Thanks for your note. Yes, the movement did a lot of good. Both for workers and those who worked for the union. What makes me mad, though, is the promise left unfulfilled. That and the racket that the UFW has become.

Yes, leadership is key, but it will be up to workers to demand it!

Regarding your review of Shaw’s book on the UFW and Cesar Chavez.

Did anything positive come out of the movement? Did it make a difference in the life of the farm workers?

I for one had searched for Marshall Ganz to express my thanks for making a huge difference for this particular farm worker and my entire family.

You are correct that much work needed to be done after 1974 and the UFW needed to re-structure into a more formal organization. Legislation under Jerry Brown gave the farm worker more rights and basic protections making the push for fundamental rights less of a battle cry for the organization.

We can argue about the course that the UFW took in the 80’s and 90’s but to understand the legacy of the movement and the impact of Cesar Chavez we need to examine how the movement changed the outlook and aspirations of the farm workers and other people.

In an era of ENRON and multi-billion dollar Ponzi schemes we need to look for better leadership.

Regards,

I just had the pleasure of cataloging the 2nd edition (2009) of your “Why Unions Matter” in preparation to entering it into Central Pennsylvania College’s library.
We alreadly have a copy your 2007 publication “More unequal : aspects of class in the United States” on our shelves. My job here is as a part-time librarian (3 or 4 days a week, 15 to 20 hours).

Its a small college (an ex-business school with four-year programs only for the past ten years), and (as you might imagine) a small library; but I’m happy to say (to whomever might listen) that I once was a colleague of this author.

Best wishes.

Just found your site (through Dick W) and plan to read more of your entries.

Aloha,

GD