A CASE STUDY OF PUERTO RICAN MIGRANT FARMWORKERS ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS IN NEW JERSEY

Despite all of the research done on social movement organizations in this country, there has been little systematic attention paid to documenting the historical development and effectiveness of grassroots organizations dealing with migrant farmworkers. This case study seeks to refine our limited understanding about Puerto Rican migrant farmworkers grassroots organizing on the mainland, specifically New Jersey.;The case study focuses primarily on the relationship between change in organizational structure and effectiveness as CATA underwent development. Piven and Cloward and the Majkas' theoretical assertions are used to examine the stages of organizational development, and this research serves as a case study through which to examine the theoretical conclusions of the authors. These conclusions are examined to determine which can be supported, qualified, and contradicted through a study of CATA. This case study develops new theoretical conclusions that can be added to those of Piven and Cloward and the Majkas. In addition, this case study compares certain features of CATA with features of the UFW.;A number of organizational conclusions can be made about the data on Puerto Rican migrant farmworkers grassroots organizations. Puerto Rican migrant farmworkers in New Jersey went through a series of grassroots organizational stages of development before they became effective. The organizations went through a series of internal and external organizational changes before they transformed themselves into a proletarian formation. The major obstacle found in the study to CATA's achievement of its organizational goals was the leadership ideology, which impeded the growth and development of the Puerto Rican migrant farmworkers union.;CATA serves as a successful case study model, for it is able to have farmworkers participate and involve themselves in its organizational life. It appears that this organizational model serves as an alternative organization for organizing other farmworkers' groups.;More specifically, this case study examines the organizational effectiveness of a Puerto Rican migrant farmworkers organization, called Comite de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agricolas (CATA), in New Jersey.