lifornia table grapes, the UFW eventually succeeded in forcing the major growers to sign a historic agreement. On July 29, 1970, 26 Delano growers formally signed contracts stating their plan for vast improvement of working conditions for thousands of farm workers. This was the first time in the history of farm labor that growers had settled a negotiated contract with a union representing migrant workers. During the 1980s problems arose and Chavez was once again calling for a boycott on grapes in order to get the growers to terminate their use of harmful pesticides in the fields and to get them to sign contracts with the UFW in order to do so. Cesar Chavez once said: History will judge societies and governmentsand their institutionsnot by how big they are or how well they serve the rich and the powerful, but how effectively they respond to the needs of the poor and the helpless. These words couldnt ring more true today than ever before. Cesar Chavez followed his heart and fought long and hard for what he believed in-- freedom and equality for the disenfranchised. Not often does a man or woman, come along that is as charismatic, peaceful, relentless and pure as Cesar Chavez was. If perhaps one day, all people could see what he saw and feel what he felt, perhaps we would all be better off. In 1993, Cesar Chavez, still hard at work with the duties of the UFW, is recorded to have died in his sleep with a smile on his face. He was 66 years old. Today, the UFW continues to exist and continues to fight for the rights of the farm workers. Currently, the UFW is facing off with U.S. senators Gordon H. Smith (R-Ore). and Bob Graham (D-Fla). Who want to propose a bill that will import more farm workers from outside the country. The UFW strongly feels that like other guest worker plans, the rights of these farm workers will be respected and wont be protected, similar to the Bracero Program....
