Mexican farm workers in the San Quintin Valley of the state of Baja California are calling for international action to support their demands for decent wages and an end to labor abuses by international produce companies that operate throughout Mexico. Representatives of more than 33,000 farm workers who declared a strike in late March compare their working conditions to those that existed during the colonial period with workdays of more than 15 hours. The San Quintin Valley is a major producer of fruits and vegetables that are exported primarily to the United States. Workers here pick as many as 160 kilos a day that sell for more than US$2,000, while the workers make on average US$7 a day. The workers are demanding a base salary of at least US$13 for every 8-hour workday as well as recognition by companies and union officials. Clayton Conn reports from Mexico for teleSUR.
