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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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Highway blocked at San Quintin this morning...
Farm laborers have blocked the federal highway through the San Quintin Valley in at least 5 different locations this morning, protesting over little
pay, poor working conditions and abuse at the hands of the companies they work for. There have been some reports of minor violence and vandalism. It
is strongly recommended that you avoid passing through until further notice.
We will be keeping up with the latest updates on our TalkBaja group facebook page if any of you are interested in following the events...
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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What?! Workers being exploited? I don't believe it.....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Another boost for Hwy. 5. Also, a way to NOT get any support for the cause from fellow citizens trapped in the line of cars, buses and trucks on each
side. I hope the Desert Hawks or another ambulance doesn't need to rush anyone to the hospital!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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Quote: Originally posted by David K  | | Another boost for Hwy. 5. Also, a way to NOT get any support for the cause from fellow citizens trapped in the line of cars, buses and trucks on each
side. I hope the Desert Hawks or another ambulance doesn't need to rush anyone to the hospital! |
People all over Latin America expect this. This is how workers protest and make their grievances known to everyone. We have been delayed several
times on Mexican highways, the main highway through Central America and even on a train in a remote part of Peru where the workers were sitting on the
track. It is just what happens.
Thanks Ron for the heads-up---- good time to avoid the area until it clears, and it will clear. And good luck to the protesters --- they deserve
better!
[Edited on 3-17-2015 by DianaT]
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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We are stuck here in Las Jardines and unable to move in either direction. We had a medical situation and were blocked at the south end of San
Quintin. Talk Baja has current photos and there are reports of violence at several stores and vehicles.
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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Nice place to be stuck.....unless the medical situation is serious and requires immediate attention.
Are there not any side roads that allow a by-pass to the protests?
Would it be possible to explain to protestors reasons for needing to get through?
Don't believe everything you think....
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richard nauman
Junior Nomad
Posts: 67
Registered: 10-1-2003
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Mood: Tranquilo
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Road is blocked in Colonia Vincent Guerrero. woke to the smell of burning tires this morning. Looks like it may be a while. Saw trucks bringing in
porta potties this morning. Most everyrhing is closed. OXXO store is open. We are stuck at the Mission Inn. Great modern hotel.
[Edited on 3-17-2015 by richard nauman]
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: Originally posted by richard nauman | | Road is blocked in Colonia Vincent Guerro. woke to the smell of burning tires this morning. Looks like it may be a while. Saw trucks bringing in porta
potties this morning. Most everyrhing is closed. OXXO store is open. We are stuck at the Mission Inn. Great modern hotel. |
If it is open, walk south a bit and eat at Baja Fiesta.
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richard nauman
Junior Nomad
Posts: 67
Registered: 10-1-2003
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Mood: Tranquilo
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Thanks for the tip. Baja Fiesta is closed. From talking to people it seems that while they don't like the inconvenience of the protest they are
sympathetic to harsh working conditions the farm workers face. Form the conversations I have had it appears that bussinesses are closed partly out of
sympathy and partly for fear of rock throwing.
[Edited on 3-17-2015 by richard nauman]
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richard nauman
Junior Nomad
Posts: 67
Registered: 10-1-2003
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Mood: Tranquilo
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To answer David's question the ambulance from El Rosario just came through headed north with lights but no sirens. The protestors blocking the road
allowed it to pass wirh no delay. I had not seen the fancy new paint job they have on the Halcones ambulance. Looks like nice modern equipment.
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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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I have read in posts re other blockades near Mexicali that the protesters would often let visitors through, if they didn't live or work in the area.
Not the case for this situation?
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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JoeJustJoe
Banned
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Registered: 9-9-2010
Location: Occupied Aztlan
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Mood: Mad as hell
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Where is Cesar Chavez when you need him?
Of course Cesar Chavez is dead now, but I would say Mexico needs someone like Cesar Chavez to represent them, not only in the agriculture fields, but
in other fields of work in Mexico.
Mexico needs a strong middle class, or any kind of middle class. Nothing stimulates the economy like a strong middle class. Unions helped bring
about a strong middle class in the USA after War War II, and it could work in Mexico.
However, there is also something called the "race to the bottom, "because when Mexico or other developing country start talking about higher wages,
and better working conditions.
The foreign corporations threaten countries like Mexico, saying that they will simply pick up, or move to another country where they could get away
with paying slave labor, and even less than what they're paying now. It's a real shame.
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
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Location: Kansas Prairies
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How will they take the Tomatoes and Strawberries with them?
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
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Location: Kamloops, BC
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Chuck,
Are you asking about the labourers or the corporations?
The corporations would need to do a cost-benefit analysis to determine if the move was worth the set-up and ongoing costs....maybe they would take all
the bedding plants and stock....what do you think?
Don't believe everything you think....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by richard nauman | | To answer David's question the ambulance from El Rosario just came through headed north with lights but no sirens. The protestors blocking the road
allowed it to pass wirh no delay. I had not seen the fancy new paint job they have on the Halcones ambulance. Looks like nice modern equipment.
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Thank you... Good for the ambulance passage!
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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Does any one have first hand knowledge of the situation in Ciudad Constitucion and Ciudad Insurgentes.
They have as large a farming area as the San Quintin Valley.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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Many of you probably already know this, but the US is the largest importer of Mexican produce.
| Quote: Originally posted by JoeJustJoe |
The foreign corporations threaten countries like Mexico, saying that they will simply pick up, or move to another country where they could get away
with paying slave labor, and even less than what they're paying now. It's a real shame. |
[Edited on 3-18-2015 by BajaNomad]
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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On a certain level, the burgeoning farm industry in the San Quintin valley makes good sense. The folks that toil those fields and hot houses do not
have to risk their lives trying to get to El Norte for similar work.
On another level, did the Los Pinos folks and other agricultural employers to really expect this to last forever?
When I go to the market in So Cal to buy produce, the vast majority of it says hecho en Mexico. These protestors will win in time. Too much money
riding on it for their employers. And it may be especially significant in that the California drought has recently prompted one NASA scientist to
predict, that without significant change, California will effectively run out of water sometime next year.
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1655
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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A couple of months ago the Highway between Constitucion and Insurgentes was blocked for a couple of days.
But the road was closed for 2 hours and then open for 1/2 hour to let vehicles through.
It was a scramble to get through in that 1/2 hour!
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Cisco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4196
Registered: 12-30-2010
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--
| Quote: Originally posted by motoged | Chuck,
Are you asking about the labourers or the corporations?
The corporations would need to do a cost-benefit analysis to determine if the move was worth the set-up and ongoing costs....maybe they would take all
the bedding plants and stock....what do you think? |
Ged.
Been a couple of years so I cannot ref it.
A farmer in the Imperial valley was unable (due to U.S. Immigration policies and the unwillingness or inability of U.S. workers) to get workers for
his fields. (ever work a short-hoe? 112 degrees, sun up to down?)
He moved the entire operation into Mexico in order to keep being a farmer.
Say's he hates it. Costs more (slightly) in Mexico to produce and trans-ship produce back to the U.S. even though he has cheaper labor.
Has to deal with all kinds of U.S. Ag and CBP, DEA, ICE, inspections, forms, paperwork...rolling equipment for transport....
And the loss of income to the folks/stores/places of the Imperial Valley. In some ways I think we have shot ourselves in the foot on many of the
imbecilic laws, regulations and programs we have instituted.
But, the rico get ricoed (???) and the Government gets bigger and more independent. The transparency is amazing. They do not even attempt to hide
their indiscretions anymore.
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