Cesar Chavez Day– March 31, 2023

Cesar Chavez Day on March 31 is a federal celebratory vacation, celebrated to honor the enduring tradition of the American labor rights hero. The day was started by previous President Barack Obama in 2014. Born to migrant laborers, Chavez’s early life experiences formed his leftist ideology and made him the face of the 1960s labor movement. Through his consistent efforts and non-violent demonstrations, he became America’s lightning arrester. On March 31, union members and neighborhood leaders come together to commemorate the life of this American icon and take motivation from his four years of selfless service to the employees of the United States.

HISTORY OF CESAR CHAVEZ DAY
Cesar Estrada Chavez was born on March 31, 1927, to a Mexican-American family in Yuma, Arizona. As the Great Anxiety periled the states in the late 1930s, Chavez’s household lost their homestead to foreclosure.

The migration had a grave impact on Chavez, who left of school soon after and began working in the fields. In 1946, he served and signed up with the navy for two years. After his discharge, he rejoined farmwork, got married, and settled in Delano, California.

After living a life of instability, low wages, and no ownership, Chavez began questioning the rationality behind his absence of collected wealth after years of effort and devotion. His quest for responses led him down the course of grassroots organizing. In 1952, he ended up being a mobilizer for a Latino civil liberties group called the Community Service Company (C.S.O.).

Chavez spent the next years of his life battling versus racial and financial discrimination. After a disagreement within the organization, Chavez resigned from his post in 1962 and joined hands with Dolores Huerta.

He spent the following years of his life involved in regular protests, strikes, and participating in labor uprisings throughout the country. Inspired by Gandhi’s concepts of non-violence, he led numerous sit-in demonstrations and hunger strikes.

Chavez died in 1993. Later that year, he was posthumously awarded the Governmental Medal of Flexibility by President Expense Clinton. Even after years of his passing, he continues to inspire human rights activists everywhere and is a folk hero for millions of Americans.

CESAR CHAVEZ DAY TIMELINE
1927
Birth
Cesario Estrada Chavez is born to a Mexican-American family in Arizona, U.S.

1942
Moving
Right after his household’s moving to California, Chavez leaves formal education and ends up being a full-time worker.

1947
Laborhood
After a small stint at the Navy, Chavez rejoins his old job as a laborer and ends up being a member of the National Farm Labor Union.

1962
Leadership
Chavez and Dolores Huerta develop the National Farm Employee Association.

CESAR CHAVEZ DAY FAQS
What is Cesar Chavez’s greatest contribution to labor rights?
Chavez co-founded the National Farm Employee Association, which later on combined with the Agricultural Employees Organizing Committee and is now known as United Farm Employee (U.F.W.). It is one of the biggest farm labor unions in America with over 10,000 active members.

Is it legal to unionize in America?
Under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, unionizing is legal in the United States of America. Through a petition call with over 30% agreeing members, the National Labor Relations Board performs an election to validate the union. If the bulk votes in favor, the board certifies the agreement and grants bargaining power to the union.

What are the advantages of joining a union?
A union worker, typically, earns 30% more than a non-union employee. Union employees have healthcare coverage, guaranteed pensions, and security versus unjust terminations. A unionized workforce has the negotiating power for better earnings and improved working conditions.

HOW TO OBSERVE CESAR CHAVEZ DAY
Check out America’s labor rights history
From winning the right to unionize to finalizing a five-day workweek, America has an abundant history of labor arranging. On March 31, read about the remarkable courage of ordinary people like Cesar Chavez, Doroles Huerto, Eugene Victor Debs, and many more, who made the truth of union organizing accessible to millions of Americans.

Join a union
Change begins in the house! Defend a much better life for you and your pals by organizing or joining a union for one. As Chavez himself stated, “We can not look for achievement for ourselves and forget about development and success for our neighborhood.”

Write a letter to your member of congress
On Cesar Chavez Day, raise your voice against the oppressions around you. Have a problem you appreciate? Compose a letter to your agent and need action. Bring your community together and organize a march. Honor the hero by following his concepts of aggressive however non-violent demonstration.

5 FASCINATING REALITIES ABOUT UNIONS
A strike to keep in mind
The word ‘strike’ originates from a 1768 incident in London, where employees revealed their frustration over a pay cut by striking down the sails of the ships.

The love for unions
The overall view of unions is positive in the U.S., with over 55% of Americans supporting the right to unionize.

What the % says
Despite favorable viewpoint, only 11% of the American labor force is unionized. The overall unionized American workforce figure has actually never crossed 35%.

The bloody picket
The 1921 West Virginia clash in between deputies and coal miners is one of the most deadly labor uprisings in U.S. history, claiming over 100 casualties on both sides.

” Yes, we can”
” Yes we can,” the renowned motto of Barack Obama’s 2008 governmental project was motivated by Dolores Huerta, who coined the Spanish version of the phrase throughout Cesar Chavez’s hunger strike in Arizona.

WHY CESAR CHAVEZ DAY IS VERY IMPORTANT
It honors the hero
Chavez died and lived in the service of his neighborhood. His long-lasting battle for labor rights informed a generation of Americans to combat for much better working conditions. Through his non-violent demonstrations, he paved a way for many human rights activists. On March 31, we honor the hero and his innumerable contributions to society.

It promotes unions
The defend labor rights continues. Farmworkers, in particular, require defense to combat the negative effect of climate modification. Apart from this, numerous labor unions can use our uniformity and material assistance today. Raise your voice, hold the strike, and never ever cross the picket line.

It’s a day of service
The Service-Learning and Civic Engagement society commemorates Chavez’s birthday with a week-long observation of farmworker rights. Enlightening seminars about unions are carried out in a community gathering and funds are raised to support labor uprisings throughout the U.S.