The Rio Grande Valley, or el Valle del Rio Bravo, is a collection of small town border communities in Texas.  The region is well known to Texans as a citrus center for agriculture, home for the delicious red grapefruit.  Lacking a major city center it is also known as one of the poorest regions in the U.S.  And because it abuts the Mexican border, to many people mention of the towns along the border evokes distressing images of drug cartels and out of control violence.

Business and government leaders are now making an effort to re-brand the region.  To attract more investors on both sides of the border.  Of course NAFTA did some of that in the 90s.  And many of those U.S. owned factories are still there.  So query, are the people having the discussion about re-branding also considering the image of working conditions in the factories owned by U.S. corporations?

We think focus on improving working conditions and pay for the maquiladora workers ought to be a part of that discussion.  Wouldn’t it be great if the image of the border, the region next to Texas, could change from that of violence and drugs to one of real opportunities for workers to enjoy good pay, safe and healthy working conditions and job security by working for a U.S. employer in a maquiladora?

Here’s the article about the proposed “re-branding.” into something called RIOPLEX.