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As ] write this, Cesar Chavez is in a | California jail for contempt of court. He refused to call off a nationwide boycott of weeberg lettuce produced by growers who don’t recognize his uruon. It's the greal grape strike all over again. Some years ago Chavez organized a wumon for the exploited farm workers in the West, mostly Mexican-Americans, -Fili- pinos, and other minorities. Alter a long and bilter struggle marked by Chaver’ own saintly personality and the ‘support given him by people ail over the country who refused {o buy non-union Erapes, the growers finally gave in and signed a union contract. Now the union, the United Farm Work- ers Organizing Committee (AFL-CIO), is trying to organize growers of iceberg let- luce. This time the issue is more com- plicated because some growers have Signed up with a rival union, against the wishes of many work- ers. This makes it technically a junsdictiona! dispute, so a strike is outlawed. VIOLENCE has also reared its ugly head, with attacks on strikers and their supporters. Beatings have been common. Attorneys for the workers have been threatened. Few arrests have been made —and apparently the “law and order” supporters who cheer Chavez’ jailing on contempt charges don't consider physical ‘assaults a crime. The UFWOC seeks better wages for the workers, but that isn't the only issue, especially since the rival union also nego- tiated salary increases. One demand is for ranch hiring halls so that people can apply mercy of labor contractors, who pocket some of the wages of the workers. The union also wants growers -to provide food and housing, mow sold gi exhorbitant rates _to the farm workers.Gli also wanis to restrict of. poisonous sprays. Basicabe Che oy ABT & digni- ty for ‘its A Un ab right to be treated as free workers and nol.as vir- tua! serts. _ (Mount Clipping In Spece Belew) ‘Chavez at-work “*" | By Whitney Young Jr. tremendous Mr. Talson Mr. Sullivan __ Mr. Mohr ._ Mr. Bishop ' 2... Mr.BrennanCD Mr. Callahan o_ Mr. Casper __.. Mr. Conrad Mr. Felt Mr. Gal Nr. Rosen _ Mr. Tavel ooo. f Mr. Walters ___ | Mr. Soyays Tele. Koom LL Mies Woe iss SROGTTES Miss Gandy —.__ (indicate page, name of nhewepaper, Clty and state.) TT IS WHAT al! unions have sought and won for their‘ members, and there is no reason for’ farm owners to consider themselves and their workers a breed apart, and refuse to unionize the way other employers have done. The grape growers have found that their worst fears were not realized: that the farm workers’ union led to higher labor costs but also to a happier, more stable, more productive work force. The UFWOC's insignia, a black eagle. appears on iceberg lettuce or the crates in which it is packed. It is a way to tell that the lettuce you buy was picked on farms that have signed union contracts with the UFWOC, Cinannati Enquirer Cincinnati, Ohio 19Cincinnati Post & Times Star Cincinnati, Ohio —The Citizens Journal Columbus, Ohio -- — Columbus Dispatch Columbus, Ohio __Payton Daily News Dayton, Ohio __Journal Herald Dayton, Ohio “E> have litle danht thet what . moe 6h tal =e wer WSCC res ne powerful men who coniro! the ranches and the court say, the beycott will contin- we anti] victory is won. The union certain- ly has no intention ef calling it off, and the many millions of people who suppori- ed the grape beycott can be counted upon to support this one, toc. . Date: 12/17/70 Edition: 7 Star Final Author’ Whitney Young, Jr. But aside frorn its importance to the unorganized, poverty-stricken farm work. ers, Cesar Chavez’ movement has immense importance for the whole labor movement. | Edttor: W, iedenberg THERE IS NO question about Igbor's | rite: diminishing influence among the young Cesa havez ‘and the liberal. Its top leaders have sup- * ported the war in Vietnam, some unions still discriminate. against black workers, | Character: and many people believe that labor has become part of the Establishment. But the fervor roused by the farm workers of California, the garbage work- ers of Memphis, and the nospiial workers elsewhere shows that labor's reaj giory days are still ahead. = By organizing the unorganized and by bringing skills and higher wages for those in our society who are most oppressed, the labor movement can recapture the crusading spirit that helped end industria] exploitation in the past and helped to bring a better life for the weteinge mil- lions. ; ; — Cece: teanod 00819 287 Subeiiting pinee: CINCINNATI Soe LS ofaf 5 - tk 46 JAN 18 7c JEG on, -, t=