The New York Times carried an article by Eric Schlosser that complements yesterday's post on Hunger in America. ... read more »

Raj's blog | 2 comments | email this page

Posted on 3 December, 2007 - 20:07

Here's something from the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America, covering the intimidation and violence suffered by farmworkers (and their union organisers) in Mexico and the US.

Santiago Rafael Cruz, Labor Oranizer For U.S. Union, Killed In Mexico

By Dan La Botz

Santiago Rafael Cruz, an organizer for the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) based in Toledo, Ohio, was murdered in Monterrey, Mexico on April 9. Cruz was found bound and beaten to death in the union offices; there had been no forced entry and there was no robbery. Baldemar Velasquez, president of FLOC, believes that he may have been murdered because the union had disturbed the operations of corrupt individuals involved in labor contracting operations in Mexico. ... read more »

Raj's blog | add new comment | email this page

Posted on 3 May, 2007 - 20:12

Photo Credit : Joann Cornejo

Today is Cesar Chavez Day. It's a good day to remember that the poorest and most exploited people in farming aren't farmers - they are the farm workers.

I've excerpted the most powerful parts of a much longer speech that Chavez gave on November 9, 1984. Well worth a read today, of all days. ... read more »

Raj's blog | add new comment | email this page

Posted on 31 March, 2007 - 06:00

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers won a major victory in 2005, when they brought Taco Bell to the negotiating table. The CIW are a broad coalition of farmworkers based in Florida, whose labour makes possible the ingredients in a wide range of foods. They protested their conditions of slavery in the US, and won substantial victories for their members. Read their history here, and then find out about their campaign for Fair Food, and more, at
http://www.ciw-online.org/

add new comment | email this page

Posted on 25 February, 2007 - 00:19

The UFW has, since 1962, been fighting for farmworkers in California and beyond. Their website is well organised, and has links to their ongoing campaigns. More at
http://www.ufw.org

add new comment | email this page

Posted on 29 November, 2006 - 01:46