When I entered the workforce as a young adult, I had to learn to navigate professional relationships and sometimes conflicts. I have been fortunate enough to be upfront with my differences or conflicts, even with people in more powerful positions than me. Unfortunately, in places such as meatpacking plants or other factories where there are immigrants, refugees and other workers of color who are earning low wages and little to no other fringe benefits, this is not possible.

I would like to tell you a story of two unlikely friends, in an unlikely place, who found themselves in the same situation. These two fellows were not free to express opinions or disagreements in their workplace. Both were trying to work hard in order to feed their families, one is a Latino man named Jose and the other an African American man named Fred, both lead workers. Jose started working at this place about five years ago, the African American about six months ago. Jose had been waiting for a small promotion to become head of a particular line. Fred came in and worked hard and was able to attain the position within 35 days. Nevertheless, no one can blame him.

After talking with him and trying to help him get to know the area, I went with him to visit some towns nearby. While talking to me, he said “I don’t understand why the Latino people on my line won’t talk to me ever since I became head of the line.”

I asked him, “Have you been treating the rest of your crew differently since you took over the line?” He said, “No.” After talking a while he came up with an answer that made sense. His answer was, “they are probably mad at me because I’ve been there the shortest amount of time and the management gave me that position, without me ever bidding for it.” Bidding for a job is when workers tell management that they want to be in charge of a certain duty or area, and they have a tryout open for all.

In these situations, immigrant and other workers of color are often pitted against each other to compete for meager raises. They will do whatever it takes to win favors, so that they can be chosen to head a line or a crew. For many that might mean putting up with petty abuses from supervisors or even doing other unreasonable or undesirable tasks. For many, it could also mean being at odds with the co-worker next to them who is also struggling to make ends meet.

These corporations have perfected the practice of putting one group of people against another. It’s commonly known as dividing and conquering. They do this to maintain power, so that the two groups won’t support each other. Instead it leads to constant fighting with one another.

Fred and Jose agreed to meet with me. We were able to talk about and better understand the structure in which they are forced to work. As a first step we were able to build some basic trust to continue to break barriers. This won’t solve all the problems they face by working in a hostile environment. But it’s a step towards a better future.