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The town of Watsonville lies 100 miles south of San Francisco in the fertile fields of the Pajaro Valley. It is home to 27,000 people, the majority of them Chicano Mexicano people who labor in the fields and canneries. Watsonville is like dozens of small quiet towns in

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California's Central and coastal Valley. There is a legacy of discrimination against Chicanos, Mexicanos, and other minorities and a rich history of struggle. The town was founded Ambolsa del Rio del Pajaro, a land grant given to Sebastian Rodriguez in 1823. In 1852, after the Anglo takeover of

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California, Judge John Watson bought the land for $400 in a dispute sale and started the town of Watsonville. For generations, Chicanos, Mexicanos and Filipinos work in the fields, engaging in militant fights for better wages and working conditions and to win union recognition. By the 1950s, frozen

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food plants sprung up in Watsonville. The industry was booming year after year, the Teamsters want wage increases and there were a few labor disputes. But in September 1985, events unfolded that changed the people of Watsonville forever. On

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September 9th, 1985, 2000 cannery workers at two frozen food plants, Richard Shaw and Watsonville Canning, were forced out on strike. The workers, mainly Chicano Mexicano women, were being forced to take a 40% wage cut from 666 an hour to 425 an hour in the loss of

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health and vacation benefits. Just before the strike, the line was speeded up and several older workers were fired. Why did you go out on strike? Because we didn't have anything else but to go out. They threw us out first they reduced our wages. Then they treated

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the older workers that had been there for years. They really treated them really bad, and we began to go on on strike because we were so mad from the humiliation. A lot of these older women had worked all of their youth, and they could not work

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some other place or work as fast as when they were young. That was not a good treatment. When you went out on strike, were you ready? In a way we were because we were mad. The courage gave us the know-how of how to fight, and because

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we never lost our courage, that's why we didn't lose our strike. In the 18 months of the strike, how did you survive the suffering? It was a big suffering since the benefits we used to get was hardly enough to live by ourselves, not to say our

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whole families. We didn't have enough to pay the rent or to buy tennis shoes for the children. When you hear people say that you played a very heroic role in the history of the labor movement that hasn't been seen in years, what do you think of

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that? I feel proud of myself, but on the other part, I also have a lot of appreciation to the supporters because it was them, the supporters that made us strong. Without the supporters, we couldn't have won by ourselves. The first months of the strike were frustrating

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for the workers. Most of them have never been on strike in the union leadership and the former secretary treasurer Richard King did nothing to develop rank and file leadership. He was too busy making deals with the cannery owners over drinks. The workers took the initiative and

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elected their own leaders as a mass meeting of 500 strikers. One of their first acts was to call for a mass rally and a demonstration. OK. The strike committee was elected on October 15th at a meeting called by strikers and attended only by strikers. 400 people

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were present. El de Cinco decata. The committee is composed of 5 representatives of each company on strike. Aurora Trujillo travajodosos. Aurora Trujillo uh worked 2 years for Richard Shaw. and the bus. Yeah. I I Yeah. Yes. I Well, I think, well I think the, the strike

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is, is very significant for the Chicano movement, um. One of the things is that Historically in the uh now Chicano student movement, um, but in the in the community as well because so many of our people are um from the working class, uh, many of us

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even who are like myself who, uh, I went to college I'm, I'm teaching now at a university. Uh, many of us were cannery workers ourselves or our our family members were cannery workers. And so when a strike like this takes place, it's an inspiration to all

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Rasa, to all Chicano people, and it's one of the reasons I think that so many people from all walks of life in the Chicano community rallied behind the, the, uh, the Watsonville strikers. The strikers Committee gave the workers initiative and a vehicle to struggle with the

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union leadership of a strategy and tactics. The strikers committees demanded to be part of all negotiations, and they kept the strikers informed by holding weekly meetings. While the strikers remain strong and united, conditions for the strikers were very difficult. With strike benefits of $50 per week,

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it was hard to pay the bills, and many strikers face evictions, loss of homes and cars, food donations from trade unionists and supporters throughout Northern California helped sustain the strikes. In February 1986, the Shaw strikers were offered a contract for $585 an hour and reduced benefits.

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Pressure by union officials, the workers approved the contract. But the 1200 Watsonville County workers remain on strike. Owner more council refused to negotiate and hires calves, but he could never get more than a few 100 untrained cabs who failed to run the plan. Throughout the strike,

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council pay millions to a union busting law firm and want an injunction to prevent mass picketing at the plant gates. Tensions rose as police move in several times to protest protect counseling his cabs. Yeah. Yeah. Unlawful assembly and for violation of Section 409. assembly. It

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was a bitter violent strike. There were 11 court orders regulating the pickets. The strike lasted 19 months. At one time it was the longest running strike in America. So. Then we began to organize and to get to know people and some people introduced us to other

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people. Then we began to make connections and links that served us throughout the strike because these people taught us how to. Organize they helped us to relate ourselves with other groups like students, political groups, and that's how we developed the plan of the strike by building

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support throughout Northern California and the US. Several prominent people such as United Farm Workers leader Cesar Chavez and Reverend Jesse Jackson came to pledge their support. Oh. What. Oh He doesn't know. No. I have a hard time. So Yeah. Today we come to Washingtonville,

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California because Watsonville, California is today. To economic justice. What some Alabama was to political justice just 20 years ago. Just as Selma, Alabama was an unlikely place for political emancipation. Washingtonville is an unlikely place. The economic emancipation. Wherever a group of men and women come together.

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And stick together as these strikers are stuck together. And we will share together. And love together. and suffer together. And build together. They can make progress together. We congratulate the striking workers here in Watsonville. They represent the highest and best in all of us. In August,

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the wasabi strike won a big victory. In a recertification election, nearly 1000 strikers, some of them drove back from Mexico, came out to vote for the union. But as I can tell you, these people in Montsville, they're determined to not be 2nd 2nd class citizens, so

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they're going to stay out until until that company comes to realize that. They're not going to be productive. They're not going to stay in business and succeed in this type of business unless they put these people back to work with a just settlement, a negotiated settlement.

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Well, it's been a year and we didn't think we were going to stay this long, but. We stayed this long because we had to stay this long and we're going to continue to stay on strike for as long as it takes. Why such determination? Because Because

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of what they're doing to us, you know, after they're reducing the wages, they're not just reducing their wages, they're Trying to abuse us, you know, to take advantage because we're Chicanos, Mexicanos, and they didn't think we were going to fight back, you know, been able to

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fight back. Uh, well, they give us no choice, uh, and, uh. I guess the necessity has learned made us learn, you know, how to fight back, you know, we're learning as as the time comes, you know, as the time goes by. Yet coil refused to budge

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from his insulting offer of 505 per hour, so the strikers, supporters and teamsters' leadership. Each in different ways began a campaign against Wells Fargo Bank which lent 18 million to pop up consul. Some of the factors that led up to the strike are first of all,

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the growing monopolization of the canning industry and monopolization of the food manufacturing industry overall. Uh In the last few years, the share of food manufacturing that's controlled by the largest 100 companies is up to about 75%. So there's really hundreds of thousands of small canneries and

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bakeries and other food manufacturing companies like Watsonville Canning, which account for the other 25% of the industry, and they're really very small compared to these giants like. Robert J. Reynolds, Pillsbury. So I think that I think that what Mort Konso decided to do is that he

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was going to take it out on the workers and that he was going to He was he was making money but he was not making as much as he wanted, and he thought that if he could get these concessions through, he could make a lot more

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money because he'd be paying less wages than anyone else in the industry. Ultimately I think his objective was to just drive the union out because if the union had accepted the 475, it would have really lost credibility. And, uh, and that could have destroyed the union,

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uh, not only at Watsonville canning but all the other canneries in the Watsonville area, which would have been devastating for the workers, but something that would be uh potentially very profitable for the employers. We Right Oh. That. Where are we Why do we I know you're

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on. Oh, you can. You know. you can't hide. No, no, no work, no, no, no, no, no, no. With Wells Fargo Bank foreclosure on Watsonville Canning. The workers have broken the back of more council. David Gill, a local grower, was determined to keep the plant back

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in operation to keep his crops from rotting in the field. Along with other growers, Gill formed a new company, No Cal Frozen Foods. On March 3rd, a new contract was offered to the strikers. All strikers will be hired back by seniority at the industry standards, wages

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of 585 an hour, but many workers would be satisfied with the cuts in medical and vocational benefits. I think the. I think I think they're going to go to go ahead and wait. They want to know what is. They're doing right

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now is they're getting a vote whether they're going to vote on today or not. they're doing right now. Who knows what's going to happen. Really divided Oh We just I'm confused. That's one thing. Because. I think they should. I think it's the right thing. For the

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people to decide because it's been a long meeting. And everybody's confused about it, so I think they should. Good evening everybody. Here's what's happening on this Sunday night. Tomorrow, the cannery in Watsonville will open once again, but tonight it's still very much up in the air.

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Just who will walk through those doors. Last week, union leaders signed a tentative contract with the new owners Norcal Frozen Foods, but the rank and file launched a surprise revolt, saying they won't give up until the company puts out. Tonight, Sandra Stricker reports their jobs are

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now on the line as they face the final ultimatum. Their company wants them to give in. The union wants them to give in, but these women say no line workers. The foremen, the mechanics, the girls, they're going to get the benefits in 90 days for us.

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How much longer is it going to take a couple of more years? Botville Cannery has been on strike now for 19 long months, and there were tears of joy last week when a contract was finally reached with the cannery's new owners, but the joy was short-lived.

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Two days later, the union membership voted. Wait a week before voting on the contract. Union leaders were taken by surprise. They had pressed for ratification because labor needs a victory. Labor needs victory, and labor can get it if they can stick together like these people down

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here, even though the new contract has the wage increase they wanted, these seasonal workers say they stand to lose the medical benefits they earned before they went on strike. We're not asking them for ourselves, for our children. There's been on strike for 19 months. There's been

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fighting for this time. Gloria and 7 other strikers have gone without food since Friday. They say they won't eat until the strike is really over and their jobs and their benefits are restored. In the meantime, the company wants to open for business tomorrow, but today the

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The priest sided with the workers. They should not be forced to vote or to do anything without knowing what it's about. The company says it's going to open its doors here tomorrow morning at 7 o'clock sharp, and they expect to start hiring people. They hope that

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some of those people are the experienced workers who've been on strike for the past 19 months. And if they're not, the company says it may stop recognizing the union in Watsonville, I'm Sandra Ster, Channel 5s. You. We're

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gonna get Oh. the a mere rank. Yeah. Mexico. Hey Larry, you need more than. Yeah. I I No I Yeah. Yeah. No. Yes.

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I Oh. I. I. I. the. Yeah. Yeah for. Hunger strike and they have it without eating anything but water and the idea of having this hunger strike is to demand that we get

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our benefits because you know since This is a new company and according to the contract, new employees don't have a right to have benefits until they work either 1400 hours in one year or until after two years of seniority. So that's going to be pretty bad

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for us since all of us work at the company worked for many, many years and we had benefits before and we won't be getting them with this company if this goes through. all of you, everybody seems to be around the gate. Are you trying to prevent

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people from applying? Yes, because those are our jobs there. That's the plant that we built throughout the years, and we should have the right to keep those jobs. I Oh. My name is Mary Mary, can you spell your last name please

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O R R A L E O. And this is Anita Contreras. I am one of the strike supporters. And has made birth of this promise. That we are going to act out. And the reason we are doing this. is because we feel that the hunger strikers.

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To promise Some To this violence and the struggle. We have promised To give of ourselves a sacrifice. For the benefits Of the workers Anita will explain to you what Amanda is, and I will translate. Yes It's on Amanda. the Yes It is a promise to include

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the faith that we have and the faith that I have. OK. Because I know there is, we are in this world because there is a God that protects us. Yes. And it is better to be on the knees before God. And I believe that it is

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better to ask in the name of Jesus Christ that this struggle in and that justice be given to the workers. We're going to begin the meeting. If you'd like to have a seat I would like to ask the members of the press to leave

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the hall. But Yeah. in now I Well. I Oh Oh yeah. Oh that. That. Oh Hey

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Hey Wow. I Yeah OK Yes this. So. Mexico de lisco. You I'm from Mexico, from Jalisco. I'm searching for a better life for me and for my sons. I think out of this strike personally left me a beautiful experience. We learned

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to be united among the Latinos and Mexicanos. I feel it was a success. We have learned to evaluate ourselves, to evaluate our jobs, not to let us be smashed by unjust owners because all they think about is riches and power. They don't think about our sacrifices,

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us, the workers. They don't know how to appreciate our work. All they want is power. Why have you fought so much? I saw the injustices. I had only 3 months when the strike. When I went into the plant, that made me unite with the strikers. It

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was the injustice of what was happening to people who had spent most of their most of their lives there and how the bosses paid them by throwing them out of the job, taking their benefits after all the workers had given their lives to the company, and

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that made me angry. I mean, I could look for another job, but then I thought about it and said, if I'm on a job and they want to do the same thing, I don't know what I would do. I would die of anger. And so that's

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why I think we fought so hard for justice. Did you think like this before you went out on strike? No, you had to participate to feel the anger against the bosses like more counsel because of how he treated us. He was a bad owner. How did

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you think before? I used to think that the owners used to appreciate the workers. He pays you for what is right, and you have to work for what he is paying for. But now I have understood that the owners only care about getting richer and more

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powerful. I think that the strength of the workers counts so much that the owner insisted that we, the strikers, had to come back because he understood our strength. Without the workers, the owner is nothing. I think that my plan is to continue fighting united inside the

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company to continue fighting to have better benefits. Yeah. Uh. OK, we'd like to ask you what is the significance to you that wasn't the strength. You know, it's it's one of the, it's one of the two strikes that has been won in the last

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10 or so years. That that's the most significant thing. What they got what they got out of it, you know, thing is that now they have a union when they went on strike disorganized. There was no leadership. There was no rectified leadership, you know, people just

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went, but out in the strike itself, leaders grew and they went back now with a strong leadership and a real union and I predict that by next February and thereafter they're going to be able to get more to be able to get everything that they need.

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But the important thing is that that was revitalized. It was like it's a new union and also the other thing is that remember those unions have been strike ever. They're going for 30 years without a strike. I mean they never strike an industry. These women in

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Watsonville for that, so it sets it sets. It sets a precedent and you'll see a lot of other workers striking all over California that they have to strike to be able to protect themselves. That's the big that more than the wages, more than the money. The

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thing is that they broke that long, long period of no strikes and no fight back, you know, just like very weak now they have a strong union and they're just like run through the whole industry. workers, you see what we're going to be doing. Me. Oh.

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Oh. El pueblo unidocido el pueblo unido. I. That I need. That Oh