DiGiorgio elections in Arvin

Three farmworkers exit a bus. That day, farmworkers working at the DiGiorgio ranch located between Arvin and Lamont cast ballots to decide if they would be represented by UFWOC. Arvin, California, November 4, 1966. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

Farmworkers working for the same company in Delano and in Borrego Springs had already voted earlier in August, but for months DiGiorgio did not allow farmworkers working at the 9,000-acre farm in Arvin to have elections. Only after a sit-in and a picket in front of DiGiorgio’s office in San Francisco, pressure from Governor Pat Brown, and the looming threat of a boycott, DiGiorgio agreed to hold elections at their biggest California property. Elections were set for November 4th and were held at DiGiorgio’s ranch. They lasted all day and were held on the same terms as the Delano elections at DiGiorgio, but supervised by the State of California.

Farmworkers lining up to vote, Arvin, ca. 1966

Any Arvin DiGiorgio employee who was employed between October 18-26 could vote. Fifty-nine percent of voters choose to join the UFWOC. Among the organizers responsible for the success of these elections in Arvin there were Ida Cousino, Tony Mendez, Marshall Ganz, George Zaragoza, and Richard Flowers. These elections represented an important victory for the farmworkers as DiGiorgio was one of the largest landowners in California, and an aggressive opponent of farmworkers’ attempts to unionize. The company had been a leader amongst anti-labors in California for decades, had sponsored anti-picketing ordinances throughout rural California, organized blacklists of union activists, fought federal relief for strikers, and directed vigilantes to attack strikers.

Four farmworkers waiting outside a building to cast their vote. Arvin, California, November 4, 1966. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

César Chávez, Helen Chávez, Ruth Trujullo, and Dolores Huerta observing the vote count, Arvin, ca. 1966

In the background, Ruth Trujillo, screams of joy while observing the results of the vote count through a window. In the foreground, several men are seen with their backs turned closely watching the votes being counted. Farmworkers working at the DiGiorgio ranch located between Arvin and Lamont voted to decide if they would be represented by the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC). Arvin, California, November 4, 1966. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

César Chávez, Dolores Huerta, and Marshall Ganz celebrating election results, Arvin, ca. 1966

César Chávez, Dolores Huerta, Jessica Govea, and Marshall Ganz are among a group of union staff and supporters celebrating the election results. Farmworkers working at the DiGiorgio ranch located between Arvin and Lamont voted to decide if they would be represented by the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC). Arvin, California, November 4, 1966. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

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