Interviewer
Steve Velasquez, Harry Rubenstein and Peter Liebhold
Project
Bracero Oral History Project
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Andy Imutan was born on March 8, 1926, in Manila, Philippines; he came to the United States with his wife in 1965; her parents petitioned for her to come to the United States; Andy and his wife came to Los Angeles, California, before going to Delano, California to work; he quickly became involved with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO); eventually, he was in charge of the Stockton and Delano, California, chapters of the organization; later, he began his own Filipino organization, which helped families and young wives acquire various work skills; he ultimately returned to the Philippines.
Summary of Interview
Mr. Imutan very briefly describes his travels from the Philippines to California; he began working in Delano, California, but he quickly became involved with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO); in September of 1965, he was part of a strike that was a continuation of earlier efforts in Coachella, California, to achieve better pay; events in Coachella turned violent, with people getting hurt and equipment being damaged; after demands were met in Coachella, the same companies refused the same wages in Delano, hence the continuing strike; within roughly a week, Cesar Chavez joined the strike; Andy goes on to comment on the Filipino work crews, as well as their community and union interactions with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC); in addition, he details his organizing and fundraising efforts with the union, as well as his various travels; eventually, Chavez put him in charge of the Stockton and Delano, California, chapters of the organization; later, he began his own Filipino organization, which helped families and young wives acquire various work skills; he ultimately returned to the Philippines.
Date of Interview
9-27-2005
Length of Interview
50 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1578
Transcript Number
No. 1578
Length of Transcript
24 pages
Transcriber
GMR transcriptions
Interview Number
No. 1578
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Andy Imutan by Steve Velasquez, Harry Rubenstein and Peter Liebhold, 2005, "Interview no. 1578," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.