Los Mineros was the name given to miners who resided in Clifton-Morenci between 1903-1950 and who managed to unionize and obtain equal pay after years of fighting with both the mining company and themselves. Their battle stretched for five decades and was affected by numerous events ranging from the Mexican Revolution to World War 2 each affecting them in a unique way and pushing them forward. The Mexican Revolution in 1910 was one of the first major events that influenced Los Mineros struggle mostly because it inspired some as the revolution was against corruption of the government and the exploitation of Mexico and its people but others. One major example being Cannola where Mexican miners were paid half of what white miners where paid
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This was due to the fact that the depression caused thousand to lose their job and many white workers chose to blame Mexicans who they believed were stealing jobs from them this hate would soon culminate into mass deportations of Mexicans both legal and illegal out of America. It also made such hateful acts more common as Mexicans would soon used as scapegoats for the economical situations, that and for those who managed to stay they now faced a much harsher and hateful populace. This continued for a while until the outbreak of WW2 where many Mexicans varying in generation joined the war effort and despite discrimination managed to become one of the most decorated minorities in the war. In fact some can argue WW2 had the largest impact on Los Mineros battle as when the war ended many soldiers returned to the states with leadership experience and pride and when they faced the hate and discrimination that remained they strived to change it to make it better. In fact after WW2 some miners began to meet in private so they could Unionize without risk and soon they did forming their own Union and despite the mining company’s attempts to ignore them they soon gained power after calling for a strike where all Mexican miners joined. Then in 1947 the mining company sat down with the union and granted all Mexican miners equal
This was due to the fact that the depression caused thousand to lose their job and many white workers chose to blame Mexicans who they believed were stealing jobs from them this hate would soon culminate into mass deportations of Mexicans both legal and illegal out of America. It also made such hateful acts more common as Mexicans would soon used as scapegoats for the economical situations, that and for those who managed to stay they now faced a much harsher and hateful populace. This continued for a while until the outbreak of WW2 where many Mexicans varying in generation joined the war effort and despite discrimination managed to become one of the most decorated minorities in the war. In fact some can argue WW2 had the largest impact on Los Mineros battle as when the war ended many soldiers returned to the states with leadership experience and pride and when they faced the hate and discrimination that remained they strived to change it to make it better. In fact after WW2 some miners began to meet in private so they could Unionize without risk and soon they did forming their own Union and despite the mining company’s attempts to ignore them they soon gained power after calling for a strike where all Mexican miners joined. Then in 1947 the mining company sat down with the union and granted all Mexican miners equal