9/20 Destination Delano Event Central Valley To Recount 1965 Grape Strike & Lessons Today

9/20 Destination Delano Events In Central ValleyTo Recount 1965 Grape Strike
PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DESTINATION DELANO is a convergence of the Filipino Community and its supporters from throughout California and beyond to commemorate the historic 1965 Coachella and Delano Grape Strikes led by the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), AFL-CIO, under the leadership of Larry Dulay Itliong. The Filipino labor movement in this country had been organizing for decades to bring agricultural workers under the protection of a union. Itliong, an experienced and dedicated union organizer, had always made it clear, “I feel we have the same rights as any of them because in that Constitution, it is said that everybody has equal rights and justice. You’ve got to make that come about. They are not going to give it to you.” Understanding Itliong’s words, Filipinos knew that going on strike was the only way they were going to get the pay increase from Delano area grape growers. On September 8, 1965, that decades-long struggle culminated in Delano’s Filipino Community Hall when Itliong called for the strike vote, an act that set into motion this country’s most important struggle between agribusiness and agricultural workers.

Place And Events:

2014 DESTINATION DELANO is a 2-day event. On Saturday, September 20, 2014, the Filipino Community and its supporters will converge on Ilokano Farms located at 41760 Road 130, Orosi, CA for a full-day symposium to recollect the working conditions Filipinos and other agricultural workers labored under that led to the 1965 strikes. The following day, on Sunday, September 21, 2014, the Filipino Community will converge in Delano, CA to recount key places and sites of the 1965 strike with an historical tour in and around Delano.

2015 marks the 50th Anniversary of the historical 1965 Grape Strike. Yet, its true origins and history remains obscured (hidden) and often distorted/unclear. It is time for the Filipino Community to set the record straight by recounting the decades-long struggle/fight that finally brought about collective bargaining rights to agricultural workers in this country. The 1965 Grape Strike remains a defining moment in U.S. history: And for Filipinos today, it remains/highlights our greatest contribution and achievement to this country today (in U.S. history).

CONTACT: Johnny Itliong – DESTINATION DELANO
310-913-9848
http://www.destinationdelano.org/mission

WW9-2-14 Unite HERE On Labor Day, Watsonville & Destination Delano
https://soundcloud.com/workweek-radio/ww9-2-14-unite-here-watsonville-destination-delano
WorkWeek hears from marchers on 2014 Labor Day in San Francisco
where picketing took place against non-union hotels Hyatt, Marriott and
Radisson on Fisherman Wharf. Then WorkWeek hears from former
farmworker and writer Frank Bardacke who talks about what is going
on in Watsonville today with farmworkers. He is the author of
"Trampled in the Vintage". Next WorkWeek interviews
one of the founders of the UFWA Al Rojas and Johnny Itliong whose
father Larry Itliong who was one of the leaders of the 1965 grape strike
and also a founder of the United Farm Workers Union.
For more information:
http://www.destinationdelano.org/mission
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT0U9dGwJpI
Production of WorkWeek Radio On KPFA
http://soundcloud.com/ workweek-radio

Salinas Farm Workers, The UFWA And The Filipino Farmworkers In The 1930's
Author and former farmworker Frank Bardacke discusses the current economic situation for farmworkers in Monterey county, the role of the UFWA and the history of the 1930's and Filipino farmworkers.

Salinas Farm Workers, The UFWA And The Filipino Farmworkers In The 1930's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT0U9dGwJpI
Frank Bardacke, an author and former farmworker
discusses the current conditions and struggles of
farmworkers in Monterey County and the history of
Filipinos farmworkers in the 1930's. This presentation
was made on August 27, 2014. Frank is author of
"Trampling out the Vintage"
For more video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7gC-1AtXCY&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQcxABeHzr0&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuVDgT9GDlY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT0U9dGwJpI
Production of Labor Video Project http://www.laborvideo.org

9/10 Seattle Picket For Sakuma Workers "Sakuma Brothers tried to replace them with 438 H-2A immigrants, pretending that labor wasn’t locally available, but was forced to back down."

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Farmworkers at Sakuma Brothers Farms in Burlington are taking action to demand fair treatment, decent working conditions and the right to their union. Shamefully, Sakuma Brothers has responded with grueling captive audience meetings to intimidate the workers, and by seeking out and disciplining workers who courageously stand up for their union, Famlias Unidas por la Justicia (United Families for Justice).

For over a year they’ve been working to get union recognition and a union contract. They’ve taken job actions including strikes, and built a base of community support. Sakuma Brothers tried to replace them with 438 H-2A immigrants, pretending that labor wasn’t locally available, but was forced to back down. Skagit County courts have ordered Sakuma Brothers to stop illegally retaliating against strikers by refusing to rehire them, and by denying them family housing that’s been provided for decades. And the employer reached a settlement for half a million dollars in wage theft from the workers.

Part of the workers strategy is asking that we boycott Sakuma Brothers berries, a boycott endorsed by the Washington State Labor Council. All of labor needs to send a clear message to these brave workers, and to the employers. Please join us to say loud and clear that an injury to one is an injury to all – we have Familias Unidas workers’ backs!

INFORMATIONAL PICKET
Wednesday, September 10th
5:00 pm
QFC, 1401 Broadway
(between Pike and Union)


For more information about Familias Unidas por la Justicia and the organizing effort at Sakuma Brothers, please see http://boycottsakumaberries.com/