Stephen Colbert in Congress (3/9): Lamar Smith, John Conyers, Dan Lungren (2010)

September 24, 2010 http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.... Watch the full program: http://thefilmarchived.blogspot.com/2010/10/immigrant-farm-workers-stephen-co...

In the early history of American agriculture, farm workers experienced many failed attempts to organize agricultural laborers. In 1903, Japanese and Mexican farm workers attempted to come together to fight for better wages and better working conditions. This attempt to organize agricultural laborers was ignored and disbanded when organizations, such as the American Federation of Labor, neglected to support their efforts, many of which withheld assistance on the basis of race.

In 1913, the Industrial Workers of the World organized a rally at a large ranch in the rural area of Northern California which involved two thousand farm workers. This resulted in an attack against the participants of the rally by national guardsmen. As a result of the violence the two lead organizers for the Industrial Workers of the World were arrested, convicted of murder, and were sentenced to life imprisonment. It is believed that the two people arrested were wrongly convicted of the murder charges.

In the later teens and 1920's in the United States, further attempts to organize farm laborers were undertaken by spontaneous local efforts, and some which were led by communist unions. These attempts also resulted in failure because during that time employers were not required by law to involve themselves with negotiations with their workers. During this time period, Employers could also legally fire their employees if they chose to join a union.

In 1936, the National Labor Relations Act was put into effect. This legislation provided most American workers the right to join unions and bargain collectively. Agricultural workers were exempt from the protection of this law. Some believe that this labor category was excluded as a result of a political tactic to gain the support of Southern politicians in the passing of this law.

In 1941, the United States Government and the Mexican Government enacted the Bracero Program. Initially, this joint project between the United States and Mexico was established during the Second World War in order to address labor shortages by allowing "guest workers" from Mexico to work in the American agricultural industry until the end of the crop harvest. Thousands of Mexican Nationals were brought north to work in the fields in the United States and growers used this opportunity to undercut domestic wages, and the Braceros were also utilized in breaking strikes from resident farm workers. This program was extended until 1964.

In May 1966, California farm worker activist Eugene Nelson traveled to Texas to rally support for the Schenley Farms boycott. While in Houston, AFL-CIO state representatives suggested that he visit Rio Grande City on the Texas-Mexico border in the lower Rio Grande Valley. Seeing the possibilities for organizing workers in the impoverished region, he quickly set about recruiting volunteers for the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC) as both strikers and assistants. Other UFWOC activists joined Nelson in Rio Grande City, including Gilbert Padilla, Antonio Orendain, and Bill Chandler.

On June 1, Nelson led workers to strike demanding $1.25 as a minimum hourly wage, protesting La Casita Farms and others packing sheds. The activists also protested the hiring of "scab" labor, mostly those with green card visas from Mexico, who were allowed to cross the border as day workers. In the dispute, reports and allegations of vandalism to equipment, produce, and public property caused Starr County officials, along with the support of the growers, to call for additional law enforcement, which arrived in the form of the Texas Rangers. Both county officials and rangers arrested protestors for secondary picketing, standing within 50 feet of one another, a practice illegal at the time. Allegations of brutality and questions of jurisdictional limits created national headlines in what came to be known as "La Huelga."

On July 4, members of UFWOC, strikers, and members of the clergy set out on a march to Austin to demand the $1.25 minimum wage and other improvements for farm workers. Press coverage intensified as the marchers made their way north in the summer heat. Politicians, members of the AFL-CIO, and the Texas Council of Churches accompanied the protestors. Gov. John Connally, who had refused to meet them in Austin, traveled to New Braunfels with then House Speaker Ben Barnes, and Attorney General Waggoner Carr to intercept the march and inform strikers that their efforts would have no effect.

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[hemidox]

LOL OMG are you SERIOUS??? Did anyone see what that guy said with the long speech directed at Stephen Colbert starting from 3:10?

He basically thanked Stephen for all the press and attention he's brought, and then told him to get the f* out. How can he be so stupid as to make himself look like an ass in front of national television, and against Stephen Colbert of all people...

[hemidox]

Not only is he embarrassing himself for being so rude to Stephen, but he's also embarrassing the Chairwoman because he's discrediting all her efforts for spending time with Stephen and bringing him onto the hearing. Go Chairwoman!! 

[AndrewChan84]

@hemidox They are afraid of him bringing down the ass-whooping unto their stupid asses, so they try to get rid of him per-emptively because he speaks.

[bluchismoon]

I agree. The people who come here legally to work or study or whatever have to wait for a long time and do so much to be able to get a visa. Meanwhile, many people who just don't have the money try every year to cross the border(many dying in the process)or those who have just become fed up with the wait pay some coyote to get them across.

[xESOTERlC]

You can tell Colbert is offended(justifiably). Maybe economy would be better off if useless old people would step down and retire, and if congress as a whole didn't get paid ridiculous sums for squat, including lifetime health coverage/benefits, and if they put lobbying money to practical as opposed to personal use.

[VenomShock]

Lamar Smith is the cock-nut that introduced SOPA.

FUCKER!

[LawrenceofIsrael]

labour is a commodity??? F**k you representative, the only illegal immigrant are you.

[azziplover1]

I think that michigan rep is drunk and rude. I would hate to work in the congress if it's just a glorification of high school!

[NickAD30]

Lamar Smith just quoted Colbert on his show to try to point out that he said something that would contradict his implied position in this hearing. Wait a second, the Colbert Report is the most obvious satire I've ever seen. I wonder if he so desperately and purposely misinterprets Colbert because he has little to no ability to defend himself without revealing his actual motives. Either that, or he's a complete idiot.

[probrojeffro]

I've worked at local colleges and universities for years, and these guys are pros., superior to any and all faculty in saying more than would ever be needed and said in such a long-winded, indulgent manor that few are able to stay with long enough to ever fully comprehend. BS factor is very high here. We need people who can get to the point much more quickly. Maybe that's legislation that needs to be enacted. Ridiculous.