Ah yes Mexico... [View all]

[nadinbrzezinski]

Last edited Sat May 9, 2015, 10:56 PM - Edit history (5)

we have what looks like the beginnings of a generalized boycott over berries grown in Mexico, the Valley of San Quintin in Baja to be specific. Workers want nothing short than slightly better pay... access to the social security, which in Mexico means medical care... decent housing conditions, not to die from heat stroke and not to be exposed to a slew of chemicals.

We have been following this since I was alerted by members of the community. Today, they started a boycott. Anybody remember Cesar Chavez? And just as a coincidence the state police attacked htem this morning, According to sources police even went into homes without warrants.

Here is the link to the article, for those of you who are interested in social justice, you might be interested. And as a general observation, things are getting more interesting in Mexico by the month. We have a semi regular column called Dispatches from Mexico... and at times we speak with sources as well.

None of the sources that we used in the article can be identified by name due to safety concerns.

May 9, 2015 (SAN QUINTIN, BAJA CALIFORNIA) We have reports of confrontations between the state police of Baja California and the field hands at San Quintin. These are the workers who have gone on strike because of labor conditions and lack of access to medical care. Among other companies are BerryMex, which is a principal supplier to Driscolls in California.

Workers are demanding that their pay goes up to at least 200 pesos per day, about 20 dollars a day. They were demanding 300, but during negotiations they went down to 200.

They were expected to start an international boycott of berries that are grown in the valley on May 9, which is today.

The number of field hands involved in this boycott is over 80,000 which is most of the workforce in the valley. According to a press conference posted by Nueva Era a few days ago, This boycott also include delegations traveling throughout the rural areas in Mexico.

http://reportingsandiego.com/2015/05/09/dispatches-from-mexico-san-quintin-and-the-boycott/

Posting the update straight. The request for Feds surprised me to a point.

Update: From social media postings elements of the Mexican Navy were involved in lifting the blockade. Moreover, according to Arisgegui Notiicias, there are over 70 people injured due to the melee. She is also reporting that the Interior Secretary Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong intervene to solve the crisis. We also now have news that while there are no dead, as we reported earlier in the morning from La Jornada, there are 7 people in critical condition, which is where the initial report might come from.

The request for federal intervention came from Union leader Fidel Sanchez Grabrel, who wants that federal intervention to stop the attacks from the state police.

And... this is what happens with fluid stories:

Update Number 2: The National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH for their letters in Spanish) has released a news release in which they state that they have sent investigators to the valley. The press release partly states:

Con motivo de los acontecimientos violentos ocurridos esta mañana en San Quintín, Baja California, la Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos desplazó a ese municipio a un grupo de visitadores adjuntos de su oficina en Tijuana y a otros que se encontraban en Ensenada, para investigar los hechos que sean de su competencia.

Due to the violent events of this morning in San Quintin, Baja California, the National Commission of Human Rights has sent a group of investigators to that municipality. They are from the Tijuana office, and others were in Ensenada already investigating events.

As we reported in an earlier story the commission was already involved. They have spoken to problems in the valley regarding human rights. The situation is still somewhat fluid.

Now will put this here, without updating the actual story. Shall take this with some salt. We now have conflicting reports. We do have 3 dead field hands... and the bodies went missing. This would not surprise me, but if this is the case... and given all the calls for general mobilization, things are about to get uglier.