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Migrant Labor, Industrial Agriculture, and Imperial Politics: Impact on the Working Class

Forrest Blair

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Published in Sweet Tyranny: Migrant Labor Industrial Agriculture And Imperial Politics (Working Class In American History)

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Migrant labor has become an integral part of the industrial agricultural system in the United States and many other countries around the world. This labor force is primarily composed of undocumented workers from poor and marginalized communities who are often exploited and subjected to dangerous and unhealthy working conditions. The use of migrant labor in industrial agriculture has a significant impact on the working class, both in the United States and abroad.

Exploitation of Migrant Labor

Migrant workers are often paid below minimum wage and denied basic benefits such as health insurance and overtime pay. They are also often forced to work long hours in dangerous conditions with little or no safety protections. This exploitation is driven by the profit-seeking motives of large agribusiness corporations and the lack of government regulation and enforcement of labor laws.

Sweet Tyranny: Migrant Labor, Industrial Agriculture, and Imperial Politics (Working Class in American History)

by Kathleen Mapes

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	336 pages

The working conditions for migrant laborers are often inhumane. They may be housed in overcrowded and unsanitary barracks, denied access to clean drinking water and toilets, and subjected to verbal and physical abuse. These conditions can lead to serious health problems, including heat stroke, respiratory illnesses, and injuries.

Impact on the Working Class

The exploitation of migrant labor has a negative impact on the working class as a whole. It drives down wages and working conditions for all workers and makes it more difficult for American workers to compete for jobs. It also creates a pool of cheap labor that can be used to undermine labor unions and weaken workers' rights.

In addition, the reliance on migrant labor can lead to increased racial and ethnic tensions within the working class. Migrant workers are often seen as outsiders or scapegoats, and they are often blamed for economic and social problems. This can lead to discrimination and violence against migrant workers and their families.

Imperial Politics

The use of migrant labor in industrial agriculture is also linked to imperial politics. The United States and other developed countries often rely on cheap labor from poor and marginalized countries in the Global South. This reliance on migrant labor helps to maintain the global capitalist system and perpetuates inequality between countries and peoples.

The United States government has a long history of intervening in the affairs of other countries in order to secure access to cheap labor and resources. This intervention has often taken the form of military occupations, economic sanctions, and political coups. For example, the United States has intervened in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean to promote policies that encourage migration and keep wages low.

The exploitation of migrant labor in industrial agriculture is a serious problem that has a negative impact on the working class both in the United States and abroad. It drives down wages, undermines workers' rights, and creates a pool of cheap labor that can be used to divide and conquer the working class. It is also linked to imperial politics and the global capitalist system.

In order to address this problem, we need to strengthen labor laws and enforcement, support labor unions, and promote policies that reduce inequality between countries and peoples. We also need to challenge the global capitalist system that relies on the exploitation of workers for its profits.

Call to Action

Here are some things you can do to help address the problem of migrant labor exploitation:

* Support organizations that are fighting for the rights of migrant workers. * Educate yourself about the issue and talk to others about it. * Boycott companies that use migrant labor without providing fair wages and working conditions. * Support policies that promote fair trade and reduce inequality between countries and peoples.

Sweet Tyranny: Migrant Labor, Industrial Agriculture, and Imperial Politics (Working Class in American History)

by Kathleen Mapes

5 out of 5