La
Raza fights for Bracero savings
By
Sonya Smith
On-line Forty-Niner
Mexican
workers from the 1940s, called Braceros,
are still attempting to regain the 10 percent
of their wages withheld for savings.
La Raza Student Association is helping them
to do this. La Raza is attempting to raise
$3,000 for three active members to take
a trip to Morelos, Mexico, from Nov. 12
to 17, said Margarita Valenzuela, project
coordinator.
The statement of purpose for the project
said the members “will advise ex-Bracero
workers and meet with Mexican legislators
and political leaders as part of a campaign
to seek their collaboration with our project.”
Valenzuela said the Bracero workers were
approximately 5 million Mexican workers
used by the United States from 1942 to 1950
in an agreement with Mexico because American
workers were enlisted to fight in World
War II.
The Braceros had 10 percent taken from their
wages for a savings fund, yet many have
not received this, said Valenzuela. She
added that both the United States and Mexico
do not know where the money went and the
paperwork has been lost.
“We’re just trying to find some type of
justice,” Valenzuela said of their efforts.
In a separate project, La Raza along with
other organizations, lobbied to get the
ex-Braceros bill, AB 2913, passed and signed
into law by Gov. Davis on Oct. 1, said Valenzuela.
The bill “extends the statute of limitations
to 2005 for former Bracero workers to reclaim
their wages.”
La Raza and other organizations were able
to get this bill passed by explaining the
importance of the issue and by bringing
some of the ex-Bracero workers to help explain
the situation further, said Valenzuela.
Morelos is a state in Mexico that does not
have any programs currently for aiding the
ex-Bracero workers. An exact schedule of
the trip is not available yet, however,
Valenzuela said they will be working with
the people of Morelos to help identify more
ex-Bracero workers and/or their survivors
and to help them claim their lost wages.
“Personally I feel compelled to be involved
with this because this is something my country
did to them,” said Efren Valdovinos, La
Raza member. “If we do not find some type
of compensation, then what says it will
not happen again?
“[The trip is] another way for us to be
out there and help them in some way,” Valdovinos
furthered this by explaining “a lot of communities
do not have a voice to speak against something
that is wrong.”
With a goal of fund raising $3,000 to pay
for the trip, La Raza has raised $129 so
far through a Shakey’s Night held on Sunday,
said Valenzuela. She said the group will
be fundraising actively and asking for donations.
If interested in donating for the trip,
contact the La Raza office at (562) 985-5223.
|
