◆ SpookStack

a mm em rer i rr ee C a ie O "a “ July 1%, 1967 ACTIVITIES CONCERNING FARN WORKERS STRIKE RIO GRANDE CITY, TEXAS Background: . * A source who has furnished reliable information in the past has advised that on September 8, 1965, the Agricultural Yorkers Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO, declared a strike agzeinst grape growers of Tulare and Kern Counties, California. On September 19, 1965, the National Fara Workers Association joined the strike. This action brought Mexican and Puerto Rican farm workers into the labor dispute. The purpose of the strike was to demand an increase in wages for the grape pickers. (100-444762-72) In response to an allegation that various officials of the National Farm Workers Assbdciation in the Delano, California, area had subversive backgrounds, inguiries were made by this Bureau which disclosed that while the union was not Communist controlled, Communist Party members or r sympathizers had furnished support to certain activities ° concerning the strike against grape growers in Californis. finn AAsATEN_ AQ 39% QAR 228 (VU LS40, Ls During May and June of 1966, Eugene Nelson of the National Farm Workers Association was organizing farm workers in the Rio Grande City, Texas, area. Nelson reportedly had previously been active in organizing grape Pickers in Delano, California. During the first few days of organizing activity in Rio Grande City, Nelson was assisted by Charles McKinley Smith. Smith is a resi tin f yer . dGowngrading and ros “itahan declaaaizp tion lee \ 3\ “te wa) mae 14a ji pane 3 -se8 f lavan Pfosuns /? YY 6763 - telter NOTE: See Rosen to DeLoach sfemorandum, dated 7/10/67, captioned, “* Rom —— "Activities Concerning Farm Workers Strike, Rio Grande City, Texas, “ mdy —___ wax roow CJ teLetyee unt Informa tion Goncpenine.” EJM:iwjc. Ri Note continu eee wen