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Successes Through the Years |
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The United Farm Workers has achieved historic
gains for farm workers. Among them are:
The first genuine collective bargaining agreement between farm
workers and growers in the history of the continental United States,
beginning with the union contract signed with Schenley vineyards
in 1966.
The first union contracts requiring rest periods, toilets in the
fields, clean drinking water, hand washing facilities, protective
clothing against pesticide exposure, banning pesticide straying
while workers are in the fields, outlawing DDT and other dangerous
pesticides, lengthening pesticide re-entry periods beyond state
and federal standards, and requiring the testing of farm workers
on a regular basis to monitor for pesticide exposure.
The first union contracts eliminating farm labor contractors and
guaranteeing farm workers seniority rights and job security.
Establishing the first comprehensive union health benefits for
farm workers and their families through the UFW's Robert F. Kennedy
Medical Plan.
The first and only functioning pension plan for retired farm workers,
the Juan de la Cruz Pension Plan.
The first functioning credit union for farm workers.
The first union contracts regulating safety and sanitary conditions
in farm labor camps, banning discrimination in employment and sexual
harassment of women workers.
The first union contracts providing for profit sharing and parental
leave.
Abolishing the infamous short¡©handled hoe that crippled
generations of farm workers and extending to farm workers state
coverage under unemployment, disability and workers' compensation,
as well as amnesty rights for immigrants and public assistance for
farm workers.
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