Remarks by Arturo S. Rodriguez, President United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO Presenting Check to Francisco Flores Martinez December 4, 2003—Mexican Consulate, Los Angeles
Among the many achievements of United Farm Workers founder Cesar Chavez was creation in the 1970s of the first–and only–functioning pension plan for farm workers in the United States: the Juan de la Cruz Farm Workers Pension Plan.
Other than U.S. Social Security benefits, this pension plan is usually the only source of security for farm workers in their retirement. And it is the only thing they have to show for years of hard labor and sacrifice producing the food that feeds America and much of the world.
The UFW pension plan contradicts the notion that farm labor has to be a low-wage, dead-end occupation. Cesar Chavez was convinced that farm labor–producing the food we eat–is honorable and important work. And the people who perform it are entitled to decent pay and benefits, including some measure of security in their old age.
More than 10 years after Cesar’s death, the plan continues to grow. It presently serves more than 10,000 participants and is worth more than more than $95 million.
A farm worker qualifies for the pension plan after working under a UFW contract at least 500 hours in a calendar year for at
least five years. The normal retirement age is 65. The earliest age a participant can retire is 55. Pre- and post-retirement surviving spouse benefits are provided and the plan includes pre- and post-retirement death benefits.
Since 1989, the pension plan–which is funded by contributions from growers for every hour worked under UFW contract–has provided cost-of-living increases and other adjustments and bonuses.
Among the many achievements of United Farm Workers founder Cesar Chavez was creation in the 1970s of the first–and only–functioning pension plan for farm workers in the United States: the Juan de la Cruz Farm Workers Pension Plan.
Other than U.S. Social Security benefits, this pension plan is usually the only source of security for farm workers in their retirement. And it is the only thing they have to show for years of hard labor and sacrifice producing the food that feeds America and much of the world.
The UFW pension plan contradicts the notion that farm labor has to be a low-wage, dead-end occupation. Cesar Chavez was convinced that farm labor–producing the food we eat–is honorable and important work. And the people who perform it are entitled to decent pay and benefits, including some measure of security in their old age.
More than 10 years after Cesar’s death, the plan continues to grow. It presently serves more than 10,000 participants and is worth more than more than $95 million.
A farm worker qualifies for the pension plan after working under a UFW contract at least 500 hours in a calendar year for at
least five years. The normal retirement age is 65. The earliest age a participant can retire is 55. Pre- and post-retirement surviving spouse benefits are provided and the plan includes pre- and post-retirement death benefits.
Since 1989, the pension plan–which is funded by contributions from growers for every hour worked under UFW contract–has provided cost-of-living increases and other adjustments and bonuses.
Addresses often change and it is important for farm workers to contact the Juan de la Cruz pension plan to see if they qualif