Who led the Delano grape strike beginning in 1965?

The historic Delano grape strike, which commenced in 1965, was initially spearheaded by Larry Itliong, a prominent Filipino American labor organizer. Itliong led the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), a predominantly Filipino labor group, in their demands for better wages and working conditions for grape pickers in Delano, California. Filipino farmworkers, many of whom were older "manongs" who had dedicated their lives to agricultural labor, voted unanimously to strike on September 8, 1965, after growers refused to meet their demands for wages equivalent to the federal minimum wage.

This courageous action by the Filipino workers, under Itliong's leadership, served as the catalyst for one of the most significant labor movements in American history. Recognizing the need for broader solidarity, Itliong approached Cesar Chavez, who led the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), a predominantly Mexican American organization. A week after the initial walkout, the NFWA joined the strike, uniting thousands of Filipino and Mexican American farmworkers in a common cause.

The collaboration between AWOC and NFWA eventually led to their merger in 1966, forming the United Farm Workers (UFW), with Cesar Chavez as director and Larry Itliong as assistant director. The Delano grape strike, which lasted five years, gained national attention through boycotts, marches, and nonviolent resistance. It ultimately resulted in collective bargaining agreements that secured higher wages, better working conditions, and recognition of farmworkers' rights, fundamentally transforming agricultural labor in California and beyond.