WHEREAS:
César E. Chavez, the founder and former President of the United Farmworkers of America, AFL-CIO, stood as one of the heroic figures of the 20th century who inspired millions in our nation into action for economic justice, civil rights and political empowerment; and
WHEREAS:
César E. Chavez led the historic "Si Se Puede" non-violent movement for farm workers' rights which included strikes, a five year boycott of grapes which won the first labor contracts in the grape fields, personal fast in protest of the use of dangerous pesticides by agribusiness, and historic legislation including the outlawing of the back-breaking short handle hoe in 1975, and the establishment of the Agricultural Labor Relations Act, the first law governing farm labor organizing in the continental United States; and
WHEREAS:
César E. Chavez was dedicated to building a movement of poor working people that extended beyond the fields and into cities and towns across the nation; he trained and assisted young leaders to build worker organizations and personally recruited the leaders of AFSCME's own affiliate, United Domestic Workers of America, and trained them to fulfill his twin dream of organizing the first union of domestic and home care workers and only the third union in America to be founded by people of color; and
WHEREAS:
The legacy of César E. Chavez, like the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., serves to educate, inspire, and serve as a model for all Americans and the generations to come; and
WHEREAS:
The successful campaign to make César E. Chavez's birthday, March 31st, an official paid state holiday in California and a day of service and learning in their public schools, has launched a national movement calling on Congress to do the same with an official federal holiday for César E. Chavez, which would be the first time in history that a labor leader, Mexican-American and Latino would be honored in this way; and
WHEREAS:
This movement has now won César E. Chavez holidays in Arizona, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Michigan and Utah in addition to California; and
WHEREAS:
The delegates at the 34th International Convention in 2000 resolved that AFSCME Councils work with these subordinate bodies to help establish "César Chavez Day" as a federal holiday designated by Congress for public agencies and to use the day to commemorate and direct attention to the history of the farm labor movement in the United States and in particular the role therein of César Chavez.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will officially join the National Coalition for a César E. Chavez National Holiday and in so doing become an active partner alongside of Latino, labor, civil rights, interfaith, and other leaders, elected officials, celebrities and organizations who are working together to ensure that the legacy of César E. Chavez is recognized and celebrated throughout our nation with a federal paid holiday and a day of service and learning in our public schools.
SUBMITTED BY:
Ken Seaton-Msemaji, President, UDWA/AFSCME and Delegate
Alice Goff, President, AFSCME Local 3090, Council 36 and Delegate
California