can speak," says Pedro, looking through a book with his youngest daughter. "That’s why I want them to go to school." When Pedro must return to America one last time alone, the family bids a tearful farewell. He is determined to secure the papers he needs. "Nothing is guaranteed in life. What I want to give them is like an inheritance. Because I have nothing else to give them other than those papers, so they can cross and seek their future." Document 8. Document 9. Although workers complained about the pain and exhaustion associated with work in processing plants, they often assumed that this was the price of having a job. Many workers expressed concerns about losing their jobs if they report injuries or complain about working conditions, and undocumented workers faced an additional layer of fear. As a result, workers that are injured on the production line often continue to work: of us are working without documents and they know. If we complain [the supervisors] take us to the “Many office, that is why we do not complain.” (Worker in Minnesota) have to keep working in silence and not say anything because we need the job.” (Worker in Iowa) “…we coworker badly harmed her wrist. Her knife was dull, her hand got inflamed. She didn’t say anything “My because she wanted to keep her job.” (Poultry worker in Iowa) Even though undocumented workers are protected by and civil rights laws, in practice they are extremely vulnerable. In meatpacking plants, the fear of retaliation by supervisors keeps workers silent even when they are injured or are faced with unpleasant working conditions. Undocumented workers described suffering from a disparity in benefits and assigned more onerous tasks within meatpacking plants. Again, immigration status and fear of repercussions by supervisors plays an important role in facilitating unequal and exploitative treatment of workers: us (Latino undocumented) different and privilege others because we cannot freely denounce “They them.” (Worker in Minnesota)
can speak," says Pedro, looking through a book with his youngest daughter. "That’s why I want them to go to school." When Pedro must return to America one last time alone, the family bids a tearful farewell. He is determined to secure the papers he needs. "Nothing is guaranteed in life. What I want to give them is like an inheritance. Because I have nothing else to give them other than those papers, so they can cross and seek their future." Document 8. Document 9. Although workers complained about the pain and exhaustion associated with work in processing plants, they often assumed that this was the price of having a job. Many workers expressed concerns about losing their jobs if they report injuries or complain about working conditions, and undocumented workers faced an additional layer of fear. As a result, workers that are injured on the production line often continue to work: “Many of us are working without documents and they know. If we complain [the supervisors] take us to the office, that is why we do not complain.” (Worker in Minnesota) “…we have to keep working in silence and not say anything because we need the job.” (Worker in Iowa) “My coworker badly harmed her wrist. Her knife was dull, her hand got inflamed. She didn’t say anything because she wanted to keep her job.” (Poultry worker in Iowa) Even though undocumented workers are protected by and civil rights laws, in practice they are extremely vulnerable. In meatpacking plants, the fear of retaliation by supervisors keeps workers silent even when they are injured or are faced with unpleasant working conditions. Undocumented workers described suffering from a disparity in benefits and assigned more onerous tasks within meatpacking plants. Again, immigration status and fear of repercussions by supervisors plays an important role in facilitating unequal and exploitative treatment of workers: “They us (Latino undocumented) different and privilege others because we cannot freely denounce them.” (Worker in Minnesota)
Secondary_Social%20Studies_Historical%20Investigations_4of9_v1.docx