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| Courtesy El Mexicano |
Yesterday AFN reported a tense calm existed throughout the San Quintin area prior to today's scheduled meeting between the Leaders of the Jornaleros and Representatives of the Government of Baja California, the Representative of the Secretaria de Gobernacion, Representatives of the Camara Federal de Diputados, the Senado de la Republica, the Secretario del Trabajo and the Organizacion Internacional del Trabajo (OIT). The presence of these government officials and representatives was requested by the Jornaleros. The different roundtable negotiations and discussions will be headed by Subsecretaria Gobernacion Luis Fernando Miranda Nava and it hoped that concessions and solutions will be found regarding the salaries and living conditions of the Jornaleros.
El Mexicano has been documenting the events since early this morning when the march began:
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| Courtesy El Mexicano: Maneadero blockade |
7:56 AM: A group of Jornaleros block the Transpennisular Highway at the Y junction in Maneadero in solidarity with the San Quintin workers. Ensenada.net also reports that in solidarity with the Jornaleros, passage to truck access was blocked at El Zorrillo.
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| Courtesy El Mexicano: Ranchero blockades - more of this on the AFN video below |
9:53 AM: Groups of Jornaleros close access to some of the ranches including Berrimex. Residents of these areas are permitted access. The object here is to stop the agricultural trucks ingress or egress.
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| Courtesy El Mexicano: Jornaleros arrive at Government Headquarters |
11:08 - 11.38 AM: Jornaleros arrive at the Government Headquarters in San Quintin. I'm not receiving the number of Jornaleros who marched this morning - maybe those numbers will be available a bit later, but we do know that the workers had been threatened by their employers before if they march. Meanwhile, the march of the Teachers from Ensenada met up with the Jornaleros at this location. The Teachers have been demonstrating since 04/13/15 for the 6 billion pesos they insist
the State owes them. These current teacher demos have been in Tijuana (7-9K present yesterday), Mexicali and Ensenada.
12:15 PM: Daniel de la Rosa Anaya noted that a group of Jornaleros hijacked a passenger bus on the Transpennisular Hwy. earlier this morning and forced the passengers out of the bus. There have been no arrests or any further information on this event.
12:29 PM: Governor Kiko arrived to participate in the roundtable discussions and negotiations along with Mayor of Ensenada Gilberto Hirata Chico and his team of Representatives.
3:41 PM: AFN has more coverage prior to and after when the Jornaleros occupied the Government buildings; their reporters noted that there were instances of violence where the Jornaleros "attacked" buses/trucks attempting to pick up Jornaleros and take them to the fields. Unsure what this means - if there was rock throwing or what, the report is non specific. However, there is video coverage in two reports. AFN noted that now the demand from the Jornaleros is for a pay increase of 250 pesos per day and 20 pesos per strawberry flat picked.
04/25 UPDATES:
No concessions were granted to the Jornaleros with the exception that in every 15 day increment reviews will be made by the authorities of their working conditions and the abuse of women and children who work in the fields - the salary increase was not addressed nor does it seem to be on the table. Miranda Nava noted that INEA modules will be in place to accredit primeria, secundaria and preparatoria schools for the Jornaleros.
AFN reports the Jornaleros reaction to the outcome of these roundtable negotiations/discussions was a pronounced silence through the Government building which I interpreted masking anger and the statement from the Jornalero's saying that if there is no response to their demands, there will be no options - their fight will continue.
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Will return with more information as it becomes available. Oh and maybe we can squeeze in Lydia Cacho's visit to Tijuana. It was a humdinger. Executions continue OVER THE TOP.
I was going to use "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" but ya'll know how much I adore Marlon Brando. (c;