U.S. INDUSTRIAL FACTORY WORKERU.S. INDUSTRIAL FACTORY WORKER (Early 20(Early 20thth Century) Century)

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Maquiladoras: Maquiladoras: All Work and No All Work and No

PayPay

MaquiladorasMaquiladoras

This is the term referring to U.S. owned and operated This is the term referring to U.S. owned and operated assembly plants in Mexico, and are located very close to the assembly plants in Mexico, and are located very close to the

U.S./Mexican borderU.S./Mexican border

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Brief Background of MaquiladorasBrief Background of Maquiladoras

These factories have existed These factories have existed in Mexico since the 1960s.in Mexico since the 1960s.

But, with implementingBut, with implementingNAFTA in 1994, U.S. and NAFTA in 1994, U.S. and multinational corporations multinational corporations rushed rushed factory operations to factory operations to Mexico to Mexico to maximize profits maximize profits through through maquiladoras.maquiladoras.

There are over 2,500 There are over 2,500 maquiladoras along the border.maquiladoras along the border.

http://www.uwec.edu/geography/Ivogeler/w188/border/mex.gif

Life in the Maquiladora...Life in the Maquiladora...

The work force is comprised of The work force is comprised of female workers who are paid $4-$6 female workers who are paid $4-$6 per day to assemble consumer per day to assemble consumer goods which will be exported back goods which will be exported back to the U.S. and other regions and to the U.S. and other regions and sold for much higher prices.sold for much higher prices.

Labor organizers criticize the Labor organizers criticize the factory system for the chronic low factory system for the chronic low wages and poor working conditionswages and poor working conditions

The situation in Ciudad Juarez...The situation in Ciudad Juarez...

In Juarez alone there are In Juarez alone there are 220,000 workers employed 220,000 workers employed in 300 factories.in 300 factories.

Since 1993, nearly 300 Since 1993, nearly 300 women have been women have been murdered here.murdered here.

Many were employed in the Many were employed in the Maquiladoras. Many more Maquiladoras. Many more have been raped, tortured, have been raped, tortured, and over 70 women have and over 70 women have “disappeared”.“disappeared”.

"Women who are out at night are at risk. It's "Women who are out at night are at risk. It's hard to go out on the street when it's raining hard to go out on the street when it's raining

and not get wet".and not get wet".

Many of the maquiladora shifts run late into the evening Many of the maquiladora shifts run late into the evening hours, and returning home during this time frame has hours, and returning home during this time frame has become extremely dangerous.become extremely dangerous.

http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engamr410262003http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engamr410262003

Justice for Juarez...Justice for Juarez...

http://web.amnesty.org/report2006/launchpack-eng

The problem of the maquiladoras continues and the families of the murdered and “disappeared” female maquiladora workers in Ciudad Juarez are still looking for justice.

To date, only one person has been charged with one of the killings. Mexican officials have done little to find the killers.

As the problems of industrialization in the early 20th century in the U.S. brought cries for reform, the voices from Juarez and other maquiladora towns along the border also demand change, as well.