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Alexis Guizar-Diaz 01

Alexis Lisandro Guizar-Diaz is an undergraduate transfer student from Lind, Washington. He currently holds an Associate of Arts degree from Spokane Community College and is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Philosophy. His key research interests are political economy, rural & agrarian communities, and Latina/o/x populations. He is a member of the American Sociological Association and a recipient of a 2020 Eastern Washington University Summer Research Internship through the McNair Scholars Program. Alexis conducted research during the summer of 2020 in Washington’s Columbia Basin under the mentorship of Dr. Edwin Elias from the Department of Race and Culture Studies.

2020 McNair Faculty Research Mentor: Dr. Edwin Elias

Research Title: Indentured Servitude in the 21st Century? A Case Study on Agricultural Labor Employment in the Columbia Basin

Abstract:The agricultural industry has long had a dependence on immigrant populations. Labor roles, especially of the most degraded and intensive, have primarily been filled by individuals of Latinx decent, most commonly of Mexican origin. From 2007-2017 there has been an increase of over 1000% of requested H-2A guestworkers in Washington State. H-2A guestworker status allows for the possibility of higher wages and secure travel to the United States, however, as a subcontracted worker, conditions on and off the workplaces are structured by intermediary subcontracting middlemen companies. These companies are used to alleviate the various obligations farmers were historically expected to fulfil. Hence, not only do these companies control the workplace, but they also control nearly all aspects outside the workplace such as transportation, housing, and legalities. In this project, I seek to gain a better understanding of the cause of this exponential increase and how capital has structured labor conditions through draconian legislations that have enabled these subcontracted workers to not be protected by federal labors laws, to not be entitled to overtime pay, and to be actively denied the right to unionize.

 

2020-2021 Academic Year Ongoing Research: Designing Positive Workplace Interventions for Washington Farmworker: Listening to Farmworkers Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract: Washington state is a major agricultural producer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of positive cases per capita was highest in Washington’s major agricultural counties. Like agricultural regions in other parts of the country, the population of these counties includes large numbers of seasonal workers from abroad. These seasonal workers are essential workers that support the U.S. food system through the COVID-19 public heath crisis. Why do they have higher than average rates of COVID-19 infection? The National Center for Farmworker Health, a non-governmental organization involved with monitoring the situation, has argued that poor state and federal safeguards for farmworkers (including terms of employment, housing quality, and access to health care and other benefits) are the ultimate cause of high infection rates. Past research (Roberton et al. 2013) has shown that interventions are most successful when laborers are directly involved in self-identifying problems and designing solutions. How do farmer workers themselves perceive the problem of high COVID infection rates, and how do they envision progressive change moving forward? What are the significant issues from their perspective? This project explores these questions through interviews with farmworkers and people working close with them.
Alexis Guizar-Diaz Graduate School Acceptances 2021 PSU

EWU McNair Scholar Alexis Guizar-Diaz Accepted to Portland State University PhD Program

By Jaeger, Corinne | 03/01/2021
Alexis Guizar-Diaz Research 2020

EWU McNair Scholar Alexis Guizar-Diaz Completes Summer Research Internship

By Jaeger, Corinne | 11/17/2020
Alexis Guizar-Diaz Scholarship Announcements 2020

EWU McNair Scholar Alexis Guizar-Diaz Awarded Orlinda H. Luiten Scholarship

By Jaeger, Corinne | 07/19/2020
18 Scholars Present at 2020 Symposium

18 EWU McNair Scholars Present at EWU Virtual Symposium

By Jaeger, Corinne | 06/10/2020
Photo of Alexis Guizar-Diaz next to text congratulating him with red textured border.

Alexis Guizar-Diaz Selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and Awarded Summer Research Internship

By Jaeger, Corinne | 05/20/2020
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