Unionizing

"Most California Filipino laborers desired little more than recognition of the right to negotiate with the employer over conditions of employment." 

At first, employers were in favor of the new wave of Filipino immigrants as workers because they would accept wage-sale cuts and worked under contractors. This meant that the farmer didn't have to deal with his worker's directly. [1] However, this opinion quickly changed when Filipinos began to adopt tactics of Chinese, Japanese and Mexican laborers by organizing  strikes to demand higher wages. The Filipinos quickly adapted, forming unions to unify their strength. This resulted in labor unions springing up in almost every Filipino agricultural community. 

"Unity is Strength"

This was the enduring motto of the first Filipino union. It was formed in 1933, by cannery workers in Seattle Washington. This occurred due to growing tensions between the worker's and employers. Virgil Duyungan, a Filipino cannery worker, was elected first president of the Cannery Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union. It was organized by "Alaskeros", men that worked the Alaskan canneries in the summer and would harvest fields in Washington, Oregon, and California during the off season. However, the union was born in violence when the two founding leaders Virgil Duyungan and Aurelio Simon were murdered. (citation) The union was strong and quickly elected a new president, building a following along the West coast. [2], [3]

   1. Brawley News, Dec. 19, 1935.

   2. Fresco, Crystal. (1999). "Cannery Workers’ and Farm Laborers’ Union 1933-39…," Seattle Civil Rights & Labor History                            Project<http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/cwflu.htm>

   3. Asian Pacific American Historical Timeline Overview (1900-1949) USAsians.net. http://us_asians.tripod.com/timeline-overall2.html

Unions Created in California

• Filipino Labor Union

• Vegetable Workers Union Local No. 1821