Ollin
Calli
There
are about 600 factories in Tijuana. Workers
are frequently exploited, poorly paid, and even physically and sexually abused.
Conditions in the maquiladora factories are often perilous and can endanger the
lives of employees.
Many of the workers are
indigenous women and immigrants from the less developed rural areas of Mexico.
They are not accustomed to factory work and are unaware of their rights. They
have little experience in organizing and fighting for justice and dignity.
In
2010 there were more than 6,000 labor conflicts in Tijuana.
Ollin
Calli was formed in 2009 to advise, encourage and represent workers in the
maquiladora factories as well as other workers in Tijuana industry.
In
September 2010 700 maquiladora employees walked out of the Sharp electronics
factory in Rosarito. The company would not recognize the workers’ committee.
The company called in the police to confront the workers.
The
workers’ committee contacted Ollin Calli, who gave them political and legal
advice. The workers won a 4% pay raise,
transportation to and from the factory and punishment of those in the
management who had sexually abused female workers.
What does Ollin Calli do?
§ Supports the struggles of local
communities for a pollution free and sustainable environment.
§ Promotes fair trade as opposed to free
trade.
§ Provides a space for learning and
support so that workers themselves can learn to defend their human and labor
rights.
§ Focuses on empowerment leading toward
achieving decent working conditions, occupational health and a better quality
of life.
§ Provides legal advice to workers in
Tijuana and surrounding districts.
§ Makes and sells beautiful handicrafts
to help support their mission.
Ollin
Calli mobilizes the people and organizes workshops. In these workshops they
address human and labor rights, occupational health and sexual harassment. They
raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health.
Ollin
Calli conducts monthly maquiladora tours where we take groups concerned people
in the U.S. across the border to spend a day getting to know the members of
Ollin Calli and learning about the labor struggles first hand.
They
have now given legal advice to almost 350 individual workers.
Although
Ollin Calli is a local organization, they have global impact. Ollin Calli works
with factories that supply a wide range of products to the United States and
Canada – car parts, televisions, electronic goods, clothing and even children’s
toys. These goods are frequently manufactured in a system which exploits and
mistreats Mexican workers.
We are turning to you to
ask for your generous help so that Ollin Calli can continue and grow. The challenges
are huge. Their dedication is strong. They need your financial support. Their
office rent is $250 a month. Water and electricity and phone bills are extra.
Their total monthly expenses are $1,500.
We
call on your generosity so that Ollin Calli can continue supplying legal
advice, organizing workshops and most crucially publicizing their presence
among the working people of Tijuana.
The
San Diego Maquiladora Workers Solidarity Network works to support Ollin Calli
from the U.S. side of the border. We gratefully accept donations. The SDMWSN is
a 501(C)(3) organization. Donations qualify as charitable contributions for tax
purposes. All your donations are forwarded to Ollin Calli.
Donations
in the US are fully tax deductible.
Learn
more about Ollin Calli in their website (in Spanish): Ollin Calli http://ollincallicm.blogspot.com/
Read
Ollin Calli appeal letter here in: Ollin
Calli letter (English) and Carta
de Ollin Calli (Spanish)
Ollin Calli
San
Diego Maquiladora Workers Solidarity Network
