Larry Itliong, the Filipino labor leader who shared leadership with Chavez during the union's initial five-year grape strike, was an immigrant, born in Pangasinan, in the Philippines. Rodriguez, who followed Chavez in 1993, hails from San Antonio, Texas. Chavez was born north of the border, in Yuma, Arizona, in 1927. More than 90 percent of California farm workers were born in Mexico, yet UFW presidents until now have come from families with roots on the U.S. It's important to have women in charge of crews as supervisors, to make it easier for a woman to come and say, 'This is what happened to me.'" Most are working with their husband or brother or sister, and abusers hold those jobs over their heads. And for women, being fired is not their problem alone. "Harassment is very difficult for women to talk about, especially when they feel they might be deported and separated from their children. Women in the fields are especially vulnerable in today's anti-immigrant political climate, Romero charges. The UFW is also looking for ways to address more directly the problems of its women members. And while acknowledging the epic battles of its early years, it is coming to terms with a new group of California growers, some of whom see an advantage in cooperation, even though others still want a fight to the death. Internally the union is trying to reflect more accurately its members. This is more than a changing of the guard. The UFW has had only two presidents in 50 years: Before Rodriguez, it was Cesar Chavez. But they want to be paid equally, and treated respectfully."Īfter 25 years as president of the United Farm Workers, Arturo Rodriguez is retiring in December, and the union has selected an immigrant woman to replace him. If growers are worried about a labor shortage, there are women out there who can do the work. I've seen some older women in their 50s doing work that some younger people can't. "Women can do everything, and we want the opportunity to do it.
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