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Last week, ten Moroccan strawberry pickers filed a complaint, accusing Andalusia Work Syndicate (SAT), a trade union movement that has been housing them since May, of taking advantage of their vulnerable situation. These women claim that they have been exploited by SAT, which has used according to their lawyers, their struggle to polish its image in the country.
Contacted by Yabiladi, one of these Moroccan workers, Saida (*), says that everything was going well until they discovered that José Blanco, a member of SAT who accompanied them daily, had taken almost 1,400 euros from their money.
«We had a common bank account that had 3,000 euros, that were donated by a member of Ausaj. The money was meant to be sent to our families for Eid al-Adha : 300 euros for every household. However, we were surprised when we realized that José Blanco had withdrawn 1,400 euros from our account without taking our permission».
It was the lawyers of the Association of Users of the Administration of Justice (AUSAJ) who revealed the deeds of Blanco. Long before the complaint was filed, these workers decided to confront the trade union to acquire about their money.
Threatened by the union
In the complaint filed by Ausaj on behalf of the Moroccan women, these workers denounced the fact that «the union tried to abduct one of the woman’s baby». Saida explains that on September the 14th, when they asked the union for an explanation, José Blanco called his wife who sent her sister to convince the mother of staying, all while threatening to take her baby.
Saida said that the young mother did not want to stay with them. On the same day, the Moroccan women packed up and moved to another city. Despite everything, these women believe that the «union was very good» to them, but they had to leave because they couldn’t feel «safe» anymore.
Contacted by Yabiladi on Wednesday, Jose Blanco denied all accusations, stating that «SAT took the money to pay for the ten women’s food and expenses».
«I have been used by lawyers, who want to gain some respect by these accusations», he argued, adding that the union «is will defend itself using solid arguments, it is a well-plotted plan against us, they want to destroy us».
The Moroccan authorities must shoulder its responsibilities
The ten women are now supported by their lawyers. «We always feel that it is not enough, as far as we are far from our families and children», said Saida.
Although they want to return to Morocco, the ten women think that they can do that only «when they will prove that they are the victims».
Moreover, they blame the Moroccan authorities for abandoning them. «No one is interested in our situation. No one has been with us nor listened to our problems».
(*) the name of the Moroccan strawberry picker was changed to Saida.
