The plight of migrant workers

IntroductionThe wise saying goes, The writer sees, what the Sun slew non see.(Proverb) If that writer happens to be a photojournalist, his products ar going to be ne arr to the reality. This is the strength of the book of David Bacon. Of the four factors of proceeds, Land, Labor Capital and Organization, it is cognise that the Labor occupies the first position, because without it, the different three atomic number 18 rendered idle.In the context of globalization of in all segments of frugal and profit-generating activities, agriculture too occupies the prominent place. The grate indispensableness in this argona is vast, and it bespeaks to be employed at the ripe(p) time, depending upon the timings of the growth and marketing of the crops. How do the migrator snipers plough their lives, what are the line of make waters that present them and what is the solution?The harsh realities of migrant experienceThe materialistic civilization, industrial and meshwork revoluti on subscribe to made the concept of globalization a reality, without population leaders formally announcing the same. The economic compulsions are such, something tangible is happening all over the world in the industrial and agricultural sectors, without anyone making efforts for it actually. inter subject area communities are being formed in the natural course, because of the common economic and survival interests and aspirations of such labor force.This has happened all along the northern alley from Guatemala, via Mexico and far into the United States. Douglas Bacon is eminently suited to do the task of paper this book, for he is thrice-blessedbeing the journalist, the photographer, and a trade union leader and labor organizer.(Ahn, 2004) With the might of his pen, and the click of the flashgun of the camera, he gives the picture of the real life of the migrant labors working for plenty and prosperity of others to a great extent, and their item-by-item prosperity to some e xtent.Workers move and become weaken of the migrant work-force, non because they want to move, but because someone somewhere is willingly and anxiously waiting for them. Undocumented immigrants far outnumber the documented immigrants. (Ahn, 2004)US border policy treats them in an unjust manner, labeling them as an aggregation of individuals.Immigration policy on such period of immigrants demands special attention and policy guidelines, to properly accept them into the mainstream of the society, because they are impart to the welfare of that society. These great dramas of borderlands create new issues time and again. Their combined work output is definitely contributing to the movement of giant wheels of agriculture production to fulfill the food requirements of the Nation. The labor movements are both for survival and for foster improvement of working conditions to secure stable life, without uncertainties and anxieties.Agriculture1. The obstacles the migrant workers face, thei r thoughts about their homeland, and their plans for expression a better lifeThe number of migrant workers in ground forces runs into millions. They are available for all types of work related to agriculture, standardised planting, weeding, harvesting and packing. Their contribution is basic and fundamental, but in return, they dont pose what they deserve. Their income is less than $7,500 an year. (Ahn, 2004)The working conditions are dangerous from the point of view of health, for they have to toil in the hot palm below the hotter sun, they handle not too safe put up equipments, the ill effects of physical characterisation to herbicides, chemical fertilizers and poisonous pesticides do serious damage to their health.Often we went into the palm barefoot, remembers Jorge Giron, from the Mixtec town of Santa Maria Tindu, who this instant lives in Fresno. His wife, Margarita, recalls that in the labor camping the rooms were made of cardboard, and you could see other families through the holes. When you had to relieve yourself, you went in public because thither were no bathrooms. You would go behind a shoetree or tall grass and squat. People bathed in the river and further agglomerate others would wash their clothes and drink. A lot of people came down with profligacy and vomiting. The strikes, they say, forced improvements. (Bacon, 2005)2. In what way do the members of these communities face ethnic and racial discrimination?The main problem of the migrant workers is their status. Since they are illegal entrants, the trouble of their clandestine stay bothers them during 24 hours in a day. Their number is more than 52% of the total workforce. (Ahn, 2004) They move like caravans, depending upon the requirements in a detail area.This affects their lifestyle adversely, because they live in temporary houses, in congested areas where sanitation facilities are too poor. Some spend their nights in their cars or dusted fields under temporary structures. T hey work even when they are sick, for the medical facilities are poor, one is afraid to ask for them for the fear of losing wages, or even the job. In case of prolonged illness, the chances of being deported are certain.Long periods of absence from homeland and the defense reaction of the association of near and dear ones, lead to depression in some cases. Since the job is temporary and without any perquisites, they remain engulfed in a common sense of insecurity. They live under compulsion, for they have to support their family members in a hostile land, who are expecting their remittances month later month. Migrant workers with the family, face another problem of education of their children, as they have to constantly shift from one check to another.The children are brought up in uncertain and poor conditions and they develop a sense of inferiority complex. The racial and ethnic problems though not there legally, yet in the day to day dealings, they show their presence. Labo r organizing was part of the mix here too. In 1993 FIOB began collaboration with the United Farm Workers. We recognized the UFW was a strong union representing agricultural workers, Dominguez explains. They recognized us as an constitution fighting for the rights for indigenous migrants. only if it was an uneasy relationship. Mixtec activists felt that UFW members ofttimes exhibited the same discriminatory attitudes common among Mexicans back home toward indigenous people. conflict racism in Mexico, however, had prepared them for this. According to Rivera Salgado, the experience of racism enforces a search for cultural identity to resist and creates the possibility of new forms of organization and action.(Bacon, 2005)3. What kinds of organizations have they formed to protect themselves?Cezar Chavez founded the United Farm Workers Union and the farm workers stand up for their rights. His pressure tactics made the growers sign the contract, which protected workers interests. Laws are being framed one after another, but these have proved to be laws designed for exploitation. For every homework of the law for protecting the interests of the workers, the legal brains of the employers find an escape route. Labor shortages caused by World War II resulted in the 1942 U.S./Mexico Bracero Program. Bracero contracts ranged from one to six months, and employers were postulate to provide food and housing, pay local wage rates, cover medical expenses, and provide transportation between Mexico and the farm.These clauses, however, were rarely enforced and growers routinely apply Braceros by shorting the hours they worked or changing the rate of pay once the work was completed.(Ahn, 2004) With strong protests from the labor, the Bracero Program was terminated in 1964.United Farm Workers Union of the States (UDW) is credited with securing improvement in the working conditions of California farm workers and now the workers have the legal mandate of access to faucets, toil ets and cold drinking water. But the Unions face a peculiar problem. They dont get the prerequisite support from the workers. Less than 10 percent of all strawberry workers are unionized.(Ahn, 2004)At the National level, there are several organizations fighting for the rights of the workers. Some of them are the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in Florida, Farm Labor Organizing Committee in sexual union Carolina etc.4. How does their position in American society compare with the civil rights struggles of other groups we have studied?The Civil Rights Struggle is a broad struggle, having national and international repercussions. The problem of migrant worker is a struggle inside the struggle.(Own) Rights for the workers are the consequential action to the Civil Rights struggle. Now that the civil rights issues are settled legally, it is time that the government pays sincere attention to the plight of the migrant workers, so it does not turn out to be an issue like the issue of slavery in disguise.ConclusionUnfortunately in USA, democracy and capitalist economy have joined hands to give a free obtain to exploitation and the workers are at the receiving ends. What to talk about those illegal migrant workers. They are like smuggled goods liable to be confiscated by the organisation at any time. Some tangible steps need to be taken to reconcile these good ideals. USA has tried combinations and permutations, by placing idiom on one or the other ideal. The problem of migrant workers is generally the human problem, apart from the one that of legal and economic.The concept by the workers that the focal point is the sworn enemy and they must be a war with it always, is wrong. Similarly, the perplexity needs to have the humane approach. The thought process both the parties need to change. Then only their action process will also change. So, when the thoughts are changed, the mind is changed when the mind is changed, the man is changed when the man is changed, the so ciety is changed.References CitedAhn, Christine, Article victuals First/Institute for Food and Development Policy For Land Workers Without Rights in American Agriculture, (2004)Bacon, David (Author), Carlos, Jr. Munoz (Foreword), Douglas Harper (Foreword) Book Communities without Borders Images and Voices from the World of MigrationPaperback 235 pagesPublisher ILR Press 1 edition (October 2006)Language EnglishISBN-10 0801473071ISBN-13 978-0801473074Proverb Source anonymousOwn This symbol is my own creation.Bacon, David Article Communities Without Borders (David Bacon)The Nation October 2005 issue.