DiGiorgio Contract Negotiations

Leonard Lesser, Dolores Huerta, Richard Liebes, Sam Kagel, Ronald Haughton, Donald Conner, and Dick Myer attending contract negotiations, Delano, 1967. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

For three days, from January 17 to 19, 1967, César Chávez, Dolores Huerta, and Larry Itliong negotiated with DiGiorgio Corp a union contract in a meeting attended by about a hundred people and with two labor relations experts appointed by Gov. Pat Brown as arbitrators. United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC) representatives presented demands on wages, health benefits, unemployment insurance, pensions, life insurance, and labor camp issues. The meeting held in a former funeral home in Delano, included a performance of “The Fifth Season” by Teatro Campesino. No major agreement was reached during the arbitration. A contract between UFWOC and DiGiorgio was ultimately signed in April 1967.

César Chávez, Larry Itliong, Leonard Lesser, Richard Liebes, and Ruth Trujillo attending contract negotiations, Delano, 1967

César Chávez, Larry Itliong, Leonard Lesser (UFWOC aide), and Richard Liebes (labor leader in the Service Employees International Union, SEIU) sit at the arbitration table during contract negotiations between the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC) and the DiGiorgio Corporation. UFWOC organizer Ruth Trujillo is standing wearing a black coat and sunglasses. Delano, California, January 17-19, 1967. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

Ronald Haughton, Sam Kagel, Richard Liebes, Dolores Huerta, Leonard Lesser, Ruth Trujillo, and Donald Conner attending contract negotiations, Delano, 1967

(L-R) Ronald Haughton (co-arbitrator), Sam Kagel (co-arbitrator), Richard Liebes (labor leader in the Service Employees International Union, SEIU), Dolores Huerta, Leonard Lesser (UFWOC aide), César Chávez and Larry Itliong sit at the arbitration table during contract negotiations between the UFWOC and DiGiorgio Corporation. UFWOC organizers Salvador Arámbula and Joe Serda are in the background behind Chávez. Delano, California, January 17-19, 1967. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

César Chávez, Richard Liebes, Dolores Huerta, Leonard Lesser, and Larry Itliong attending contract negotiations, Delano, 1967

(L-R) César Chávez, Richard Liebes (labor leader in the Service Employees International Union, SEIU), Dolores Huerta, Leonard Lesser (UFWOC aide), and Larry Itliong are present at the arbitration table during contract negotiations between the UFWOC and DiGiorgio Corporation. UFWOC organizers Salvador Arámbula and Joe Serda are in the background behind Lesser. Delano, California, January 17-19, 1967. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

Luis Valdez and Agustín Lira performing a scene during DiGiorgio contract negotiations, Delano, 1967

Luis Valdez (Patroncito) and Agustín Lira (Don Coyote) from Teatro Campesino perform a scene from The Fifth Season in front of representatives of the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC) and the DiGiorgio Corporation during the negotiations for the DiGiorgio contract. Delano, California, January 17-19, 1967. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

Agustín Lira and Joe Otero performing a scene during DiGiorgio contract negotiations, Delano, 1967

Joe Otero (Campesino) and Agustín Lira (Don Coyote) from Teatro Campesino play a scene from The Fifth Season in front of representatives from the UFWOC and the DiGiorgio Corporation during the negotiations for the DiGiorgio contract. Delano, California, January 17-19, 1967. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

Agustín Lira and Luis Valdez performing a scene during DiGiorgio contract negotiations, Delano, 1967

Agustín Lira (Don Coyote) and Luis Valdez (Patroncito) play a scene from The Fifth Season in front of DiGiorgio Corp. lawyer, Donald Conner (right, dark suit) and Larry Itliong (with cigar). Union leaders and volunteers Philip Vera Cruz, Doug Rippey and Donna Haber are in the background. The performance took place in front of also representatives from the UFWOC and the DiGiorgio Corporation during the negotiations for the DiGiorgio contract. Delano, California, January 17-19, 1967. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

Felipe Cantú and Joe Otero performing a scene during DiGiorgio contract negotiations, Delano, 1967

Felipe Cantú (Winter) and Joe Otero play a scene from The Fifth Season in front of representatives from the UFWOC and the DiGiorgio Corporation during the negotiations for the DiGiorgio contract. UFWOC organizers Salvador Arámbula and Joe Serda are sitting in the background, behind Leonard Lesser (UFWOC aide). Delano, California, January 17-19, 1967. Photo by Emmon Clarke.

Tom & Ethel Bradley Center
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330
Phone: (818) 677-1200 / Contact Us

Emergency Information

University Policies & Procedures

Title IX

Terms and Conditions for Use

Document Reader