United Farmworkers of America, Atlanta Office records

Series I consists of minutes of weekly staff meetings and reports, March 5-July 4, 1974. Strategies were discussed and planned to obtain the removal of nonunion grapes, lettuce and Gallo products from local grocery stores. These stores were targets for leafletting and for picketing and boycotts. To elicit support from community groups, an Interfaith Committee and a Farmworkers Week were planned and fundraising activities held. The Atlanta Boycott, by Coordinator Chris Byrne, is included.

Series II and Series III, the bulk of the collection, contain printed materials mass-produced by UFWA International and the National Farm Worker Ministry, and sent to nationwide support committees. Included are publicity and fundraising materials, as well as informational items which chronicle the progress of UFWA. Of importance are the national boycotts of non-UFWA lettuce, table grapes, and Gallo wines, because of difficulties in negotiating with California growers. The Connecticut Mutual Insurance Company was subject to boycotting because of its holdings in the Coachella Valley area. Also, one of the growers in this area, K. K. Larson, held secret elections in which the workers voted for Teamster representation, despite the fact that they were currently being represented by the UFWA (1974). The UFWA contested the election in the courts, resulting in lengthy action. The bitter and sometimes violent rivalry between the two unions culminated in a jurisdictional agreement signed in 1977: the Teamsters agreed to let the UFWA organize the farm workers. Correspondents are Larry Tramutt, National Boycott Director, also John and Nancy Mackoviak, Atlanta Coordinators. At the end of 1976, the Southeastern UFWA staff was consolidated in Florida, a strategic agricultural state. The Atlanta office was left in the hands of Lonni Ann Freedan and other volunteers. This group organized picketing in conjunction with national boycotts, coordinated fundraising activities, and personally visited the Atlanta office of Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company (1977).