Mexico

This is a map of Mexico and the surrounding area. It offers the names of the cities, a key indicating the altitudes, and the surrounding bodies of water. This map came from http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/lgcolor/mxcolor.htm.

 

 

Figure 2: This is an image of the shantytown in Ciudad Perdida 'lost city'. It comes from a book written by Peter Ward titled "Mexico City".

Figure 3: This is an image of the sweatshirt in question. It comes from the website of the Dubois Book Store that sells all varieties of college gear. http://www.collegegear.com/sf/stores/1189/c-11893.shtml

Introduction

    At the Dubois Bookstore on the main campus of Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, I bought a gray hooded sweet shirt with the university's insignia on the front. When I looked at the label, I was surprised to find that it was made in Mexico . I tried to picture the life of the person who made this sweatshirt. Was it a woman? If so, what was her life like? What mattered to her the most? Did her wages allow her to meet her basic needs? I surely hoped so considering the price I paid for the sweatshirt. Mexico is one of the three countries that are part of the North American Free Trade Agreement. This has changed the nature of the apparel industry between the US and Mexico with many US companies starting up plants in Mexico . Among the many is Russell Athletics, the company that made the sweatshirt. The label on the sweatshirt also noted that it was an Officially Licensed Collegiate product. I seek to explore the definition of an Officially Licensed Collegiate product, how, if at all, it has changed the policies of the companies that make apparel sold to students, and if any of those policies have been translated to improve the conditions of the companies' workers. I hope that taking a glimpse into the life of a ‘typical' Mexican factory worker who piece by piece made my sweatshirt whole will make us conscious consumers who will be motivated to use our power as such to be agents of change wherever it is needed.

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Context of Mexico

After 300 years of domination from Spain , Mexico gained its independence on September 16, 1810 (Long 146). The state of Mexico borders the United States of America on the north and Belize and Guatemala on the south. It lies within the North American region and has the reputation of being a friendly country to the US with whom there are extensive economic links. As the map shows, Mexico enjoys extensive beaches as it borders the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea . It is approximately three times the size of Texas and has a population of about 105 million. About sixty percent of the people of Mexico identify themselves as mestizo (World Fact Book). The predominant language spoken in Mexico is Spanish.

  The climate of the country varies from tropical to desert with the terrain ranging from high, rugged mountains, deserts, to low coastal plains. About 13% of the land is arable. In the recent past, there has been a movement of people from the rural areas, where people engaged in farming, to more urban centers. This has created new environmental concerns such as the pollution of water sources, which the government considers a national security issue. Mexico 's economy though has benefited from the increase in trade between it and the US . In 2003, Mexico exported about 87.6% of goods it had produced to the U.S. and it included manufactured goods such as sweatshirts (World Fact Book 2005).

  The recent increase in trade between the US and Mexico is a result of an event that happened on June 11, 1990 when US President George Bush and Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari agreed to pursue the negotiation of a free trade agreement. Canada has also increased its trading with Mexico but at a much slower pace than the US . While NAFTA has resulted in freer trade, it is not completely free trade and some trade barriers still exist. However, this trade still makes up a substantial portion of Mexico 's GDP – about 13%. This freer trade has increased the maquiladora phenomenon that was established in 1965 under the Mexico 's Border Industrialization Program (Hufbauer & Schott 1992).

  Maquiladoras are in-bond production facilities engaged in processing or secondary assembly of imported good for reexport. The term, ‘maquiladora' comes from the Spanish word maquilar , which means to retain a portion of the flour in payment for milling wheat. Thus, the term is an analogy to the situation where imported goods enter Mexico duty-free because the importer pays a bond to guarantee that the final good will be exported yet again. There are formally three types of maquiladoras: captured is where majority are foreign owned, sheltered is where they are Mexican-owned but managed by a foreign company and lastly the subcontracting is where they are Mexican-owned, may or may not be foreign-managed and may have contracts with several foreign firms. Maquiladoras may be established in any industry except those reserved for the state. Since these production facilities came into existence, US presence has increased with more than half of the 100 largest US companies operating in Mexico . The maquiladoras are most likely small although numerous and are concentrated in the apparel and furniture industries (Hufbauer & Schott 1992).

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Brand: Russell Athletics

On their website, the history of Russell Athletics is narrated through a series of slides and a voice telling us, “In 1902, 10 sewing machines operated by a small company in Alabama began construction on a thread that would eventually tie together some of the greatest moments in sports history. Born in the fields of play and tested at the highest level of competition Russell Athletics is that common thread woven throughout the fabric of American sports… Russell Athletic is widely recognized as a leading innovator in athletic apparel…” Russell Athletic proudly proclaims that it makes uniforms for over 500 division 1 teams all over the US . Russell Athletics is part of Russell Corporation that carries under it other brands like Russell Artwear, Cross Creek, Jerzees, Spalding, Bike, Brooks, Mossy Oak Apparel, and Moving Comfort fit for women. It is doing very well with about $1.2 billion in annual sales. Since its start with Benjamin Russell in Alabama, it has since then moved all over the world to places like Asia, Australia, Europe, Mexico, Japan and various other Latin/South American countries(Russell Corp 2004).

  I was lucky enough to find an informant from Russell Athletics named Ms. Drew (fake name) who has had 20 years of experience in the apparel industry. From her, I was able to gather that the workers who work in the Mexican sewing plants consist of a good balance of men and women, which is significantly different from the US . She also let me know that the minimum age for employment was 15 years of age and the average age was about 26 years of age. When I asked who checked that these policies were reinforced, she said Russell Athletics does internal monitoring, has third-party auditors, is involved with WRAP (an independent, non-profit corporation dedicated to the certification of lawful, humane and ethical manufacturing worldwide), and is a member of the Fair Labor Organization. While there are inspections that result in audits, it was not possible for me to find any of them. Yet, because my sweatshirt is an Officially Licensed Collegiate product, the facilities in which it is made are under the audits of WRAP and FLA. When I asked about what happens when contactors violate the codes of conduct, the response I got was that if it is a minor violation then Russell works with them to correct it because they would like the people to maintain their jobs and thus their source of income. However, if the violations are not fixed or they are extremely gross, then they will pull production and I was told that it has been done before (interview).

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People

 As the label on the sweatshirt indicated, the sweatshirt was made in Mexico . However, my investigation showed that the sweatshirt traveled across the border a few times before landing in Oxford . My sweatshirt was conceived in Alexander City, Alabama - the home of Russell Athletic. Here, the complex is larger than a major college campus and has over 4,000 employees. It has over 400 knitting machines that produce rolls of fabric that each amount to about 600 yards per roll. It also has a dying facility that was very precise about the exact shade of grey my sweatshirt was going to be. It then moved to another level of production where individual garment pieces are cut. These cut pieces are then sent to Mexico and other countries where the employees there sew together the garment (Johnson 2003).

  The pieces then reach the plant in an industrial area outside Mexico City . In order to take the view of the maquiladora outside of just an abstract idea, let us follow Maria, a fictitious person who might represent an average employee, through a day of work. I hope that this account will attach a human face to the less personal label, “Made in Mexico ”.

  My name is Maria and I am twenty-six years old. I have two children. My oldest child is my 11-year-old daughter who has a younger brother of 6 years of age. I was once married to a man I believed to be the most handsome of all the men in our town. We decided to move to Mexico City with the hope of making a better life for ourselves. We heard there were many jobs that paid well in the city. I was sad to leave my family but I was thinking about my children's future. I also thought that if we were able to find a place then we could bring in my younger sister so she can make her future as well. Back then, my son was only two years old. I knew we would have to work hard but I thought I would devote most of my time to my child. Quickly, we became aware that it was very hard to survive (Bacon 2000).

  My husband worked all the time and came home exhausted every day. He told me that the maquiladoras do not pay the way they used to a few years ago but there was word that another company that paid more money in a nearby town so he left (Hufbauer & Schott 1992). Some people in his plant had tried to start a union but there were rumors that anyone who spoke of the union would lose their job. Instead of fighting it, it seemed easier to find another job. I hear that the average worker in the maquiladoras can only do three years at one time (Cravey 1998). I hear the managers complain a lot about how people do not stay in the same job for a long time but I do not know what they expect. People do not organize to negotiate benefits or raises for fear that they will lose their jobs since there are so many other people who want their position. I know the law says people can form unions but in real life, that is not a good idea (Hufbauer & Schott 1992). Besides, the job is so damaging to one's body that it cannot continue without periodical breaks in employment (Gonzalez 1994). I know a man from our community who works with lead all day and he tells me that they do not give him any protective clothing. It is very dangerous but none of us has much of a choice (Bacon 2000).

  With my husband gone, I had to provide for myself. I used to work at a tortilla shop where I earned about 150 pesos a week but it was not enough to feed anyone. Therefore, I took up a job at a maquiladora that I later learned made clothing for Russell Athletics. There, I earned about 500 pesos ($50) a week. While this is more than I was making, it is still not enough. About 200 pesos goes towards transport to and from work every week. I hear that women who do the same work in the US make about $310 a week. I have sometimes thought about going but it is too risky and I do not want to leave my family (Moore 2000). I do not even know how I would survive if it was not for Ester at the corner shop. She allows me to buy food there on credit but I always try to pay off as much as I can when I get it. Which reminds me that I need to pass by there to get some milk on my way home (Fernandez-Kelly 1983).

  I work about 90 hours a week. They tell you they require 60 hours per week but I need to work more so I can be able to feed my children. Even the money I make is not enough and many nights I have gone to bed hungry and very tired. This job is taking a toll on my body. I can already feel my wrists aching terribly. I hope I do not get carpel tunnel from this but I do not have a choice for another job. Soon I know I will have to take a break from this work because my body is weary. I just hope that my children's father will be able to come back and find a stable job (Gonzalez1994).

  I cannot wait for this weekend; I finally get a nice break. This will be the celebration of our independence day. I love this holiday. My heart leaps with joy when I am among all the colors, sounds and smells of the people who come to celebrate in the streets. I will participate in this celebration regardless of how tired I feel. I know that my children are so looking forward to it. To celebrate I will cook them something special, like green enchiladas and masa . After the parade on the way home, we can pass by the corner and get some pozole (Long 146-8, 2005). I cannot wait, but for now, I must go to bed so that I can keep up with work. Lately the boss has started to yell at me because I cannot work as fast as I used to. I still want such big dreams for my children; but reality gets more and more painful everyday.

  Before Maria goes to bed, she reaches over her daughter to the right of the bed and finds what she is looking for, her rosary. She then says prayers for her friends and family. Swiftly, she falls into a deep sleep dreaming about music, dancing, brilliant colors, and masks (Gonzalez 1994).

  Free Trade Agreements have allowed employers to scan the global landscape looking for workers at a wage level and working conditions that employers find suitable for maximizing their profit. Yet as we see, these wages and working conditions are not enough to provide the basic needs of their families nor are they adequate to assure the health of its workers (Collins 2003). In the maquiladoras, women are the preferred workers. Since the expansion of maquila -type industries, the rate of female participation in the economy of Mexico City is nearly double the national average (Ward 1990). In the past, women's role was restricted to the home, but with the changing times, women began to venture outside the home. This created a huge labor source that was ready for exploitation for all those seeking to minimize cost and maximize profit. Besides being in inexhaustible supply, women are assumed to have greater manual dexterity, docility and other sexist characteristics that made them appealing to these investors (Nauman, Hutchison 1997). Free Trade Agreements have increased the presence of women in the labor force and thus decreased the disparity between wage earnings between the genders. However, the occupational allocation to lower-level jobs for women, as well as discrimination still exists (Anderson, Dimon 1995).

  For those women paid as if they are “supplementary wage-earners”, while in reality they may be the only source of income for a given household, survival is difficult (Nauman, Hutchison 1997). They often call upon each other to provide services such as childcare, which is not provided to them by other agencies (Fernandez-Kelly 1983). Other times, they become involved in an informal credit system, or increase the household size with family members who can contribute to the income (Ward 1990).

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Process

My first step was to visit the website of Russell Athletics to find out first the information that was readily offered hoping that it would guide me along in my search for more specific information. While it gave me information such as its history and where is has plants, the information about its offshore plants was very vague. Secondly, I attempted to contact the company by calling them. I tried several times and on one occasion got transferred to five different people who ‘could not' answer my questions and finally I was directed to leave a voicemail which has not resulted in any returned call up to date.

  Frustrated that my efforts were not resulting in any new information, I decided to attempt to contact the higher-ups through the contact information offered on the website. I then e-mailed what became my informant, Ms. Drew. I found this to be the best way. Not only was it easier to store that as a record, but I was able to ask questions as they came along. Even though the person was very helpful, I was aware that since they are answerable to higher powers that have interests to protect, they might be limited in how they phrase their responses or the questions to which they can respond.

  Additionally, I used several websites that gave me a good idea as to the journey my sweatshirt with the Connect2One being very helpful. But perhaps the best resources came from our very own library. They provided a backdrop from which I could process all the information that came by me. I was disappointed by the difficulty of finding the information I sought as well as the lack of availability of crucial information such as the results of the audits. I believe that as consumers, we are entitled to information about the production of these products and the manner in which they are produced. I believe knowledge is power and thus only through such information can consumers make informed decisions that would give them power since they can control the demand of the product and hopefully their exercising of this power will put pressure upon companies to have policies that are friendly to their workers, community, environment etc.

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Conclusion

  The North American Free Trade Agreement has had both positive and negative effects on Mexico . On an economic level, it has provided jobs for many people, especially women who were entering the labor market. It has increased national revenues and as well as the confidence of many foreign investors who wish to bring in capital to Mexico (Hufbauer & Schott 1992). The movement of people into the urban areas has presented new challenges to the social, economic and political structure. Issues such as the environment, healthcare, minimum wage, worker's rights among others should be considered if not already. The government views the maquiladoras as the model of Mexico 's future that consists of rapid-growth, high-tech industries of international quality that provide jobs, bring in foreign capital and are free of labor conflict (Nauman, Hutchison 1997). In our study of globalization, our primary focus has been economics but perhaps we should also examine the effects of globalization on other aspects of life that are valuable as well (Held & McGrew 2003). While there may be economic benefits, the price of them should not be so high as to deny citizens access to a life of good quality. The Mexican government must work hard to promote and enforce the laws that already exist that protect its citizens against exploitation. Still, it is encouraging to know that despite the hardships that people face, they are able to help one another. Thus proving that having a strong social support is invaluable.

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Internet References Cited

• Bacon, David. 2000. Metro Detroit Greens ( Wayne , Oakland & Macomb Counties ). http://detagreens.tripod.com/maquiladora.htm

  This site belongs to the Metro Detroit Greens who are an organization that seeks to follow the ten key values of the International Green movement. These values are ecological wisdom, grassroots democracy, social justice, nonviolence, community based economics, decentralization, respect for diversity, feminism, personal & global responsibility and future focus.

• CIA World Fact Book. 2005. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mx.html

  This website is a link from the website of the Central Intelligence Agency and its purpose is to give a “snap shot” of the world using current and frequently updated information.

  Johnson, Michelle. 2003. Connect2One Visits The Game, Auburn University & Russell Athletic. http://www.connect2one.com/our_company/news_archives/news_stories/200306_001.cfm

• Connect2One is an alliance of independent college bookstores with a mission to connect bookstores with the resources they need. Connect2One is a division of the Nebraska Book Company.

• Moore, Leslie. 2000. South of the Border, an Eager Work Force Waits for Jobs, Virginia Business Online. http://www.virginiabusiness.com/magazine/yr2000/aug00/border.html

  The website is an online version of the Virginia Business Magazine whose purpose to examine and discuss the economic development of the state of Virginia and well as more specific issues affecting counties or towns.

   

  Russell Corp. 2004. http://www.russellathletic.com/site/index.html ).

  The official website of Russell Athletics offers more information about the company as well as to advertise the products that it sells.

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Peer-Reviewed References Cited

• I

  Anderson, Joan B. and Denise Dimon

    1995 The Impact of Opening Markets on Mexico Male/Female Wage and Occupational Differentials. Social Science Journal 32(4): 309-327.

   

  Collins, Jane L.

    2003 Threads: Gender, Labor, and Power in the Global Apparel Industry. University of Chicago , Chicago.

   

  Cravey, Altha J.

    1998 Women and Work in Mexico 's Maquiladoras. Rowman & Littlefield , New York .

   

  Fernandez-Kelly, Maria Patricia.

    1983 For We Are Sold, I and My People: Women and Industry in Mexico 's Frontier. State University of New York , Albany .

   

  Gonzalez de la Rocha, Mercedes

    1994 Resources of Poverty: Women and Survival in a Mexican City . Blackwell,   Cambridge .

   

  Held, David and Anthony McGrew

    2003 Globalization/Anti-Globalization. Polity, Cambridge .

   

  Long-Solis, Janet and Luis Alberto Vargas

    2005 Food Culture in Mexico . Greenwood Press, Connecticut .

   

  Nauman, Ann K. and Mireille Hutchison

    1997 The Integration of Women into the Mexico Labor Force Since NAFTA. American Behavioral Scientist 40(7): 950-956.

   

  Ward, Peter

    1990 Mexico City : The Production and Reproduction of an urban environment. G.K. Hall & Co, Boston .

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