The farm workers' boycotts, 1972–1976

The events, date by date

Every statement above comes from these dated entries in the chronology. Each links to its source.

1. June 1972 Chapel Hill supporters of the United Farm Workers organize a lettuce boycott In June a small group led by political science graduate student Kathleen McGonigle organized a Chapel Hill branch of the national boycott of non-union iceberg lettuce called by Cesar Chavez's United Farm Workers. Members leafleted restaurants, kept a table outside the undergraduate library and checked the crates in local stores, and by September they were recruiting at meetings in the Presbyterian Student Center. Place: Chapel Hill · Also named: Kathleen McGonigle, Cesar Chavez · Also mentions: Presbyterian Student CenterSearch the index · The Daily Tar Heel, September 26, 1972, p. 1
2. October 5, 1972 State AFL-CIO president Wilbur Hobby rallies UNC students behind the lettuce, grape and Farah boycotts Speaking at a rally moved by rain from the Pit to the Great Hall, state AFL-CIO president Wilbur Hobby urged students to boycott non-union lettuce and grapes and announced his support for the new boycott of Farah pants. The local lettuce boycott was organized by the Chapel Hill Lettuce Boycott Committee and the Young World Development committee of the YM-YWCA. People: Wilbur Hobby Place: Great Hall, Carolina Union, University, Chapel HillSearch the index · The Daily Tar Heel, October 6, 1972, p. 1
3. November 28 to 30, 1972 Campus food service offers union lettuce after a boycott petition Supporters of the United Farm Workers' boycott of non-union lettuce gathered nearly 1,500 signatures in five days, about 700 of them from meal-plan holders, and presented them to food service director R. D. Greer of Servomation-Mathias. Greer then asked suppliers of Chase Cafeteria and the Pine Room for United Farm Workers lettuce whenever possible, offered a choice of lettuce and non-lettuce salads, and posted signs saying whether each day's lettuce was union-picked. Place: Chase Cafeteria and the Pine Room, University, Chapel Hill · Also named: R. D. GreerSearch the index · The Daily Tar Heel, November 30, 1972, p. 2
4. January 30, 1974 The Chapel Hill Friends of the United Farm Workers launch a local boycott campaign The group, formed by workers at the Chapel Hill Peace Center, opened its campaign for the national boycott of non-union table grapes, iceberg lettuce and Gallo, Franzia and White River wines with an organizing meeting and rally. H. L. Mitchell, retired president of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union, spoke on the history of farm worker boycotts, and the group planned to press campus food services, picket stores selling boycotted produce and lobby restaurants. People: H. L. (Harry Leland) Mitchell Place: Murphey Hall, University, Chapel HillSearch the index · The Daily Tar Heel, February 1, 1974, p. 2
5. February 7, 1974 Gloria Steinem carries her salad out of a Carolina Inn banquet to back a farm workers' lettuce picket About ten pickets of the Chapel Hill Friends of the United Farm Workers marched for an hour outside the Carolina Inn, where non-union iceberg lettuce was to be served at a banquet for Gloria Steinem. Steinem, who had worked with Cesar Chavez, and about twelve students at the dinner carried their salads outside and dumped them on the ground as the pickets cheered. Place: Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill · Also named: Gloria Steinem, Cesar ChavezSearch the index · The Daily Tar Heel, February 8, 1974, p. 1
6. March 2, 1974 The Chapel Hill Friends of the United Farm Workers expand their picket of the Airport Road A&P The Chapel Hill Friends of the United Farm Workers doubled their weekly picket of the A&P on Airport Road to four hours every Saturday, protesting the store's sale of produce not picked under United Farm Workers contracts, in support of California farm workers seeking new grower contracts. Spokesman Kirk Henderson said the picket lines were affecting shoppers. Place: A&P, Airport Road, Chapel Hill · Also named: Kirk Henderson · Also mentions: Airport RoadSearch the index · The Daily Tar Heel, March 8, 1974, p. 2
7. April 5, 1974 Chapel Hill supporters of the United Farm Workers rally in the Pit for the new grape and lettuce boycott The Chapel Hill Friends of the Farm Workers held a noon rally in the Pit to back the United Farm Workers' new boycott of non-union grapes, iceberg lettuce and Gallo wines. UFW organizer Leonardo Herrera described growers' treatment of pickets, and Chapel Hill Alderman Gerry Cohen urged students to join the boycott and pledged to help it. Place: The Pit, UNC campus, Chapel Hill · Also named: Leonardo Herrera, Gerry CohenSearch the index · The Daily Tar Heel, April 8, 1974, p. 1
8. September 11, 1974 Cesar Chavez speaks in Memorial Hall for the farm workers' boycott United Farm Workers president Cesar Chavez, brought to North Carolina by state AFL-CIO president Wilbur Hobby and sponsored locally by the Chapel Hill Friends of the UFW, asked an audience in Memorial Hall to boycott table grapes, western iceberg lettuce and Gallo wines. A Gallo representative answered him at a press conference at the Holiday Inn, and a letter writer later put Chavez's audience at about 1,000 students. People: Wilbur Hobby Place: Memorial Hall, University, Chapel Hill · Also named: Cesar ChavezSearch the index · The Daily Tar Heel, September 12, 1974, p. 1
9. October 1974 Chapel Hill Friends of the United Farm Workers picket Friar's Cellar for the Gallo wine boycott For four weeks, mostly on weekends, the Chapel Hill Friends of the United Farm Workers picketed Friar's Cellar on West Franklin Street to press it to honor the union's boycott of Gallo wines. After a policeman told five picketers on October 25 that they could not stand on the sidewalk or parking lot or march without a parade permit, the group protested the police action to Mayor Howard Lee; the store moved its Gallo display to a back corner. People: Howard N. Lee Place: Friar's Cellar, West Franklin Street, Chapel HillSearch the index · The Daily Tar Heel, October 30, 1974, p. 1 · Also: The Daily Tar Heel, March 24, 1975, p. 2
10. January 22, 1976 United Farm Workers supporters picket a Gallo-funded Olympic benefit dance at the Tin Can About 15 members of the Chapel Hill Friends of the United Farm Workers picketed a U.S. Olympic Committee benefit dance in the Tin Can that the Ernest and Julio Gallo Winery had paid for on behalf of the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils, to publicize the farm workers' boycott of Gallo wine. The organizers said about 1,000 tickets were sold and more than $1,500 raised for the Olympic team. Place: Tin Can, University, Chapel HillSearch the index · The Daily Tar Heel, January 27, 1976, p. 2