Antonio

Antonio was 21 years old when he came from the state of Hildago in Mexico to the United States. He borrowed US$1700 as part of a deal outlining transportation across the border and well-paid construction work in California.

After being transported across the border into Arizona he was told he would be going to Florida to work picking tomatoes instead. On arrival at a labour camp in Immokalee he was delivered, with others, from one man to another. "I heard him say 'here are the people. You have to pay $500 for each.' That's when I realised I had been sold like an animal without any compassion."

Antonio was taken to a run-down trailer where 28 workers slept on mattresses on the floor and shared one bathroom. "In the morning when I woke up and wanted to go outside I realised the door was locked. We were told we could not leave until the debt was paid off."

He subsequently worked for 10-12 hours a day, seven days a week. "It was hard work, very hot and we had to work constantly squatting down and carrying the heavy buckets of tomatoes. The first week I thought I'd earned good money. But from the wages I received he took out money for the driver, the rent, the water- everything."

Antonio was kept under 24 hour surveillance, was not allowed to make phone-calls, and faced constant threats of violence to himself and his family back home. "What made me most scared was when I heard about the people who had tried to escape. One of them had been beaten very badly."

Finally after four months, the opportunity to escape arose when his crew-leader fell asleep in the van on a weekly supervised trip to the local shop. However, after having escaped Antonio continued to be threatened and intimidated. His perpetrators followed him and demanded money.

With the help of CIW Antonio brought his captors to justice by testifying against them. They were convicted and sentenced to three years in prison. Since escaping, he has taken part in a 10-day hunger-strike and 230-mile march to raise awareness about forced labour. He continues to work with the CIW sharing his experiences and educating others about this abuse.

"People don't realise that someone's suffering. We're the ones that pick the food but they don't see our sweat and exploitation."

Read about the Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Read about Forced labour in the United States agricultural industry

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