BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Resolution Declaring March 21-28, 2017, as a Week of Public Service in Honor of César Chávez.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Recognize and observe March 21-28, 2017, as a week of public service in honor of César Chávez; and
B. Adopt the resolution DECLARING MARCH 21-28, 2017, AS A WEEK OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN HONOR OF CESAR CHAVEZ.
Body
SUMMARY:
Each year, Californians celebrate the life and work of César Chávez, an American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist, who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers union, [UFW]). On Friday, March 31, 2017, California will observe the day as the official state holiday for commemorating his contributions.
Celebrating his legacy gives us all the opportunity to reflect upon the values that César Chávez applied in his work: service to others, sacrifice, self-determination, non-violence, innovation, environmental protection, and community. Chávez and UFW achieved the following:
• The first collective bargaining agreement between farm workers and growers in the continental United States.
• The first union contracts requiring rest periods, clean drinking water, hand washing facilities, and protective clothing against pesticide exposure.
• The first ban on pesticide spraying while workers were in the fields.
• The first ban on DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) and other dangerous pesticides.
• The first and only performing pension plan for retired farm workers.
In recognition of the life and work of César Chávez, the District’s Employee Resource Group, Organization for Latino Affairs (OLA) will be focused on educating and promoting his legacy to the District employees through an array of blogs and news articles throughout the month of March.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with this item.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have a potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Norma Camacho, 408-630-2084