Farmworkers on strike

The fields, migrant camps, and conference rooms have been busy the past couple of weeks as our farmworker friends who work at the local largest berry company went on strike.  H-2A is a new guest worker program that was recently introduced. It offers jobs, housing, and transport to workers from Mexico to come north and help in migrant labor jobs. Our local workers heard that these new laborers would be getting paid $12/hr set rate, have newish cabins, and receive money for transport to Washington (see Seattle Times article for more details). It has provoked a lot of unrest and frustration with the way things have been for a long time.

Unfortunately, there seems to have been some miscommunication about what is being offered and available to the farmworkers who are already here.  The local workers can also apply for the 'guest worker' jobs. Payment options have varied, sometimes they are paid per pound, sometimes by flat, and sometimes by the hour. They are now on their second strike due to wages dropping again on Monday.  It is true, they have been paid the same wage for many years, work long hours for little pay, and sometimes face discrimination from supervisors.  Although wanting fair wages, I'm concerned they may push too much and lose both their housing and jobs.

Hearing that they may be evicted from their cabins, Bob & Gracie (TN directors), Salvio and I arrived at one of the migrant camps this morning where over 150 workers were gathering.  Messages about fair wages for all, and a united chorus of "[Name of Berry company] escucha, estamos en la lucha; listen, we are in this fight" were echoing around the campgrounds.  More newscasters were interviewing some young Triqui girls I know, who were leading the shouts both due to their passion and trilingual (Spanish, English and Triqui) skills.  

Besides checking in and discussing the situation with the families and fellow organizers,  we found ourselves interceding for peace in this situation and for it to not escalate.  Due to Bob's long term relationship with the berry company, he and a couple others went to see if they could do some negotiation.  Tomorrow a meeting is set up, hopefully a final one, between the company and a 12-person Farmworker Rights Committee.  

Please join us in praying for peace and a fair just solution.