About the UFW
The dominant force behind attempts to unionize much of the agricultural labor force concentrated in California and spinning off of smaller-scale efforts in Arizona, Texas, Florida, Washington, Ohio, and Michigan has been the UFW, headed since its inception in 1962 by Cesar Chavez until his death in April 1993. The UFW remains today to fight for the rights of farm workers. Many of the issues that the union fought for 30 years ago are some of the same issues that they fight for today. The union has not given up, and its dignity has not been weakened.
Each worker fights for justice and with a certain mind-set...
Vision[[1]]
To provide farm workers and other working people with the inspiration and tools to share in society's bounty.
Core Values:
- Integrity
--Doing the right thing even when no one is looking.
- Si Se Puede! (Yes we can!) Attitude
--The embodiment of a personal and organizational spirit that promotes confidence, courage, and risk taking.
- Innovation
--The active pursuit of new ideas.
- Non-Violence
--Enagaging in disciplined action.
- Empowerment
--A fundamental belief in and respect for people.
The Flag
"A symbol is an important thing. That is why we chose an Aztec eagle. It gives pride... When people see it they know it means dignity." Cesar Chavez [2].
"I had a dream that the only resons the employers were so powerful was not because they in fact had that much power, in terms of dealing with the lives of their workers at will, but what makes them truly powerful was that we were weak. And if we could somehow begin to develop some strength among ourselves, I felt that we could begin to equal that, balancing their power in agriculture." --Cesar Chavez[[3]]
"The whole idea of the union, it's not only the union, but it represents, together with you and me, all our brothers, Chicano and white and black and everything, represents an idea that poor people can get together and win." --Chavez[[4]]
