The union quickly received the support of nearly 20,000 plantation workers.

Since plantation workers first made their way to New Orleans at the turn of the century, the process has changed little.

From 1913 to 1917 a row of small houses were built for plantation workers.

In the 1940s the trade union movement had galvanized the plantation workers into a militant working class.

The plantation workers were thus forgotten from 1948 - 1964.

The housing, health and education of the plantation workers were neglected.

Barring plantation workers, no one of any stature was allowed to live outside the City.

These plantation workers were from different ethno-cultural and linguistic groups.

Since 1990, about half of the region's 300,000 plantation workers have lost their jobs.

Even though the ethnicity of the plantation workers had changed, the poor working conditions and low living standards remained.