Farm Workers Create Unions

The main purpose for the creation of farmers’ unions during this this time period is to strike against low wages, unfair work and/or harsh conditions. Originally these strikes were unorganized and initiated by foreigners. However, in the 1910’s the first strikes were lead by the industrial workers of IWW (Industrial Workers Of The World), where they would let the crops fade and die until their bosses would give them a wage where they could at least afford the basic necessities of life and pleasure. Shortly after World War I, california growers (also known as farm owners), would take advantage of the newly conquered land in the Philippines. These farmers started importing men and only men to work for shockingly low wages. In the early 1930’s farmers organized into associations to lead group strikes to further impact their cause. A few years later in 1934 all of their determination paid off for all of the farmers, and they got a bargain that greatly heightened the farmers ability to have a satisfactory salary. This bargain would let them afford to live out a more prosperous life even though they still wouldn't be earning as much as an aristocrat or someone of the middle class. Unfortunately, the bargain they had long fought for had an expiration date, and after it expired the boss’s wouldn't resign and relinquish their positions above the farmers in the unions they had worked so had to grow. When the unions striked back, things got violent and out of the people’s (i.e. The bosses’) control. The boss’s hired vigilante armies made up of 3,000 people and got backed up by the police and sheriff to stop the strikes. They beat and arrested workers who were expressing and asserting their beliefs to the higher power of the bosses and the law enforcement officers aiding the bosses. Over the years unions evolved from small groups of farmers to large groups striking against causes.