13

\.

AGENCY GUILTY OF IGNORING FARM WORKERS

Farah boycott' activities bring two members of theClothing Workers on strike against the Farah Manu.,.facturing Co.

While agribusiness conti­nues to develop fruits andvegetables tough enough formechanical fingers; treesshort enough to' drop theirfruit without bruising it; andgrapes that ripen at the sametime, the displaced fieldworkers have been cheatedout of assistance by the ve­ry state employment agen­cies designed to aid them.

The farm workers, pushedout of fields, have been dis­criminated against by fe-

Also, converting coal intoa synthetic gas is a highlypolluting process, the twooperating power plants belchout 200-250 tons of ash andsoot, more than the com­bined total of ash and sootin New York and Los Ange­les.

The land, once strippedwill lose all its agriculturaland grazing capabilities, andwill lose forever the topsoilwhich took centuries to accu­mulate. The erosion re­sulting from the strip­mining will fill the streamswith acid and salt--just asit did with 12,000 streamsin Appalachia. Much of thewater in the area is alreadybeing used by the coal com­panies •

as in univerSItleS in otherstates, are also spendinga lot of money to developnew varieties of straw­berries that can be pickedby machine. If the resear­chers and the growers gettheir way in a few years

Ne.wMeXico

Working with the Arkan­sas researchers, engineersfr.om Blueberry EquipmentInc. of South Haven, Mich.have completed their secondcommercial model in thisresearch effort.

The model will be testedin Oregon, Washington, Mi-chigan and in Canada. there wiil be no jobs in

The machine picks the the fields and consumersfruit, separates the fruit will be- e.ating artificiallyfrom leaves and other for- grown strawberries that areeign matter. great for mack,ines and pro-

Researchers at the Uni- fits but of questionable foodversity of Arkansas, as well value.

Most of the stripminingis taking place on the Hopiand Navajo Indian Reserva­tions.

Contracts for stripminingof Indian land were signedin the mid-sixties betweenthe Hopi and Navajo tribalcouncils and the PeabodyCoal Company (helpfully ne­gotiated by the Bureau ofIndian Affairs). Tribal coun­cils, however, are nor­torious for being puppetsof the BIA and the govern­ment. Very few Indiansvote in the tribal councilelections.

"The people were not toldthe total story of the mines,

'the' power plants, the smokein the air, the silt in thewater," says' John Lansa,a Hopi. "They were toldthey would receive some mo­ney and some jobs," For They mix it with the coalthis land, the Indians get and pump it down enormousa royalty of 15 cents a ton. pipelines to the power plants.

It picks berries, jobs

New Mexico is the sixthlargest producer of energyresources in the U.S. Itranks first in the countryin uranium, fourth in na-tural gas production, j

and sixth in the productionof crude oil.

Yet , this state , so richin all of these resources,is the sixth poorest statein the U. S., and is itselffacing a severe energy e­nergy shortage.

A giant consortium, calledWest Association, of powercompanies exploits thesehuge, low-grade coal storesto produce electricity for ci­ties in Californi~, Nevada,Arizona and New Mexico.

Six million tons of coalare strip-rrilned each yearin New, Mexico to fuel thepower plants at Four Cor­ners (where Colorado, Ari­zona, New Mexico and Utahmeet.)

~-- ~

The departments of agri­culture in universitiesthroughout the country areputting knOWledge and tech­nology at the service of thegrowers, spending greatsums of money and timein research to invent anddevelop machines that dis­place farm workers fromthe land and from their jobs.

The latest of the inven­tions is the strawberry pic­king machine, which since1967 is being tested at theUnivers~tyof Arkansas.

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Rodolfo Flores

..

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PubUst.d avery two weeks as me .Offlcial YOke of~

UNITED FARM WORKERSAFL-CIO

Rodolfo Flores, a dieselmechanic, volunteers hisspare time fixing the Union'sbuses.

The buses have been usedin many important cam­paigns, including taking farmworkers to fight anti-farmworker legislation in Sacra­mento. to defeat Propo­sition 22 by going door-to-door in major Californiacities, to take the 0'Arrigostrikers across the coun­try to the boycott, to takefarm workers to the Coa­chella Valley to help outon the strike.

"We hope that when theconstruction of the educa­tional center in La Paz iscompleted we will be able touse the buses even more,"he said. "If we take careof them, the buses will runfor a long time."

Rodolfo Flores lives inSanta Maria, Californiawhere his wife, Maria, worksat the Union office. His sonsand daughters are also very'active in the farm workers'movement.

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June 29, 1973. EL MALCRIADO • 15

Date _

Let the United Farm Workers open the doorto a better future Jor you and your family

-

If you are not already a member, fill out this card·and return it to the nearest United Farm Worker 'office~ UNITED FARM WORKERS~ NATIONAL UNION, AFL-CIO

Print Name Soc. Seco _

I hereby of my own free will. authorize the UFWNU, AFL-CIO. its agents or representatives.to act for me as a collective bargaining .agency in all matters pertaining to rates of pay. wa­ges. hours of employment. or other conditions of employment.

Employed By. Town _

How longJob -'---- employed _

Present Address ----,..- _

Permanent Address _

Signature Witness

I signed a Teamster Authorization card under threat of loosing my job and I nereby revokethat Teamster card.

Signature Witness__-1";- _