“Mexican migrant workers strike over wages and working conditions”, 23 Mar 2015

Thousands of agricultural workers went on strike…in San Quentin Valley…against 15 agricultural corporations in defense of their rights, and over wages and better working conditions…San Quentin Valley…is a major exporter of agricultural products to the United States…As part of their protest, the workers barricaded the Transpeninsular highway at various points…The government responded with repression. While agribusiness in Mexico is growing…and generating profits for the agricultural corporations, the basis for its success is the brutal exploitation of its agricultural workers…In addition to low wages, a form of slavery known as debt-peonage is common...The…protests…took place a day after 200 rural workers, among them a contingent of Taraumara Indians and their children, were rescued from slavery at farms…The Indians, and other rural workers, from Sinaloa and Guerrero, had been enticed with false promises only to be imprisoned and made to work at plantations in subhuman conditions with little water or sanitation.