January to March, 1949, 1949

a major topic is the US-Mexican International Executive Agreement for the importation of Mexican contract workers (or braceros) into the United States; see especially two lengthy NLFU memoranda on this subject (Jan 8, 10) a draft copy of the Agreement and individual work contract (Jan 3), and two letters from Galarza on why the details of the Agreement had not been made public (March 15,16). The NFLU began an intensive drive to obtain legislation to improve the lot of farm workers during February; the papers include a letter from Mitchell to NSF Executive Secretary Hazel Whitman outlining plans for the campaign (Jan 6), a letter sent to all US Senators on the first of February containing the union's proposals, replies from the Senators (appear throughout February), and statements by Mitchell on the need for housing for migratory labor and on the use of the Taft-Hartley Act to break the Di Giorgio strike (Feb 18; March 6). On the legal cases arising from the Di Giorgio strike, see the correspondence from lawyer Alexander H. Schullman. An apparently complete list of secretaries of NFLU locals appears on February 17