Alliance of White Anti-Racists Everywhere – Los Angeles
Food Industry
Racism Rampant in Food Production
01 year ago
Traveling in western Kansas, where the bad odor from big feed lots and meat processing plants is present in several communities, I held conversations with immigrant workers who mainly work in feed yards, dairy, land fields, restaurants, and processing plants.
Several times they expressed that they feel racism is present in their workplaces and how they’ve been discriminated against because of the color of their skin.
They comment that at some companies, having dark skin automatically put them at a disadvantage when it came to distribution of jobs. This, they say, is the case in meat processing plants where the most dangerous and difficult jobs are given to immigrants or refugee workers of color, and the less dangerous, easier jobs to white workers.
When it came to bathroom breaks or permits for a day off to attend to medical appointments, the workers I spoke to believe it is easier for white workers to receive them, but immigrants and refugee workers have to ask for permits with more advance notice and sometimes the permits are denied. When it comes to promotions, if it is between white and non-white workers competing for the same position, the white worker is more likely to get it.
In a conversation with Mr. Mario (name changed for his safety) who is the owner/operator of a semi-truck and contractor for an ethanol plant, he told me it was obvious that the company gives more contracts to the white owners than contractors of colors.
In the U.S. the food industry represents one of the biggest industries in the country and a big part of the workforce is immigrants and workers of color.
This industry is one in which low wages, exploitation and abuses are utilized to bring food from the fields and processing plants to the finest restaurants all across the country.
Racismo Inminente en la Produccion de Comida
Realizando un viaje por el oeste del estado de Kansas, donde la presencia del mal olor es inminente debido a los criaderos de vacas y plantas procesadoras de carne, recorriendo las diferentes comunidades en esa región y sosteniendo diferentes conversaciones con trabajadores inmigrantes quienes laboran en su mayoría en criaderos de vacas, lecherías, campos agrícolas, restaurantes, plantas productoras de etanol y plantas procesadoras de carne, en repetidas ocasiones he escuchado de boca de estos trabajadores expresar como el sentimiento racista y discriminatorio esta presente en sus lugares de trabajo.
Es muy notorio que siempre en varias compañías el hecho de ser de piel obscura automáticamente pone a los trabajadores en desventaja a la hora de la distribución de trabajos, tal es el caso de las plantas procesadoras de carne en donde los trabajos mas difíciles los realizan trabajadores inmigrantes o refugiados de color y los mas fáciles y menos riesgosos son otorgados a trabajadores blancos.
Cuando se trata de obtener un permiso para obtener un permiso para asistir a una cita medica o la necesidad de estar ausente un día en el trabajo, en repetidas ocasiones he escuchado mencionar que a los trabajadores blancos se los otorgan sin ningún problema mientras que a los de color con mas dificultad o aveces le son negados, en el momento de promociones o alguna posición mejor, el trabajador de color esta en desventaja ante el trabajador blanco.
En mi conversación con el señor Mario quien es dueño y operador de un camión de carga expresaba su descontento porque el ve que a el y a sus compañeros latinos le son otorgados menos viajes que a sus compañeros blancos, representando menos ingresos económicos para los operadores latinos.
En los Estados unidos la industria de la comida representa una de las industrias mas grandes en el país y en buena parte de ella la fuerza laboral esta conformada por trabajadores inmigrantes y de color, lastimosamente esta industria también es una de las industrias en las cuales la explotación de trabajadores y las bajas tarifas de pago son inminentes desde los campos de cultivo y plantas procesadoras hasta los mas finos restaurantes en todo el país.
Leaders Work to Counter Harsh Realities of Meat Packing
02 years ago
by Garat Ibrahim
in Blood Sugar, Brave Individuals, Daily Prayers, Diabetic Patient, Food Industry, Food Justice, Glass Of Water, Good Understanding, Greed, Harsh Realities, Harsh Reality, Health, Health Action, Health Issues, Immigrants, Immigration, Lowest Paying Jobs, Meat Packing Industry, Midwest Communities, People Of Color, Talented Leaders, Vaccines, workplace injuries, Workplace Issues
It is very difficult to have a good understanding of the hands that feed us every day and the harsh reality that workers undergo daily in the meat packing industry. They are some of the hardest jobs in the food industry and most dangerous in any industry. So it falls to the newest immigrants, refugees and people of color in general to fill these jobs and bear the burden of their risks.
I would like to share the reality of what is happening in rural Midwest communities. The suffering due to work-related injuries is increasing every day now, but many feel they have no other option. These are the highest-risk, lowest-paying jobs in the industry. Unfortunately, the employers know quite well the suffering of workers, but greed has overtaken where there should be humanity.
Injuries and suffering are talked about daily in these communities, but some individuals have had enough and are standing up for the rights of all. The stories of these brave individuals range from those fighting for simple bathroom breaks to a diabetic patient requiring just a glass of water during the day to maintain his blood sugar to the Muslim worker who is forced to choose between faith and a job when management denies his/her right to perform daily prayers.
In my opinion, one of the great things to come out of this renewed stand for justice is the power of people of diverse and different backgrounds to come together to work on not only workplace issues, but health issues for the rest of the community, like securing H1N1 vaccines or transportation for families to supermarkets.
Last week, the second Health Action Council regional meeting, sponsored by the Center for New Community, was held in Iowa, and it was wonderful to see talented leaders come together to advance the agenda of shared concerns. It was a testimonial to the diversity in the group and the great interest of issues that cut across their individual communities. Many in the table were able to share the zeal and strength of leadership and capacity for success of their health action councils.
Many of the leaders reiterated the passion they have and it was quite extraordinary to see some of the local work transform itself into the a larger context.
An OSHA representative came to consult with the workers and was able to share a lot about how immigrant and refugee workers can forge better relationships with agencies to provide trainings and resources.
The fruits of this struggle are still on the horizon, but the lesson learned is that we will always prosper and remain steadfast in our commitment for a better tomorrow.