Founding the United Farm Workers

In 1962, Cesar Chavez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). The UFW sought to improve the lives of farmworkers through collective bargaining, strikes, and boycotts. One of their most famous campaigns was the Delano Grape Strike in 1965. Farmworkers refused to harvest grapes to protest low wages and poor working conditions.

Cesar also organized a nationwide boycott of table grapes, which gained support from millions of Americans. The UFW's efforts led to the first union contracts for farmworkers, guaranteeing better pay, benefits, and protections.