The Salinas Lettuce Strike of 1934 left a lasting legacy in highlighting the growing strength of ethnic labor movements during the Great Depression. The lettuce strike occurred between August 27, 1934, and September 24, 1934. The strike consisted of lettuce cutters and shed workers in the Filipino Labor Union. The reason for the strike was because many Filipino men between the ages of 18 and 25 moved to the United States to try and achieve the American Dream. But at the time, Filipino workers were hired for the least desirable jobs and they were heavily discriminated against.
The Filipino Labor Union was first organized in Salinas, California in 1933 and was founded by D.L. Marcuelo, a businessman from Stockton, California. In the start of 1933, there were approximately 2,000 members in the Union and the numbers grew to approximately 4,000 members by 1934. Soon enough, the Vegetable Packers Association declared that they would collaborate with the Filipino Labor Union to progress workers rights. The strike began on August 27, 1934. Of the 7,000 workers who participated in the strike, nearly half were Filipinos. Suddenly, riots began to unfold. Mobs attacked Filipinos and police arrested some of the Filipino Labor Union leadership. And the media reflected the Filipinos in a very negative way.
On September 21, 1934, Rufo Canete was reappointed as the Filipino Labor Union’s president. But then, a mob of vigilantes raided and burned down Canete’s labor camp. Canete realized how dangerous the escalating situation was to the Filipinos so he decided to call off the strike. The Salinas Lettuce Strike officially ended under advisement by Canete and approval by the Filipino Labor Union strike committee on September 24, 1934. Just two days after the strike was over, Filipino workers returned to the lettuce fields and packing sheds to continue their work.
Ultimately, the Filipino Labor Union accomplished two of their main goals. The wage increased to 40 cents an hour and the Union was recognized as a legitimate union for farm workers. Participation in the Salinas Lettuce Strike also allowed Filipinos to gain experience in labor participation that they would use in future conflicts during the Great Depression.
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