Leah Feutz Maquilapolis Response

Leah Feutz Maquilapolis Documentary Response due 2/10/12

            In the beginning of the documentary Maquilapolis, a woman explains that there is a river that runs right near her home where she used to bathe as a child. During that time, it was crystalline and fresh, and she remembers it fondly as a big part of her memories of her youth. Today, however, it is completely contaminated and murky because of pollution from the nearby factory. Her home sits among many others below a large hill, on top of which the factory rests. The chemicals and waste from the “industrial city” up on the hill flow down into the neighborhoods of the people below it, and have been causing people to get rashes and sores and to develop various illnesses because of the spreading toxins. This is just one way in which these factories are causing a lot of harm to the lives and communities of the people.

            The film explains how the women who were working in the factories began to learn about labor laws and their rights as workers, and formed a group called Group Factor X and became Promotoras. When they wanted to file suits against the industries for different infringements on their rights as employees, the government, who was supposed to support them and give them access to legal representation, was nowhere to be found. So instead, they filed motions against the companies with the help of a member of the community, and one of the women described her subsequent victory against Sanyo. She also said that the labor arbitration board was “screwing us”, and that the Unions within the factories were either existent in name only, or people didn’t even know they were there. Also, many of the factories would fire anyone who tried to join or start a union, and the unions overwhelmingly protected the interest of the factories and owners over the employees.

            Many of these workers are making something around $68 a week, which is not enough to pay for even the basics. One woman stated that a gallon of milk cost about two hours of hard labor. And on top of this, people working at places like Panasonic were suffering from lead contamination, despite never having been informed of the risks of working in the factory. Workers would develop rashes and could become at risk for leukemia, and were unable to even get close to their children after returning home from work and could not wash their clothing in the same load as their family’s. There is also an abandoned factory nearby with 6,000 tons of lead slag contaminating the environment. The wind and rain bring lead into their streets, workplaces, backyards and homes.

            The film emphasized that these workers were a commodity, or “objects of labor”. They have no rights, and are easily replaceable because of globalization, seeing that these companies will produce their products wherever the cheapest labor can be found. One woman stated that “the color of your smock tells your rank in the factory”, and so, in every part of their lives, there is an assertion of inferiority and lower status, which just helps to emphasize feelings of powerlessness. The women also explained how they show up, energized and ready to work, especially because many of them are single mothers who are trying to support their children. But all the factories see are “agile hands…cheap and docile”, and the women “arrive completely ignorant”, and therefore suffer exploitation at the hands of these companies.

            The women stated that “the authorities wont uphold the law” and that they feel “deceived by the government”. Those who are supposed to represent them do not stand up for their rights, and allow the companies to come in and exploit the people. This is one way in which globalization affects people adversely, and I find it interesting how greed plays into this scenario. I look forward to discussing this film in class and talking more about how these injustices play out not only in the context of this particular film, but in other places as well, and then, subsequently, what people can do to try to make sure this doesn’t continue to happen as it has been.