Deseret News archives: 1970 Salad Bowl strike helped improve plight of farm workers in the U.S.

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On Aug. 23, 1970, the Salad Bowl strike began in California. Organized by farm labor leader Cesar Chavez, between 5,000-10,000 laborers walked off the job, leading to the largest farm worker strike in U.S. history.

According to reporting at the time, as the days went by, more workers went on strike. The price of lettuce doubled and lettuce growers lost an estimated $500,000 a day. In September, the United Farm Workers asked Americans to boycott lettuce not picked by the group. Soon violence broke out, including a bombing at a UFW regional office.

In December, Chavez was arrested for ignoring a court order to stop boycotting the lettuce industry. When he was released after two weeks incarceration, Chavez called for strikes against six more lettuce growers.

The strike continued until March 26, 1971, when the UFW and Teamsters signed a new agreement giving the UFW the right to organize field workers. However, the two forces would continue to clash for several years before reaching a long-lasting agreement in 1977.

Chavez continued to advocate for the health and safety of migrant farm workers for the rest of his life. He reportedly visited Utah in 1986, chiefly concerned about how pesticides affected the health of farm workers and consumers alike.

After a lifetime of working for social justice, Chávez died in 1963 of natural causes at age 66. In 1994, Chávez was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.

Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about Chavez, his movement and how people honor him today:

“ Chavez, 61, fasting to protest ‘the scourge of pesticides’ ”

“ Cesar Chavez to get Navy funeral honors 22 years after death ”

“ A fine way to praise Cesar ”

“ Feds seeking ideas on sites tied to Cesar Chavez ”

“ Cesar Chavez on stamp ”

“ Chavez’s brother says his union work lives on ”

“ Navy names new ship for labor leader Cesar Chavez ”

“ One of the ‘subversives’ FBI tailed in the ‘60s and ‘70s: Cesar Chavez ”