DOLORES HUERTA
& LUCAS BENITEZ
Farmworkers and the Struggle for
Humane Working Conditions
Robert F. Kennedy was very close to the farmer worker movement. Not only did he hold fundraisers in California, but he also joined the United Farm Workers (UFW) in Delano and spent time with Cesar Chavez at the end of his 25 day hunger strike. Robert was appalled at the working conditions of farm workers and used his position on the Senate Subcommittee on Migratory Labor to shine a spotlight on the burning injustices faced by farm workers. This senatorial appointment helped him to understand the importance of unionization of farm workers and even joined local picket lines in California in support of Latino and Filipino strikers.
In this lesson plan, we explore Robert F. Kennedy’s legacy of ensuring worker's rights. As we build a bridge between the past and the present and reflect on the work of the advocates of then and now, we should keep one question in mind: what do we do next?
BECOME A DEFENDER
The activities listed below are suggestions for how students can become human rights Defenders in their classrooms and beyond.
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What are the key issues affecting farm workers rights today?
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Research the Campaign for Fair Food, how can you spend your money more ethically?
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Write to your Congressperson to tell them what you think about the current state of farm workers rights