Two memorial routes pay tribute to seasonal workers and reveal their history in the City of Geneva. Testimonies and historical commentaries highlight the harsh living and working conditions reserved for these people who contributed to the prosperity of the canton.
“This is a way for the City of Geneva to express its gratitude to them,” noted administrative councillor Alfonso Gomez, quoted in a press release. Presented both in the form of a visual and sound device and a digital platform, the two itineraries are made up of seven stages.
The “Life of a seasonal worker” tour presents their living conditions and the difficulties they had to face. It begins at Place du Reculet, behind Cornavin station, and then passes through Place des Grottes, Chemin Annie-Jiagge, Parc Saint-Jean, Place Lise-Girardin, Rue du Mont-Blanc and Place des Alpes.
Dilapidated buildings
This is an opportunity to delve back into the 1980s. In October 1986, the State Councilor in charge of public education, Dominique Föllmi, personally accompanied an illegal student to school, when she was due to be expelled from Switzerland with her parents. The DIP thus opened the way for the schooling of children without legal status.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Grottes district had many dilapidated buildings that were slated for demolition. These buildings housed many seasonal workers who often lived in unsanitary conditions and were separated from their families. A seasonal worker who arrived in 1981 gives her testimony.
The itinerary “The status of seasonal worker and its history” evokes the political and social struggles to which this unworthy status gave rise until its abolition in 2002. It begins at Île Rousseau, then passes through the Jardin Anglais, the Promenade de la Treille, the Place de Neuve, the Parc du 14-Juin, the Parc des Bastions and the Rue des Chaudronniers.
No family reunification
These two itineraries continue the work of remembrance that had already been presented during an exhibition in 2019 “We, seasonal workers, seasonal women…Geneva 1931-2019”. This exhibition gave a voice to seasonal workers and their loved ones.
The seasonal worker status was created in 1931 to meet the economic needs of Switzerland. The residence and work permit was for a maximum of nine months under very restrictive conditions. Family reunification was prohibited, as was changing employer or canton of residence.
Like the 2019 exhibition, these two itineraries were created by the Archives contestataires, the Collège du travail and the Rosa Brux artist collective at the initiative of the City of Geneva. The digital platform was developed by the Bibliothèque de Genève.
This article was published automatically. Source: ats
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