¡Viva Chávez!

Sen. Ruben Kihuen to emcee NAACP 70th Annual Freedom Fund Awards Dinner Oct. 24, 2015 at Circus Circus-Reno
Speakers and award winners announced

15 July 2015
On this date in 1986,
César Chávez spoke to Nevada workers at the Musicians Union hall in Reno

Obama pays tribute to late Reno labor leader

THE WAY WE WERE — The above is a recently discovered photo from July 15, 1986. Left to right are Kathy Brown, Culinary Union Local 86 office manager; Miguel Contreras, Local 86 Secretary-Treasurer; Local 86 President Bill Uehlein; a lady named Natalie (anyone who knows her last name, please write), and César Chávez. This item was first published in Ahora, northern Nevada's Spanish-English weekly, on March 26, 2008. (On 3-19-2009, President Obama paid tribute to Brother Contreras as he spoke in the L.A. building named after the late labor leader. See the 1986 Chávez Reno archive, below.)

(Photo courtesy of Dan Rusnak, retired business manager of Laborers' Union Local 169.)

More stories and photos from César Chávez's 1986 Reno visit

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Poor Denny's Almanac for 5-5-2015

On May 5, 2012 at Barrio Logan, the Navy cargo ship U.S.N.S César Chávez was christened.

Thanks/Gracias to everyone who made César Chávez Celebration XIII another resounding success.

HIGHLIGHTS WITH MORE TO COME

Sen. Ruben Kihuen, D-Las Vegas, delivered the keynote address. UNR student-activist and Occupy Carson City leader Janette Dean circulated petitions in support of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (SJR 16), introduced by Kihuen, Sen. Patricia Spearman, D-N. Las Vegas, and six other Democrats.

César Chávez Nevada Labor Hall-of-Famer and United Auto Workers member George "Battling" Nelson circulated petitions supporting a posthumous presidential pardon for the great heavyweight champion Jack Johnson. Nelson read a letter of endorsement from former Washoe County D.A. and District Judge Mills Lane and his family. Retired world-class referee Lane has been inducted in the national boxing hall of fame.

AWARDS: Savage and Son, Inc., was honored as union employer of the year. Building & Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada and Reno City Councilmember Paul McKenzie presented retiring Laborers' Union Local 169 President Tony Mayorga with a labor educator lifetime achievement award.

Revenge, redistricting and amnesia in Cartoon City
Plus more highlights from César XIII
Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 4-7-2015 Sparks Tribune

Watch this site for more information covering the event.

Please mark your calendar for
César Chávez Celebration XIV
Thursday 31 March 2016

Celebración de César Chávez XIV
Jueves 31 de Marzo 2016
Circus Circus Reno

Sponsorship and Online Ticket Purchase Information
31 March 2015

Lunes, 31 de Marzo, 2015
Boletos e información

 


News / Noticias

Harry Reid, Eddy Arnold, César Chávez and Gaga Madonna
Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 3-31-2015 Sparks Tribune

 

César Chávez fought for the dignity of work
by Tony Mayorga
Guest Commentary / Reno Gazette-Journal / 3-31-2015


Tony Mayorga
(Español)

More than two decades after he left us, César Chávez's message resonates ever louder even as negative voices gather power.

A year before Chávez died, James Carville remembered what his own father once taught him.

"Outside of a person's love, the most sacred thing that they can give is their labor," Carville said, "and somehow or another along the way, we tend to forget that."

At his most basic level, César Chávez lived and labored to upgrade the dignity of work.

Recent decades have witnessed a withering assault against the eight-hour day, the 40-hour week, overtime pay, pensions, workplace safety and many other protections for which Chávez and his predecessors fought, were oppressed and sometimes died.

Alarmingly, Nevada is attempting to quickly approach this sad new normal.

How many times have we recently heard about Nevada's need for an efficient, well-educated workforce? At the same time, how often have we heard that employees both public and private should be willing to work for a lot less?

Good education and good paychecks constitute money well spent, but our children increasingly feel whip-sawed by their elders.

They are ordered to excel in high school and college, even to the point of incurring long-term crippling debt, then disrespected for desiring a decent day's pay for a hard day's work.

Even the minimum wage has been morphed into a Trojan horse. Some in Carson City now tout their generosity advocating a raise to $9.00 per hour. Had the 1968 minimum of $1.60 been indexed for inflation, it would stand at $10.79 today. (The buying power of the dollar peaked in 1968.)

At the height of the recent depression, the Northern Nevada Laborers Union Training Trust invested $2 million constructing a major training center.

I have schooled thousands of my fellow union members in a wide range of skilled disciplines: pipelaying, demolition, masonry, concrete, asbestos abatement, safety, traffic control, pavement marking, asphalt raking and other specialized skills.

This is hard and sometimes dangerous work.

What am I to tell my apprentices? How should teachers and professors advise their students? Work hard but prepare to have your honest labor devalued in the name of corporate PR buzzwords like "flexibility" and "efficiency"?

When the value of your work is depressed, so is your entire community. Everyone's paycheck is based on benchmarks set by the area's skilled trades. (Websearch the research of noted economists James Medoff and Richard Freeman.)

César Chávez was right.

Enhancement of the dignity of work benefits everyone. Diminished, the entire society gets dragged downward.

Tuesday evening at Circus Circus, we celebrate César Chávez's message on his 88th birthday, César Chávez Day in Nevada.

Chávez's work continues.

Talk loud. Walk proud.

_______________
Tony Mayorga serves as president and apprenticeship coordinator for Laborers' International Union Local 169.


3-23-2015

To: The 63 members of the 2015 Nevada Legislative Session
From: Andrew Barbano / CesarChavezNevada.com / 775-882-TALK (882-8255)
Re: César Chávez XIII


March 31 would have been César Chávez's 88th birthday and will again officially be César Chávez Day in Washoe County and Nevada.
3-24-2015 — Washoe County Commissioner Kitty Jung reads the official César Chávez Day proclamation
Photo at left (left to right): Commissioners Vaughn Hartung, Jeanne Herman and Marsha Berkbigler, Ramón Chávez, Commissioners Kitty Jung and Bob Lucey

You are invited to our annual celebration at Circus Circus in Reno. Please contact me for reservations or additional information.

Since inception, we have hosted increasing numbers of state and local officeholders of every political stripe from all over the state. If you can attend, please be prepared to say a few words.

As always, we will celebrate César Chávez's legacy with a look back and a look forward.

We will again hear from people who marched with César Chávez in the old days and worked side by side with him both in the fields and in the halls of government. Noted Nevada artist Erik Holland will display some of his Chávez paintings.

Boxing aficionado George "Battling" Nelson, a 2013 César Chávez Hall of Fame honoree, will bring petitions for signature seeking a posthumous presidential pardon for the late heavyweight champion Jack Johnson. U.S. Sens. Harry Reid, D-Searchlight, and John McCain, R-Ariz., recently renewed their push to right the historic wrong imposed upon the first African-American title holder.

Tomorrow at its regular meeting, the Washoe County Commission will proclaim March 31 as César Chávez Day in Washoe County. Ramón Chávez, César's nephew and a longtime Nevadan, will accept it on behalf of his family.

Gov. Brian Sandoval, R, will issue a similar proclamation statewide. (Nevada Revised Statutes 236.027/AB301—Kihuen et al./2009)

Long before he gained international fame, César Chávez visited northern Nevada farm workers and last spoke in northern Nevada on July 15, 1986, the first Reno César Chávez Day. In his later years, he frequently rallied workers in Las Vegas. He died at age 66 in 1993 and was honored with a U.S. Postal Service First Class Stamp in 2003. The Las Vegas City Council approved "Camino César Chávez" as a ceremonial name on Pecos Road in 2014.

Sen. Ruben Kihuen, D-Las Vegas, who was born in Mexico and delivered the keynote address several years ago, says Circus Circus serves authentic Mexican food (and he oughtta know).

See for yourself. Please take the time to join us if you can.

Thank you.

César Chávez Celebration XIII / Celebración de César Chávez XIII
Tuesday 31 March 2015
/ Martes 31 de Marzo 2015
Circus Circus Reno Mandalay Ballroom

Doors open at 5:30, Dinner at 7:00 p.m.
For reservations online, go to http://cesarchaveznevada.com
Reserve early. Prices rise as of Thursday, March 26.



COLLECTORS' ITEM — The Reno, Nevada, first-day cancellation César Chávez first class postage stamp. Envelope art by Brian Bird, promotions director of Azteca KUVR TV-68 and KREN TV-27 in northern Nevada. (April 24, 2003, Reno Main Post Office.)

 

UPDATED 22 AUGUST 2014 01:07 a.m. PDT, 08:07 ZULU/GMT/SUT/CUT —> On this date in 1966, the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee, now the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), was formed from a merger of the National Farm Workers Association and the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee and became a powerful tool for the advancement of Latinos under the leadership of César Chávez and Dolores Huerta. (Courtesy Dennis Myers' daily Poor Denny's Almanac © 2014)

OCTOBER, 1969 — César Chávez, right, and Walter Reuther, center, at the dedication of the United Farm Workers new headquarters in Delano, Calif. The buildings were dedicated to Reuther's late younger brother, Roy. The Reuther-led United Auto Workers were instrumental in acquiring the land and funding for the "The 40 Acres," as the site was known. The man at left was on a picket line for five years and may or may not be a Chávez relative. Anyone who can identify him, please contact me.(Photo courtesy of George "Battling" Nelson, UAW Local 2162 Retirees and 2013 César Chávez NevadaLabor.com Hall of Fame Honoree.)

Las Vegas council approves “Camino Cesar Chavez” ceremonial name on Pecos Road
By Jane Ann Morrison / Las Vegas Review-Journal 5-7-2014

From Poor Denny's Almanac for Cinco de Mayo 2014: On this date in 2012, at Barrio Logan, the Navy cargo ship U.S.N.S. César Chávez was christened.

Banqueters cry: Hail, César
By Prof. Jake Highton
Expanded from the 4-10-2014 Sparks Tribune

7-15-1986: César Chávez came to Reno

Obama pays tribute to late Reno labor leader

THE WAY WE WERE — The above is a recently discovered photo from July 15, 1986. Left to right are Kathy Brown, Culinary Union Local 86 office manager; Miguel Contreras, Local 86 Secretary-Treasurer; Local 86 President Bill Uehlein; a lady named Natalie (anyone who knows her last name, please write), and César Chávez. This item was first published in Ahora, northern Nevada's Spanish-English weekly, on March 26, 2008. (On 3-19-2009, President Obama paid tribute to Brother Contreras as he spoke in the L.A. building named after the late labor leader. See the 1986 Chávez Reno archive, below.)

(Photo courtesy of Dan Rusnak, retired business manager of Laborers' Union Local 169.)

More stories and photos from César Chávez's 1986 Reno visit

César Estrada Chávez was born March 31, 1927

Join the campaign for a César Chávez national holiday
Sign the petition

¡Sí se puede!

César Chávez NevadaLabor.com Honorees & Hall of Famers


The César Chávez Long March
by Reno artist Erik Holland


The original watercolor was displayed for several years in the Nevada Legislature offices of Sen. Ruben Kihuen, D-Las Vegas, prime sponsor of the 2009 César Chávez Day bill.

Copyright © 2009 Erik Holland. All rights reserved.


2015 Sponsorship and ticket prices
Previous sponsors and ticketholders will be given preference

MAJOR SPONSORSHIPS

PLATINUM $ 8,500 (Only one of two remains available.)

  • Sponsorship of Nevada Labor Hall of Fame César Chávez Awards
  • Inclusion on all mass media
  • Reserved Table for 10
  • Major sponsorship credit on all media
  • Logo and links at the César Chávez section at NevadaLabor.com
  • Event onsite credit: Wall banner; distribution of literature and display table if needed; event program credit and recognition from the podium.

GOLD: $ 6,500

  • Reserved Table for 10
  • Half of Platinum Package spot schedule
  • Logo and links at the César Chávez section at NevadaLabor.com
  • Event onsite credit: Wall banner; distribution of literature and display table if needed; event program credit and recognition from the podium.

SILVER: $1,950

  • Reserved Table for 10
  • Sponsorship credit on event program
  • Mass media promotional inclusion as available
  • Logo and links at the César Chávez section at NevadaLabor.com

BRONZE and BRONZEx2: Reserved Table for 10

  • Purchased on or before March 25: $ 725.00
  • Purchased after March 25: $ 795.00
  • BRONZEx2 —> Buy 2 and save $100 for your organization
    On or before March 25, 2 Tables for 10 @ $ 675 per table = $1,350.00 for 2
    Purchased March 25 or thereafter, 2 @ $ 750 each = $ 1,500.00 for 2

Individual Tickets

Purchased on or before March 25: $ 75 per person

Thereafter or at the door: $ 80 per person


Seniors 65+ or students (with student i.d.)
     Purchased on or before March 25: $ 35 per person
     Thereafter or at the door: $ 40 per person

      Children under 12: $ 25.00

     If you cannot attend or send representatives, please consider purchasing tickets which we will donate with your compliments to students, seniors and those of limited resources.

     Please make checks payable to
         
U-News
          P.O. Box 10034
          Reno, NV 89510

Or use PayPal online, below.

Thanks for your consideration.

In Solidarity,

Andrew Barbano
CesarChavezNevada.com
NevadaLabor.com
Barbwire.TV
(775) 786-1455
Fax (775) 747-0979


Use your credit or debit card through E-Bay's secure PayPal system


We reserve the right to turn down any sale or admission.

Major sponsors are donating portions of their ticket blocks so that area students may participate. Anyone planning to attend, even if your tickets are included in a sponsor or media package, should call for reservations which are required because of limited seating. Thanks for your patience.


The campaign for a César Chávez national holiday
Sign the petition

César Chávez Celebration XIII
brought to you by


International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers/AFL-CIO

Local 1245

 

United Auto Workers Local 2162/AFL-CIO
Bob Bueno, President
Rudy Viola, Past-president
George "Battling" Nelson, Chair
Retiree Chapter


AT&T Nevada
National Assn. of Letter Carriers
Branch 709
Northern Nevada Latino Alliance
U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Searchlight



      César E. Chávez was born on March 31, 1927, on a small farm near Yuma, Arizona. At 10 years of age, he began life as a migrant farm worker. This ultimately led to his cause or "La Causa," advocating for better wages and working conditions for the nation's farm workers. In 1952, he began the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) to strive for equal rights for agricultural workers.
       César Chávez learned from and practiced the non-violent principles of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mohandas K. Gandhi. Chávez died on April 23, 1993, at the age of 66. He was posthumously awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. The United States Postal Service issued a commemorative first class stamp bearing his image in 2003.

MARCH COUNTDOWN TO CHÁVEZ DAY

On March 10, 1968, Sen. Robert Kennedy, D-NY, and César Chávez met in Delano, California, for the breaking of Chavez's anti-violence fast. Chávez's physicians had contacted Kennedy to ask for his help in convincing Chávez to end his fast before it did more damage to his health.

On March 17, 1966, farm workers led by César Chávez began a march from Delano to Sacramento.

On March 31, 1927, César Chávez was born near Yuma, Ariz.

New York Times obituary, April 24, 1993: "Mr. Chávez, who was described by Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 as 'one of the heroic figures of our time,'was widely acknowledged to have done more to improve the lot of the migrant farm worker than anyone else. Fighting growers and shippers who for generations had defeated efforts to unionize field workers, and later fighting rival unionists, Mr. Chávez for the first time brought a degree of stability and security to the lives of some migrant workers. Largely because of him, the California Legislature in 1975 passed the nation's first collective bargaining act outside Hawaii for farm workers, who are largely excluded from Federal labor law coverage. 'For the first time,' Mr. Chávez said when asked to describe the union's achievement, 'the farm worker got some power.' Asked what had motivated his stubborn fight, he said, 'For many years I was a farm worker, a migratory worker, and, well, personally — and I'm being very frank — maybe it's just a matter of trying to even the score.'"

[Courtesy of longtime Nevada reporter Dennis Myers' Poor Denny's Almanac]


César Chávez Celebration IV
March 31, 2005

VETERANS — Left to right, Maria Zamora, Librado "Lee" Chávez and Tony Mayorga. Lee Chávez holds up a United Farm Workers of America flag signed by his late brother. The flag is part of Ms. Zamora's collection of Chávez/UFWA memorabilia which she displayed at the 2004 Chávez Celebration. Ms. Zamora marched with César Chávez in the 1960's and cooked for the multitudes as they trekked across California. She traveled from California to attend the 2014 event. She weaved wonderful stories for the audience and Duet Eross (César Perez and Chriss Reyes) serenaded her with De Colores. As always, the Chávez family was well represented by Reno resident Ramon Chávez and his family. Tony Mayorga is President of Laborers' Union Local 169, a founding sponsor of the celebration. [Librado Chávez and a dozen family members attended the 2008-2011 events. They have been unable to attend recently due to the illness of Mrs. Chávez. We look forward to seeing them again soon. We also hope the magnificent Maria Zamora will join us on 3-31-2015.]


When César Chávez came to Reno


    How often do we get to meet the great men of our age? Of the great apostles of nonviolence who have lived in our time and generations, I got to meet only one, but that was a meaningful one. César Chávez's (1986) visit to Reno gave me the opportunity to meet him, to shake his hand, to stand in his presence. It was an honor, one of the privileged moments of my life.

     On March 10, 1968, Robert Kennedy went to Delano to be with César when he broke his fast for nonviolence. Senator Kennedy said to César's supporters in the farm workers, "And when your children and grandchildren take their place in America, going to high school and college and taking good jobs at good pay — when you look at them, you will say, 'I did this. I was there, at the point of difficulty and danger'. And though you may be old and bent from many years of labor, no man will stand taller than you when you say, 'I marched with César'."

     We have not been very good custodians of that hope. Good jobs at good pay seem further away than ever. We have to do better. César's example calls.

— Courtesy of longtime Nevada reporter Dennis Myers' Poor Denny's Almanac
Used by permission.



      UFW FLAG ART presented by César Chávez to Reno Musicians Union Local 368 Secretary-Treasurer Beth Shay at Reno César Chávez Day I on July 15, 1986. Each color is symbolic — black for the dark situation of the farmworkers of the time; red for toil and sacrifice and the white circle for hope. Chávez himself designed it.

¿Quién fue César Chávez?

"Una de las figuras heróicas de nuestros tiempos"
—Senador Robert F. Kennedy, D-NY




Blasts from the past

Reno César Chávez Day XII
March 31, 2013

Reno César Chávez Day XI
March 28, 2013

Reno César Chávez Day X
March 31, 2012

Reno César Chávez Day IX
March 31, 2011

Reno César Chávez Day VIII
March 31, 2010

Reno César Chávez Day VII
March 31, 2009

Reno César Chávez Day VI
March 31, 2008

Reno César Chávez Day V
March 31, 2006

Reno César Chávez Day IV
March 31, 2005

Reno César Chávez Day III
March 31, 2004

Reno César Chávez Day II
March 31, 2003

Reno César Chávez Day I
July 15, 1986