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ROUTE
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in Philadelphia, PA
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Paso, TX
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D.C.
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PA
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NJ
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Lee, NJ
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York, NY
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| The freedom bus rolled into El Paso as the sun was rising in El Paso, meeting dedicated organizers who had waited for the bus. We were hosted by La Asociación de Trabajadores Fronterizos (Association of !
Border Workers), La Mujer Obrera, and others, strong organizations dealing with immigrant and worker's rights abuses in the area. They represent thousands of workers on the border who are internationally renown for their inhumane working conditions. On top of this, many are victimized by harrassment and abuse because of their immigrant status. In a statement by La Asociación de Trabajadores Fronterizos they expain, "We live and work in a marginalized city, where very little of the development is brought into our communitiesbecause its inhabitants are mostly Spanish-speaking immigrants. We are not taken into account in this process nor in the decisions that directly affect us. We find ourselves without political, social and economic power. The contradictions have become obvious." El Paso, on the U.S.-Mexico border, has been more affected by NAFTA than any other city in the United States. It's estimated that up to 10,000 workers have lost their jobs due to NAFTA thus far, not to mention many whose worker benefits have been taken away. Of new jobs which are created, 50% are part time and/or temporary. Education and training programs are inadequate. The New York Times recently reported how, with no jobs available in El Paso, workers have had to start crossing the border into Mexico to look for jobs. The freedom riders camped in a vacant dirt lot, echoing the Kensington Welfare Rights Union's tent cities and La Mujer Obrera's recent tent city in El Paso. The site was within view of the bridge across !
the border. In 116 degree heat, we marched to the county courthouse. After a brief rally, we held a press conference inside the courthouse with the La Asociación de Trabajadores Fronterizos and other organizations. We heard testimonies of many who had suffered human rights abuses. One worker, recently laid off, gave her testimony: "I worked in Greater Texas for 19 years...In the factory we suffered bad treatment, humiliation, mental abuse and discrimination. Sometime the work hours were so long and forced that we would work from 6 in the morning until 11 at night. Including Saturdays and Sundays...If we did not accept these times we would be fired. Some of the women workers would faint because they would work so long without breaks. They would also force us to work with machines that were!
not adequate and we would hurt ourselves. I never missed work and would always fill my quota...and one day without any previous notice they told us we were laid off." Now, since NAFTA, she has been totally unable to find work, NAFTA offices providing no assistance. Others gave testimony of abuses by INS and the border patrol. After the press conference, we returned to La Mujer Obrera's offices for a traditional Mexican dinner, singing, and games for the children. Afterward, we went back to our campsite to sleep the night. There was an informal discussion about our commong struggles in organizing - the organization in El Paso is clearly among the strongest in the country. Local organizers brought breakfast to the camp at 6 the next morning so !
the bus could leave early in the day. [Next] [Previous] |
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