To Whom It May Concern:

I find the recent articles attacking the United Farm Workers in the series entitled "UFW: A broken contract" over the top. The articles are long on inference and short on facts, and I'd like to take this opportunity to set the record straight.

The UFW is one of the only organizations that fights daily to improve the lives of farm workers. As a member of the State Legislature for the past 12 years, I have worked with them on a number of important new laws to help those who work the hardest and to most people are an afterthought. I supported the UFW when they worked with then-Pro Tem Burton to write a law to help farm workers negotiate fair contracts. The UFW has also been the driving force behind things like water breaks for workers. Unfortunately, it wasn't until the recent hot summer in the Central Valley and a series of heat related deaths brought public attention to this problem that the UFW was able to bring this issue to the forefront.

The UFW has one goal ? to help those who work in the fields. Over the last decade, the UFW has dedicated up to 50% of its resources to organizing, among the highest of all unions.

The series of articles in the LA Times insinuates that UFW directors use their influence to steer profits to friends and family members. These claims ignore the fact that less than a dozen of the 400 UFW movement employees are family members, and only four of those hold policy-making positions. Many of them spent decades as full-time volunteers. Furthermore, the President of UFW Arturo Rodriguez was elected directly by farm workers.

I am proud to say that I have worked with and supported the UFW for many years, and I am disturbed by the one-sided reporting shown in your articles. Since its beginning, the UFW has fought for the rights of countless farm workers and they uphold their proud tradition to this day. It is irresponsible to tarnish the UFW's record with inference and insinuation as this newspaper has done, and it is now your responsibility to set the record straight to your readers.

Sincerely,

State Senator Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont)

The UFW That I Know

By Assembly Member Judy Chu, 49th Assembly District

Submitted exclusively to the Los Angeles Times

As the author of a bill to protect California's farm workers last year, I had the opportunity to work closely with the United Farm Workers.

During the summer of 2005, the Los Angeles Times provided eye-opening and extensive coverage of the epidemic of farm worker deaths in the Central Valley as a result of a blistering heat wave. At the same time, I was authoring a bill sponsored by the United Farm Workers to establish state regulations to protect workers in life threatening heat conditions.

My bill was a response to the tragic death of Asuncion Valdivia. In the summer of 2004, Mr. Valdivia spent ten hours picking table grapes at a Kern County vineyard in 104-plus degrees weather. When he became sick, the foreman told Valdivia's son to take his father home to Pixley and cancelled a call to paramedics who were actually en route. In the car, Mr. Valdivia began foaming at the mouth. A son had to watch his father die a death that was totally preventable. Mr. Valdivia was only 53 years old.

A year later, four farm workers died from heat stress in the month of July 2005 alone.

One of the four farm workers was Constantino Cruz, who collapsed in a 105 degree tomato field in western Kern County during a "speed-up" where pickers are made to work even faster. He had worked from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a 15-minute break in the morning and a 20-minute lunch break, less than the usual half-hour lunch. The next day, Cruz had a heart attack and suffered from brain damage that left him on life support.

Nevertheless, the UFW and I faced a torrent of opposition from the agricultural industry and trade associations that represent multi-billion dollar corporations. Each narrow vote was won in the aftermath of heated partisan attacks and legions of industry lobbyists lamenting the cost of providing basic shade and water to workers.

Throughout this fight, the UFW relentlessly lobbied for the safety of the workers that toil in the fields of the Central Valley. For example, UFW helped to organize an unprecedented "Meeting in the Sun" of all interested parties in the middle of a farm field in Shafter, California. UFW President Arturo Rodriguez and I endured over four hours of 100-plus degree heat to discuss and illustrate the urgent need to pass heat stress regulations and stem the growing number of farm worker deaths.

Press conference after press conference and meeting after meeting, the UFW soldiered on to protect the most vulnerable workers in the state. It had been fifteen years since the first attempt to develop regulations for heat illness prevention. The first attempt was in 1990 when a farm worker was run over after seeking shade during her lunch break under a tractor trailer. Each time, Cal-OSHA could not reach a conclusion because of the massive opposition by agribusiness.

Finally, the Governor responded to the persistent efforts of the UFW and my bill. Governor Schwarzenegger announced new emergency heat regulations for all outdoor workers at a news conference attended by the family of Constantino Cruz. The family had disconnected his life support on the Sunday before the Governor's press conference. Cruz had left behind a wife, two sons and a daughter ages 6, 4 and 8 months.

California's farm workers now have protection from the unrelenting heat of the fields because of the work of Arturo Rodriguez and the UFW. The UFW persevered through decades in the excruciatingly incremental battle to protect the safety and interest of those who pick the fruits and vegetables that grace our tables and make our world reknowned wines.

They have taken on multi-billion dollar industries on behalf of those who earn only a few dollars a day.

They have organized those who nobody else wanted to represent.

This is the UFW that I know, and I am proud to stand by them.

In a message dated 1/11/2006 9:22:20 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, katharinedaniels@sbcglobal.net writes:

Letter to the editor:

The LA Times series "UFW: A Broken Contract" was devastating. It was difficult not to feel like the reporter, Miriam Pawel, had a particular axe to grind with the union because she so clearly overlooked so much of the union's work and, instead, offered only a scathing attack on the Chavez legacy, the Chavez family, and the current work of the UFW. As a Central California native, I grew up in a portion of our state where the union has remained active and dozens of UFW contracts exist. The UFW has helped tens of thousands of farmworkers through recent legislative gains such as the 2005 regulation to prevent heat deaths, seat belts in farm labor vehicles, remedies for workers cheated by farm labor contractors, and new pesticide protections. The Times articles merely demonized the Chavez family. Instead of recognizing that the Chavez family was inspired to participate in the movement by the work of Cesar Chavez, the articles criticized them and crossed the established boundaries of privacy by exposing their salaries. There are many farmworkers who still live in conditions like those of the farmworkers before the union work began. Rather than condemn, the Times should inspire its readers to continue the work that the Union undertook. ¢®Viva la huelga!

Kate Daniels

Dear Sir,

I am very distressed by the recent articles by your reporter, Ms. Miriam Pawel.

As someone who has been to La Paz and Forty Acres I can only think Ms. Pawel was in another place speaking to people I do not know.

The UFW organization has been in the vanguard in the fight to protect and help the farm workers in not only California, but the entire United States.

To run and articles which taints the memory of Cesar Chavez, his family and the organization he envisioned is beyond the pale.

Ms. Pawel is talking about an organization that began with a dream of equality and justice for the people who put the food on each and every persons table each and everyday. An organization whose traditions are carried on 40 plus years after its humble beginnings by people who believe in the ideals of Cesar Chavez. Non-violent change for the lives of farm workers.

If not for the hard work of the United Farm Workers Union, the short handle hoe would still be used in the fields, toilets and water would not be available, children of farmer workers would still be placed in classrooms for the developmentally disabled. In 2005 alone, the UFW was in the forefront, pushing for the passage of legislation to prevent heat related deaths, to provide seat belts in farm labor vehicles, to remedy the cheating done by farm labor contractors, new pesticide regulations and protection and immigration reform.

Susan Escalante

Port Hueneme, CA, 93041

SHAME ON YOU, EDITORS! WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

Allowing distorted, one-sided atacks on the only organization that has consistently stood up for and with workers since Cesar Chavez started organizing workers from the fields up. It is too easy to see faults in an imperfect organization of people who are NOT professional union organizers but just ordinary people trying their best to do SOMETHING for the deserving workers. The United Farm Workers Union is made up of workers and former workers who have struggled for over 50 years against unbelievable odds--against the power and money of big California Agribusiness.

These attacks must stop and you must regain your credibility by sending an unbiased reporter (or two) to do the job that was so unbelievably botched.

Don't be a pawn for Agribusiness which seeks to line its own pockets at the expense of farm workers--decent men and women who have endured too long the unacceptable working conditions and poverty level wages. Don't be a pawn of rich growers who just want to keep things the way they are--keep the workers in their place--keep their dominance--and keep the Union out by any means they can--legal and illegal.<

STOP THIS COMPLICITY NOW!

Dennis

In a message dated 1/10/2006 4:48:09 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,

Hermanas y hermanos:

I am copying others in this email in the hope that some of them might also decide to write to the LA Times. I remember press and other media distortions about the UFW in the NY Times, the Village Voice and former late-night TV show host Tom Snyder. What a disgrace! And, sadly, it continues. The only sympathetic article about beloved founder Cesar E. Chavez to ever appear in the NY Times was the article about his death, a little late I'd say.

La lucha continua. ¢®Si, se puede! Yes! It can be done!

Dave Schraeger

Subject: Stop lying about UFW!

To the Editor:

I worked as a volunteer for the UFW in the summer of 1977 and remember reading afterward in the press articles attacking the UFW with lies and distortions. Now the Los Angeles Times is doing the same thing!

How can you claim to do honest reporting on the UFW if your reporter does not even try to find out the viewpoint of the UFW for its side of the story?

Why is the UFW controversial and under attack? Could it be because it represents the poorest workers in the nation who just happen to be, in the majority, people of color? The UFW works tirelessly to defend the poor against the greed of the multi-billion dollar agri-business. It should not have to also contend with a hostile and unfair press.

Sincerely,

Dave Schraeger

Manchester, NJ 08759-4932

In a message dated 1/10/2006 4:48:47 P.M. Pacific Standard Time

The LA Times cannot be faulted for attempting to write a balanced story. News is your industry and you're expected to carry out your responsibilities. The LA Times can not be faulted for not understanding the labor movement. That is not your industry and you are simply on the outside attempting to look in. Ask anyone in the labor movement and they will tell you that there is no greater difficulty faced by any union than the United Farm Workers. Organizing hotel workers, janitors, government employees, retail workers, etc. is certainly at one of its most difficult periods based on current conditions.But when those of us struggling to rebuild the movement look for inspiration we look to the United Farm Workers. The UFW is the moral authority of the labor movement and responsible for fighting day in and day out to bring workers out of the most desperate of conditions. The
UFW has earned the right to have its side of the story told, and the LA Times has the moral responsibility to tell it.

Ted Pappageorge

In a message dated 1/10/2006 10:28:36 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,

My name is David Huerta and a subscriber to the LA Times. I am writing in response to the LA times Article on the UFW.

It is unfortunate that the LA Times runs such a one sided story in an industry that since the inception of the organizing efforts of Cesar Chavez has been undermined by the corporate interest of the agribusiness. If not for the efforts of the UFW in the past and present the little these workers have would be even less. Considering the state of Unions in todays economy and society and the resources it takes to challenge the corporations what the UFW has been able to accomplish on behalf of workers/people who have no rights in this country is not an easy task. It takes resources from wherever they can get them from foundations, to the dues of their members and donations in between. Because if it was a dollar for dollar match of the members dues to the corporate pirates trust me the corporate pirates would win.

What you need to do is get someone with some credibility such a Nancy Cleland who understands labor organizing and politics instead of some hack that is out to grab headlines. But then again the times is not interested in quality because if that were the case then Nancy would be doing this article as the labor beat reporter instead of being buried in the business section, then the hack you sent. I am seriously considering canceling my subscription. I will wait to see what the times does in response to what I am sure will be a very large public response to the articles. By the way this coming from the son of a migrant farm worker from Calexico born in the United states. If you ask
my father, a Korean war veteran, the UFW has done so much for the workers of the fields.

David Huerta (No I am no related to Dolores Huerta)

In a message dated 1/10/2006 2:23:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,

I will state first that I was made aware of your series of articles by the UFW. I am an email subscriber/supporter of their movement, and have been an active union member of the Int. Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 2 in Chicago for over 23 years. In my capacity as a Board member of the Chicago chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) I have had the honor of meeting Dolores Huerta, Arturo Rodriguez, his daughter Julie Rodriguez, and nephew Paul Chavez at various labor-related events and dedications in the last few years. I will not attempt to hide my admiration for all of them in order to appear unbiased. I believe this cannot be said of your and your reporter's thinly veiled contempt for them.

As a Union person I say shame on you. As a Latino, I say who do you think you are?

Who are you.... a Tribune Company....to pretend that you would defend the legacy of one of organized labors' greatest voices in the first few articles, then go on to vilify him in this last installment. I suppose the accuracy of quotes are not priority when the speaker is too dead to deny having made such statements.

I believe that most of the things that you have reported have been spun in order to create a hint of impropriety (and in a few cases insanity) where none exists or would be necessarily intended. I found it ironic that as I read your articles online they surrounded a banner seeking donations for your charitable trust. I don't live in L.A., so I can only assume that you regularly publish an accounting of all the funds you collect, as well as all the fees and salaries, not just what is distributed. Perhaps some would be surprised by what is spent, some might be offended as to how it is spent. Others might ask why you need donations, can't you take it out of your own pockets? I guess its all in the spin.

The McCormick Tribune Company has a reputation for disdain of the organized worker, I can attest to that right here in my hometown. But. If you are truly in the business to inform, then it must also be your obligation to share with your readers the TRUTH about stoop labor, the atrocious working conditions farm laborers endure daily so you or I can enjoy a salad. If you reported that with the same zeal you expend to attack those who are trying to help, you'll turn vegans into carnivores. I can recommend a couple good steak places here in Chicago.

Stanley Daniel Arroyo

Chicago, IL. 60608

312.907.5954

In a message dated 1/10/2006 10:30:38 A.M. Pacific Standard Time

Dear TIMES Editor:

I am a former member of the board of the National Farmworker Ministry, and continue an active supportive relationship with the UFW. It pains me to say that neither reporter Miriam Pawelh nor the LA Times deserve a prize for accurate honest and true stories that attack the Farm Worker Movement and Cesar Chavez.

The shift from charismatic leadership to an institutional leadership brings changes. In the process of becoming a strong organization of the 21st century, the farmworker movement had to go beyond the work place through non-profit, independently-run groups with distinct missions and staff. This may bring new challenges, but not that annual independent financial audits give all the organizations clean bills of health.

There are 400 UFW employees, and fewer than of a dozen of these are Chavez family members, and of these only four hold policy-making positions. While it is true that Ceser worked for $5 a day and board and room--as did all volunteers of the orangization's zeinith--it is not right to keep the same expectation for today's volunteer or employees.

What is most essential is that the United Farm Workers Union remains deeply committed to the effective organization of a viable union for better wages, working conditions and enforced contracts. UFW DOES THAT! Thousands of farmworkers daily benefit from their Union

. In addition, the Farm Worker Union is continuing the legacy of its founders, Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.

Yours truly,
Rev. Juan Romero
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH
Palm Springs, CA 92262

The recent four-part series of scathing articles by Miriam Pawel about the United Farm Workers in the Los Angeles Times must have disturbed many long-time supporters. But is the picture in these articles accurate? The UFW has refuted her reporting, particularly regarding the union's "stagnant" efforts to increase its membership. Many of the UFW's supporters are not clueless; they know that union membership in steel, mining, auto making, trucking and other industries vital to our country, has fallen during the past thirty years, and with them (no surprise here), decent pay and working conditions offered under union banners. Does the journalist make exception for recruitment in the fields? No. Pawel is of the mind that the union should be more robust.

The UFW is far from dead or inactive. It's launching a recruitment drive in and around Delano, where the union started in the mid-1960s (the Giuamarra farms are on their mind). Indeed, the idea of a union for field workers is inspiring?workers banding together under the familiar phrases of "brotherhood, sisterhood." Still, it's challenging to recruit field workers, in part because these workers, a good many of them undocumented, fear for themselves. They have traveled hundreds?in some cases thousands?of miles in search of work, and they want immediately to start making money no matter what the cost is to themselves. Can we call them desperate? Possibly. They cross the border to find what? Long hours of hard physical labor, foul sanitation, poor housing, loneliness and isolation from society, boredom, fear of everything that has the whiff of officialdom, and the repercussions from these conditions. What workers would not want to join a union?the UFW or any other union?if they were informed and had a choice? However, the fear factor exists; without money, how can they fend for themselves, so far from home?

Moreover, what is particularly disturbing is the writer's effort to tarnish the image of Cesar Chavez. What good is served here? We know of a great many leaders who have been symbolically exhumed and exposed?the image of social critics as vultures over bodies comes to mind. We can consider Thomas Jefferson (slave owner and unfaithful husband), Booker T. Washington (pragmatic mendicant), Mother Theresa (bully for money), and Martin Luther King, Jr.?dozens of biographies and scholarly articles, some of them unflattering portraits of his personality. Now it seems to be Cesar Chavez's time?since his face is now on a stamp, and there is a state holiday in his honor. For many, Cesar Chavez was inspiring?is still inspiring?for no other Mexican American has moved people to get up and do something as much as he has. His legacy, as many know, extends beyond the grape and strawberry fields to the fields of medicine, law, education, the arts as whole, entertainment and business. Millions of Mexican Americans?and let's add other Latinos, too?have benefited from Chavez's courage to right wrongs. And what did it knowingly cost Chavez? Answer: A premature death.

One of the articles by Pawel claims that the UFW has lost its focus, in that its responsibility should be primarily to bolster its roster of rank-and-file members. The UFW has, indeed, looked beyond the fields?and shouldn't apologize for their vision. It's a necessity because it must broaden its tactics not for survival but as an imperative to influence government in a host of areas that pertain to farm workers. It must consider education (the high school dropout rate among farm worker is extremely high), job training (farm workers can't sustain brutal work forever), grass-root community involvement such as LUPE, low-income housing, and the maintenance of the image of Cesar Chavez because people have a way of forgetting the past?and quickly. The union is fighting battles on many fronts. In particular, along with the National Farm Workers Ministry headquartered in St. Louis, the UFW is seeking national legislation (AgJobs Bill, S359) that would allow farm workers a chance to receive Green Cards provided they work nearly three years in the fields. The Union and the large corporate farmer are behind this bill, which was defeated by a mere four votes [Ana, correct me if I'm wrong and maybe even supply the final vote] in 2003. It's this latter kind of activism that is political?let's even say spiritual?that demonstrates the union's efforts to protect workers.

It would do good for everyone who eats?all of us, in other words?to refresh their history of California labor by reading Richard Steven Street's impressive Beasts of the Fields, or Mark Arax's King of California or?better yet?Jasques Levy's Cesar Chavez: the Autobiography of La Causa. Be prepared to have a roll of Tums at your side because what you will discover about the treatment of farm workers will make you sick. In the latter book?Cesar's early biography?the reader will not find the quirkiness portrayed in Pawel's journalism but a man who was steadfast and undaunted in his will to confront large growers and ask, "Why are you doing this to your brothers, your sisters? Don't you have enough?"

The Northern Steering Committee as well as the Southern Steering Committee for the California Farmworker Action Network of the National Farm Worker Ministry are working with the UFW to pass AgJobs by bringing UFW members and staff into places of worship in order to share their immigrant stories and talk about why Immigration reform is so important. So as you can see we continue to live the legacy of Cesar Chavez, we invite the L.A. Times to join us.

SI SE PUEDE!
Northern & Southern Steering Committees
California Farmworker Action Network
National Farm Worker Ministry