Holy Saturday: Leaders of the Jornaleros Say They Have Not Given Up

Courtesy El Mexicano: The Davids vs. the Goliaths

You can see by the expressions on their faces from two days ago that the leaders of the Jornaleros look beaten down, but not completely broken.  Fidel Sanchez Gabriel, Fermin Salazar Santiago, Bonifacio Martinez Cruz and Justino Herrera Martinez of the "Alianza de Organizaciones Nacional, Estatal y Municipal por Justicia Social" have returned by now to San Quintin.

There was no meeting with Governor during their three day stay in Mexicali, nor was there a meeting arranged with Interior Minister Osorio Chong to discuss a raise in pay and the horrid working conditions of the laborers, the squalid living conditions, child labor and sexual abuse of the women workers. These leaders have not accepted the 15 % pay increase - which would mean that instead of making roughly $7.14 for a full  twelve hours days work of hard back breaking labor, they would be receiving $8.21. The leaders have asked the authorities to continue the dialogue.

There were however in the past few days swift attacks on these men accusing them of being politically motivated and basically a "guerilla" movement. They deny these charges and Justino Herrera Martinez noted their return to San Quintin does not mean that they are giving up, as far as they are concerned the dialogue remains open on their part with the State and Federal Government and the employers.  He went on to say that if their demands are not addressed, they will implement new actions.

Perhaps it wasn't so much the riots and rebellion which broke out in San Quintin that kept the gringo touristas away during Semana Santa - but a combination of local and national events which jarred the consciousness - or awareness - of the gringos that something is rotten in the state of Denmark. And despite the fact that there has been hardly any coverage of the Jornaleros since that last report, I can't stop thinking about them.  Mike believes when you do something "bad" to another person (and this would include any injustice), it always catches up to you in your lifetime.  Our friend Norman at the Border and I were discussing this, and he was not firmly convinced that your comeuppance will happen in this lifetime, but it will eventually in the eternal hereafter.

So this one's for Norman (I hope we don't have to wait this long for justice, right?).  Have a Happy Easter everyone and I'll be back next week with another roundup of events. Still coloring eggs.

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