The United Farm Workers operates as a trade union under the auspices of the AFL-CIO national labor union organization.  It operates under a bureaucratic leadership model with a president, secretary-treasurer, and several vice presidents.  For many years, César Chávez served as the president until his death when leadership was passed down to his son-in-law Arturo Rodriguez. This year, 2019, is the first year that someone who is not directly a part of the Chávez family and is a woman will lead the UFW, under the presidency of Teresa Romero. The executive board consists of President Romero, Secretary Treasurer Armando Elenes, 3 National Vice Presidents, and a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Vice President.  When the UFW stopped organizing in 1977 and began its fundraising efforts and government grant seeking under the auspices of nonprofit foundations, the organizing mission of UFW has been sporadic, unsupported, and mostly unsuccessful. As a result, less than 5,000 farmworkers are currently represented by the UFW. 

Constitutional Leadership Structure 

Justin Flores, the Vice President of FLOC, expressed some important words during our videoconference. He says that they can’t keep fighting with growers. The companies at the top of the supply chain come after the growers with a take it or leave it kind of deal that the growers are forced to take. The big corporations want the growers to give them high quality products for a really low price. This leads to exploitation and labor abuses. They believe that they have to go to the top of the system to solve this problem. They only are about profit, not people. Justin mentioned that they base their model on solidarity, and it is important to build allies and educate the people to have the support that creates more foot traffic. To maintain democratic decision making, delegates express their issues and vote accordingly in semi-annual constitutional conventions.  All FLOC members vote on platforms, delegates, leadership, and priorities.  FLOC is a union member of the AFL-CIO with President Velasquez currently sitting on the executive council.