Strike Two: Salinas Strike
In 1934, lettuce farmers in Salinas, California started a strike because of a ten cent wage reduction. 7000 farmers were involved. 3000 of which were Filipino. The white shed packers coincidentally had voted for better working conditions and higher wages as well, therefore they joined the Filipino strike. The two unions signed an agreement that they would not work until their demands were met. The growers were much more violent towards the Filipinos. [2] Convinced and hired by growers, 3000 vigilantes burned down Filipinos’ labor camps and sent them away at “gunpoint”. [3] They beat the Filipinos and arrested them.The union eventually moved and formed the Filipino Labor Union. Since the strike was quite disorganized, in about a month, the strikers gave up. The strike kindled other farmers’ awareness to the fact that a diverse ethnic group have more power. This had also sparked the next controversial strike led by Cesar Chavez and Larry Itliong, a Filipino farmer.
Image by Hbak
Image by Hbak
The farmers, inspired by the Imperial Valley Strike, decided to stand
strong and fought to improve their situations in the fields. Since
they were joined by other races, they had thought they would be
stronger and receive what they demanded. The growers would not allow
that, which is why they acted more violently towards them. They did
this in order to divide the races. They suppressed the voices of their
farmers and even threatened to kill some of them. This did more harm
than good to the growers all over California. Although the farmers
failed when they united with other races, the attempt itself was
enough to instill new ideas to the rest of California that was
struggling with bad work environments.
Image by Chefalton
strong and fought to improve their situations in the fields. Since
they were joined by other races, they had thought they would be
stronger and receive what they demanded. The growers would not allow
that, which is why they acted more violently towards them. They did
this in order to divide the races. They suppressed the voices of their
farmers and even threatened to kill some of them. This did more harm
than good to the growers all over California. Although the farmers
failed when they united with other races, the attempt itself was
enough to instill new ideas to the rest of California that was
struggling with bad work environments.
Image by Chefalton