Potential Leverage of Latino Immigrants

There were immigration rallies held all around the country and/or some worker walk-outs. I think this latter phenomenon is especially interesting. Tyson foods announced it would have to reduce production on Monday because it relied so heavily on immigrant labor. Tyson also said specifically it would not penalize workers who did not come yesterday. In short, Latino immigrant workers have a considerable amount of leverage, something that is occasionally talked about but not often seen in practice.

Thanks to my student Jose Posada, who last year loaned me A Day Without a Mexican, a fake documentary about a mysterious cloud that envelopes California and makes all Mexicans disappear. The state then falls apart. It’s a comedy—and a very corny one at that—but it is thought provoking.