Mercado sobreruedas

An informal market

A particular characteristic of these markets is that most of them are administrated by either one of two large unions that, besides other smaller unions, specifically operate in these markets. One is the ALOP, also known as the union of Doña Chui, and the other is the Margarita Maza de Juarez Union. All these unions where formed during a long history of struggle and popular movements, which are also responsible for some of the informally established slums in the city (Valenzuela 1988).

In each market, the streets are divided between the unions. These divisions can be recognized by the different colors used by each union for the covers of the stalls. While the ALOP has red tents, the Margarita Maza de Juarez Union has blue yellow striped tents. Don Esteban, a vendor who works with the Margarita Maza de Juarez Union, told me that most of the time the relation between the unions is peaceful. Problems arise when a vendor from one union tries to set up stall in another union’ s territory. An intrusion which the colors of the tents would immediately flag up.

The unions that control the markets act as a bridge between the vendors and the state. Their organizations intervene in decisions whether new markets can be created or whether a current market can expand, and they also control the distribution of new spots. In the markets the unions assign one vendor for every street as a coordinator who also organizes the installation of the stalls in the morning.

In general, there are two types of vendors. For some vendors, working in the market is their main business, often involving the whole family. These vendors usually work in the markets most days of the week and are members of a union. For other vendors, who often have formal jobs, working in the market is primarily a way of gaining some extra income. They only work one or two days during the week, and in many cases they don’t belong to any of the unions operating in the markets. These vendors work informally outside of the unions’ structure and protection, setting up their stalls on streets running parallel to the ones under the control of the unions. They often get harassed by inspectors from the mayor’s office, and sometimes they form an agreement with the union for protection, usually by paying a commission to the union which gets passed on as a bribe to the inspectors for turning a blind eye.

There are around three hundred markets installed on the streets of the various neighborhoods and slums of Tijuana. When a vendor belongs to a union he or she has the right to choose between the different markets that this union controls for different days of the week. It is thus common to see vendors in one market on a Monday and find them again at a different market on another day. While from Monday to Friday numerous smaller markets take place throughout the city that occupy at least one block and can extend up to 10 or 15 blocks, there are fewer but bigger markets on weekends whose size can range from 10 up to 30 or even more blocks.


Studies