The United Farm Workers of America (UFW) was formed on this date in 1966, initially as the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee. The Library of Congress’ Today in History has background, including this:
Through a series of dramatic moves, the UFW brought these issues to the public’s attention. In 1967, one of the first major actions taken by the UFW was to call for a boycott of table grapes, which became a nationwide boycott by 1968.
Several other boycotts against lettuce and strawberry growers were organized in following years. On February 14, 1968, UFW President Cesar Chavez began the first of many fasts in protest of the treatment of farm workers. During this first fast he received a strong letter of support from Martin Luther King Jr. …
In 1969, the UFW organized a march through the Coachella and Imperial Valleys in Central California to the United States-Mexico border to protest growers’ use of illegal immigrants as strike breakers. … In 1970, Chavez was jailed for defying a court injunction against boycotting. While imprisoned, he was visited by Coretta Scott King and Ethel Kennedy.
Through these dramatic moves the UFW won many important benefits for agricultural workers. It brought comprehensive health benefits for farm workers and their families, rest periods, clean drinking water, sanitary facilities, even profit sharing and parental leave. The UFW has also pioneered the fight to protect farm workers against harmful pesticides.