Degraded Citizenship: Workers in Mexican and Argentinian Vineyards during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This article describes the situation of men and women workers in two wine-making regions important in the global world of wine: the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina, and the Guadalupe Valley in Baja California, Mexico. The research delves into the kinds of responses from states, social organi-zations, and unions to the deepening of social inequalities caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Their actions result in a specific configuration of citi-zenship that reflects the rights achieved by the global viticultural workers. The authors’ conclusion is that recognition by the state of the political and union rights of vineyard workers, both men and women, continues to be weak, and that government actions put a priority on covering vulnerable populations’ social rights