Amst 212g the Eighties

AMST 212G The Eighties

Spring 2016

Instructor: Philip Chassler

Student: Askar Mambetkerimov

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        On 30th June, 1983, miners copper mines in Arizona, mostly Mexicans, went on strike against the Phelps-Dodge Corporation, after this corporation has cut salaries, reduced benefits, and weakened the safety measures. During the Eighties, Latino-American part of the U.S. was fighting for better working conditions, the ability to have their representatives in local government, and the rights of tenants. During the presidency of Reagan not only the problem of bad attitude to Latin groups, but also the problem with foreign policy only worsened the reputation not only of President Reagan, but also the reputation of the United States. These strikes continued for three years of struggle, and become causes of collapse of 13 unions. State police, armed with tear gas and helicopters attacked the protesters, but these miners were fighting against for three years, and only united efforts of the government and corporation stopped strikes of miners. Jonathan D. Rosenblum in his book “Copper Crucible” (Second Edition), describes unsuccessful strikes of miners in 1983 on Phelps-Dodge Corporation, and compares and discusses consequences and advantages of this strike.

 There are a lot of argues and controversy about actions of Corporation; some people say that strikers are innocent, and defend rights of human, others believe and find excuses for corporation, and say that there was no way they could act in a different way due to the downturn of economy in the U.S. in the 80s’. Phelps-dodge corporation assumed an enormous responsibility by promising good wages for miners, and their treatment to the Latin groups like they are not people is not justified; those miners came to the U.S. for a better life and earning money for their families, but what they got instead of it is a fault of the government and Corporation.

During the Eighties, it was a post-Vietnam war time, and on that time, formation of the economy in the United States, just started. Nowadays we know America as leading and most influential country with the strongest economy, but not everyone knows how many ups and downs United States experienced in order to achieve it. By coming to a presidency, Reagan decided to reduce government intervention in the economy, by this action he gave more freedom to the private businesses. Negotiation of United Steelworkers and Phelps-Dodge Corporation, led Phelps-Dodge to start to put contribution to industrial restructuring, and this corporation needed more workers for future development. Phelps-Dodge found Mexican-American workers as cheap workforce, and started to hire them for low wages, and continue mine operations. Discontent from workers was understandable: they were subject of unfair behavior, worked for few money and didn’t even get any appreciation, their rights were cut off. Those workers agreed to work for this company in order to earn money, and bring food to home, but how it would be possible if everything that they were getting from company is seventy-five cents per hour, working with 1-2 hour shifts. “The tragedy is in the wounds to families and communities that sometimes result from capital’s triumph” (p.10, Copper Crucible, Second Edition by Jonathan Rosenblum). By these words Rosenblum tries to say that it is not bad when the private American company succeed and create jobs for others, it is sad that it is ready to do things incompatible with morality. Strikers were fighting against the humiliation not only of their life, but also for interests of their homes, wife’s, children’s dignity.