Cesar Chavez was born in very modest circumstances. but rose to become among the most distinguished Americans of my generation. He accomplished this not by amassing great personal wealth. but by working tirelessly to improve the standard of living of the poorest and most neglected of our society. Americas migrant workers. Cesar Chavez first came to national attention in 1965 when he led a national boycott of grapes in an effort to obtain a bargaining agreement between the United Farm Workers Union and the table grapes growers in the San Joaquin Valley. At that time. farm workers earned less than $1.50 an hour. received no fringe benefits. had no seniority rights. and were without legal status to challenge abusive employment practices by growers and labor contractors.