At number 156 of the Manuel J. Othón Streetcolonia Worker, Cuauhtémoc mayor’s office, There is a unit that at first glance would seem to be just another one in the urban environment; however, at its entrance lies a bronze sculpture whose figure remembers more than 600 seamstresses who lost their lives in the earthquake of September 19, 1985, which combines pain and testimony in a fight against employer abuse.
Located in the old textile area, a few steps from the Metro San Antonio Century, is located Labor Training Center y Comprehensive Education “Seamstresses and Costureros 19 de septiembre AC” and next to it, the entrance to a housing unit, both built after the tragedy of 85.
These buildings are silent witnesses of the misfortune experienced by 600 working-class women who were buried by tons of concrete and heavy machinery not being able to leave the factories because the doors were locked and they did not have the keys to remove them.
The earthquake exposed the poor conditions in which seamstresses worked: work days of more than eight hours, harsh sanctions for delays and absences, and the wages paid in many cases were less than the minimum.
“This was a seamstress’s workshop, in 1985 it was collapsed and the survivors fought to have a space given to the families of the victims. They built the school and the unit for the workers’ families who died in the earthquake of 84,” explained Miguel, a resident of the unit for 20 years.
At the entrance of the unit you can see the effigy of a worker sewing the Mexican flag, a work by the sculptor Patricia Mejia, Donated to the unit in 2003 and made in honor of the textile workers.
Every year, local residents hold a commemoration at the site, with an annual mass for the seamstresses who died in the 1985 earthquake.
“Every year a tribute to seamstresses, A mass is held and a tour is held here because there were more buildings that fell around, leaving flowers,” explained Rubén, a neighbor.
Almost four decades after the 1985 earthquake, some of the residents in the area remain anguished by the sound of the seismic alert that reminds them of that tragedy.a. They also claim that this is an area where earthquakes are often felt intensely.
“They feel good, yes it scares us all, it feels strong, the alarm or a sound goes off and it feels bad, the psychosis”, said Miguel.
In January 2024, the head of Marti Batres Government He headed the donation of the land and delivery of deeds for the property that houses the Training School, in favor of “Costureras y Costureros 19 de Septiembre”, AC
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2024-09-22 00:45:06