Una mirada a la intermediación laboral desde la figura de un mayordomo oaxaqueño: la importancia de las redes étnicas*

Abstract

The literature about forms of labor intermediation has pointed out different functions, activities, actors, and mechanisms; however, the weight that ethnicity has in these processes has not been addressed very much. After a historic analysis looking at how the forms and mechanisms for acquiring farm labor have varied, the authors study a Oaxacan pioneer of migration to Napa and Sonoma, California, counties. In his role as steward, he took charge of ensuring the arrival of relatives and fellow Oaxacans as more and more workers were required due to the change in the land use from fruit orchards to vineyards. This case allows us to incorporate new elements into our analysis of the processes of labor intermediation when they occur among members of a single ethnic group.