Antonio Orendain became the treasurer of the National Farm Workers Association which later became part of the United Farm Workers. After realizing that the Community Service Organization (CSO) could not help farm workers, Chavez and Orendain resigned in 1962, and Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association which was later known as the United Farm Workers. Orendain became a founding member of The National Farm Workers Association where he worked as secretary-treasurer. With the work of the NFWA, they were able to put an end to the Bracero Program by 1964. In 1965 the NFWA began striking. They helped organize and bring nonviolence tactics to the Delano grape strike along with the Agricultural Workers Organization Committee (AWOC). In 1966, Orendain was sent to Texas to help form a union there, During his time in Texas in 1966, Orendain organized protests on the bridge between the United States and Mexico against the $1.25 minimum wage for farmers. Orendain and several others were arrested and released several hours later. Cesar Chavez called the strikes a success because they were able to organize workers, even if they were unable to put pressure on the growers economically. After several protests, Chavez requested he return to California in 1967. He feared that spreading to places like Texas was too ambitious for their unions. The opposition in Texas was stronger than in California and Chavez had begun to lose hope in the Union's ability to make a real difference in Texas. Orendain worked in California for several more years before he returned to Texas in 1969 due to difficulties with his replacement; he moved his family to San Juan. He was able to form a union presence there and set up a union office in McAllen.
