Farm worker leader plans Ralston Purina boycott

August 7, 1981

United Farm Workers leader Cesar Chavez says he will use a large-scale nationwide boycott of Ralston Purina Company products to pressure the company into settling a three-week labor dispute. Boycott plans, the union's first since its successful boycotts of grapes, lettuce, and Gallo wine in 1974 and '75 , stem from a strike of 600 farm workers against the Steak-Mate mushroom plant, a Ralston Purina subsidiary.

The boycott would cover three of ralston Purina's major products -- Chicken-of-the-Sea tuna, Purina Dog Chow, and Purina C at Chow.