Los trabajadores de la fresa se declararon en huelga durante dos días contra Wish Farms, un gran productor de bayas de Santa María y Lompoc (California). Exigieron a la empresa que dejara de recortar los salarios a destajo y cumpliera sus promesas de mejorarlos.
Los trabajadores se concentraron frente a las oficinas de la empresa en Guadalupe, un pequeño pueblo agrícola cerca de Santa María, en la costa central. Tras intentar sin éxito negociar por teléfono con el director de la empresa, se dirigieron a un campo de fresas cercano y pidieron a los trabajadores que abandonaran el lugar y se unieran a la huelga. Algunos lo hicieron, antes de que la empresa llamara al sheriff.
Los trabajadores volvieron a la oficina de la empresa, donde siguieron reuniéndose. Finalmente, la empresa accedió a subir los salarios y los trabajadores volvieron al trabajo al día siguiente. Decidieron seguir organizando un sindicato, al que llamaron Freseros por la Justicia.
La mayoría de los recolectores son migrantes indígenas mixtecos de Oaxaca y el sur de México, pero que ahora viven en Estados Unidos. La empresa también trae trabajadores contratados H-2A de México. La huelga fue apoyada por el Proyecto de Organización de la Comunidad Indígena Mixteca. Las personas que quieran apoyar a los trabajadores pueden ponerse en contacto con Fernando Martínez, (805) 940-5528, fernando.martinez@mixteco.org.
Fotos copyright David Bacon.
GUADALUPE, CA – 13JUNE23 – Strawberry workers on strike against Wish Farms, a large berry grower in Santa Maria and Lompoc Most are indigenous Mixtec migrants from Oaxaca and southern Mexico, but who now live in the U.. They went on strike because the company refused to raise their wages, and brings in contract H-2A guest workers from Mexico. Their strike was supported by the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project.
Copyright David Bacon
GUADALUPE, CA – 13JUNE23 – Strawberry workers on strike against Wish Farms, a large berry grower in Santa Maria and Lompoc Most are indigenous Mixtec migrants from Oaxaca and southern Mexico, but who now live in the U.. They went on strike because the company refused to raise their wages, and brings in contract H-2A guest workers from Mexico. Their strike was supported by the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project.
Copyright David Bacon
GUADALUPE, CA – 13JUNE23 – Strawberry workers on strike against Wish Farms, a large berry grower in Santa Maria and Lompoc Most are indigenous Mixtec migrants from Oaxaca and southern Mexico, but who now live in the U.. They went on strike because the company refused to raise their wages, and brings in contract H-2A guest workers from Mexico. Their strike was supported by the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project.
Copyright David Bacon
GUADALUPE, CA – 13JUNE23 – Strawberry workers on strike against Wish Farms, a large berry grower in Santa Maria and Lompoc Most are indigenous Mixtec migrants from Oaxaca and southern Mexico, but who now live in the U.. They went on strike because the company refused to raise their wages, and brings in contract H-2A guest workers from Mexico. Their strike was supported by the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project.
Copyright David Bacon
GUADALUPE, CA – 13JUNE23 – Strawberry workers on strike against Wish Farms, a large berry grower in Santa Maria and Lompoc Most are indigenous Mixtec migrants from Oaxaca and southern Mexico, but who now live in the U.. They went on strike because the company refused to raise their wages, and brings in contract H-2A guest workers from Mexico. Their strike was supported by the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project.
Copyright David Bacon
GUADALUPE, CA – 13JUNE23 – Strawberry workers on strike against Wish Farms, a large berry grower in Santa Maria and Lompoc Most are indigenous Mixtec migrants from Oaxaca and southern Mexico, but who now live in the U.. They went on strike because the company refused to raise their wages, and brings in contract H-2A guest workers from Mexico. Their strike was supported by the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project.
Copyright David Bacon
GUADALUPE, CA – 13JUNE23 – Strawberry workers on strike against Wish Farms, a large berry grower in Santa Maria and Lompoc Most are indigenous Mixtec migrants from Oaxaca and southern Mexico, but who now live in the U.. They went on strike because the company refused to raise their wages, and brings in contract H-2A guest workers from Mexico. Their strike was supported by the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project.
Copyright David Bacon
GUADALUPE, CA – 13JUNE23 – Strawberry workers on strike against Wish Farms, a large berry grower in Santa Maria and Lompoc Most are indigenous Mixtec migrants from Oaxaca and southern Mexico, but who now live in the U.. They went on strike because the company refused to raise their wages, and brings in contract H-2A guest workers from Mexico. Their strike was supported by the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project.
Copyright David Bacon
GUADALUPE, CA – 13JUNE23 – Strawberry workers on strike against Wish Farms, a large berry grower in Santa Maria and Lompoc Most are indigenous Mixtec migrants from Oaxaca and southern Mexico, but who now live in the U.. They went on strike because the company refused to raise their wages, and brings in contract H-2A guest workers from Mexico. Their strike was supported by the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project.
Copyright David Bacon
GUADALUPE, CA – 13JUNE23 – Strawberry workers on strike against Wish Farms, a large berry grower in Santa Maria and Lompoc Most are indigenous Mixtec migrants from Oaxaca and southern Mexico, but who now live in the U.. They went on strike because the company refused to raise their wages, and brings in contract H-2A guest workers from Mexico. Their strike was supported by the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project.
Copyright David Bacon
GUADALUPE, CA – 13JUNE23 – Strawberry workers on strike against Wish Farms, a large berry grower in Santa Maria and Lompoc Most are indigenous Mixtec migrants from Oaxaca and southern Mexico, but who now live in the U.. They went on strike because the company refused to raise their wages, and brings in contract H-2A guest workers from Mexico. Their strike was supported by the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project.
Copyright David Bacon
