Celebrate Farmworkers
Honoring the Hands that Feed Us
Each year, Los Angeles County observes Farmworkers Day on the last Monday of March to honor the millions of agricultural laborers whose hard work sustains our communities. This day is a tribute to the resilience, history, and ongoing struggle for the rights of those who work in our fields.
The farmworker movement in California was built on the unity of diverse communities. In 1965, the historic Delano Grape Strike began when Filipino-American workers, led by Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), walked out of the vineyards to demand fair wages. They were soon joined by Mexican-American organizers, creating a powerful multi-racial coalition that changed labor history forever.
During this time, a transformative alliance was formed between the National Farm Workers Association and AWOC. This partnership, which became the United Farm Workers (UFW), proved that when workers stand together across racial and ethnic lines, they can overcome even the most powerful interests.
Key Figures of the Movement
While the movement involved thousands of brave individuals, several key leaders were instrumental in its success.
Dolores Huerta
A legendary organizer and co-founder of the UFW. Huerta was a key negotiator for the movement, securing the first-ever collective bargaining agreements for farmworkers.
Larry Itliong
A pioneer of Filipino labor organizing who spent decades fighting for the rights of “Manongs” (respected elders) in the fields and canneries.
Philip Vera Cruz
A co-founder of the UFW and a tireless advocate for immigrant rights and inter-ethnic solidarity within the labor movement.
Impact and Legacy
The tireless advocacy of these workers led to the passage of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, the first law in the nation to recognize the right of farmworkers to collective bargaining. Today, Farmworkers Day serves as a reminder of our commitment to fair wages and overtime pay, safe working conditions and heat illness prevention, and much more.
Farmworkers Day is more than a historical commemoration; it is an active call to support the people who work through extreme heat and challenging conditions to feed the nation. We celebrate the progress made while recognizing the work that remains to ensure every worker is treated with the dignity they deserve.
Featured Event
Saturday March 28 from 2 to 3pm
Hawthrone Library
Learn about the farmworkers movement through the songs that inspired them. Join a sing-along as we larn folksongs in English and Spanish from the labor movement, including De Colores. For ages 5 – 12 with a caregiver.
Register
LA County Library offers many citizenship and immigration resources. If you are seeking information on how to become a citizen of the United States, visit our Citizenship and Immigration page to learn more about the resources available to you.
Know your Rights
Knowledge is safety so we’re sharing a Step-By-Step Family Preparedness Plan from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC). The plan can be downloaded and saved in both English and Spanish. You’ll also find a downloadable “Know Your Rights” pocket card which you can keep on you for immediate reference if ever needed.
All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. Visit ILRC to download their “Red Cards.” The cards are available in multiple languages and help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home.
Inspirational Films
Explore the powerful history of agricultural labor through these documentaries, all available to stream for free on Kanopy with your library card! Discover the origins of the farmworker movement, from the historic solidarity of the Delano Grape Strike to the tireless advocacy of leaders like Dolores Huerta, Larry Itliong, and Philip Vera Cruz. These films honor the diverse coalition of workers who organized for dignity and continue to inspire today’s fight for justice in the fields.
Food Chains
the modern-day struggle of farmworkers in Florida (The Coalition of Immokalee Workers) and their battle against the global supermarket industry.
Fruits of Labor
The Delano Manongs tells the story of farm labor organizer Larry Itliong and a group of Filipino farm workers who instigated one of the American farm labor movement’s finest hours – The Delano Grape Strike of 1965 that brought about the creation of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW).
Dolores
Delores provides a comprehensive, high-energy look at the UFW co-founder and is available on Kanopy as well as for check out at the Library. Featuring interviews with Gloria Steinem, Luis Valdez, Angela Davis, her children and more, Dolores is an intimate and inspiring portrait of a passionate champion of the oppressed and an indomitable woman willing to accept the personal sacrifices involved in committing one’s life to social change.
The Delano Manongs
The Delano Manongs tells the story of farm labor organizer Larry Itliong and a group of Filipino farm workers who instigated one of the American farm labor movement’s finest hours – The Delano Grape Strike of 1965 that brought about the creation of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW).
Resources
These resources further explore the farmworkers movement and how it is still helping workers today.
Dolores Huerta Foundation
This organization passionately advocates for social justice, focusing on empowering marginalized communities through grassroots organizing, civic engagement, and education initiatives. By championing the rights of underrepresented populations, we strive to create a more equitable and inclusive society for all.
United Farm Workers
Begun in the early 1960s, the United Farm Workers of America is the nation’s first enduring and largest farm workers’ union.
Farmworker Movement Documentation Project
Primary source accounts: photographs, oral histories, videos, essays and historical documents from the United Farm Worker Delano Grape Strikers and the UFW Volunteers who worked to build the farmworker movement.
