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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Arturo S. Rodriguez, president of the United Farm |
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Workers, is celebrating his 60th birthday on June 23, 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Rodriguez assumed the leadership of the UFW in |
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1993, following the death of Cesar Chavez; during his presidency, |
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he has worked tirelessly to continue building the union that Mr. |
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Chavez founded and to develop it into a powerful voice for |
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agricultural laborers; Mr. Rodriguez is committed to achieving such |
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vital goals for farmworkers as decent pay, health coverage, job |
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security, retirement benefits, protection against toxic chemicals |
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and other substances, and guarantees against discrimination and |
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sexual harassment; in addition, he strives to make it easier for |
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workers to organize and negotiate union contracts; and |
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WHEREAS, Under his able leadership, the UFW has grown in |
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membership and won a number of important victories; among its |
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recent successes have been agreements with one of the nation's |
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largest vegetable growers, as well as the country's biggest |
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strawberry operation, rose producer, winery, and dairy; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in San Antonio, Mr. Rodriguez earned a |
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bachelor's degree from St. Mary's University in 1971 and a master's |
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degree in social work from the University of Michigan in 1973; he |
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became active with the UFW grape boycott while an undergraduate and |
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organized support for farmworker boycotts during his student days |
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in Michigan; a resident of Keene, California, Mr. Rodriguez has |
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worked full-time with the UFW since 1973; and |
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WHEREAS, One of this nation's foremost labor leaders, Arturo |
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Rodriguez continues to render outstanding service in behalf of |
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farmworkers in the United States, and it is indeed fitting that he |
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be recognized for his significant contributions to the advancement |
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of social and economic justice; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Arturo S. Rodriguez on the occasion |
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of his 60th birthday and commend him for his unwavering efforts to |
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secure a brighter future for America's farmworkers and their |
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families; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Rodriguez as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |