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| Many thanks to David Bacon |
Mexican Labor News
& Analysis
Current Issues
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February , 2012 | January , 2012 | December , 2011
November , 2011 | October , 2011 | September , 2011
August , 2011 | August , 2011 | July , 2011
June , 2011 | May , 2011 | April , 2011
March , 2011 | February , 2011
- Please Join the Fight to Defend the Labor Rights of Mexican Workers During the International Days of Action -- February 19 - 25!
- New Tri-National Solidarity Alliance (TNSA) Web Site
- No Protection: a Graphic Novel about Employer Protection Contracts in Mexico
- National Action Party (PAN) Nominates Josefina Vázquez Mota
- López Obrador Forms Alliance with Electrical Workers' Union
- Elba Esther Gordillo: Where Will Teacher Leader Go Now?
- Frente Auténtico Del Trabajo (FAT) Settles Contract at UE Sister Shop
- PKC Signs Protection Contract with Ctm Union, Ignoring Workers
- Teachers Carry Out Mass Protests in Many Mexican States
- UFCW Canada and the Mexican States of Guerrero and Oaxaca Sign Cooperation Agreements on Migrant Workers' Rights
- CLC Pleased with Developments for Mexican Electrical Workers: Canadian and American Offices Accept Complaint under Nafta
- Human Rights Body Suspects Cops in Protest Deaths
- Guerrero Activists Demand Justice in Killing of Two Students
- Vigilante Justice, Lynchings Another Sign of Social Breakdown?
- Mexican Workers Pulverized in the 21st Century
- Gulf of America?
- Social Statistics
- Up-coming Events
- Resources: Important articles and photographs from David Bacon
Dear Readers,
We are hitting the ground running with an alert in support of the Mexican Electrical Workers (SME). They are starting negotiations again with the Mexican government and have asked for our support in sending a clear message to the Mexican government that a rapid and just resolution is needed – now!
In this issue, as always, we feature the Year in Review by Editor Dan LaBotz. However, since 2011 has been such a year of upheaval we are also including two additional documents that take inspiration from movements in Mexico for two different paths for change in the future... Read more
- Police Kill Three Student Protestors in Struggle to Preserve Rural Teachers' Colleges
- From Plantón to Occupy: Unions and Immigrants in the Occupy Movement
- UNI Global Union Supports Atento Workers in Mexico
- Workers at Volkswagen Supplier Fired for Opposing CTM Union Leader
- Women Human Rights Defenders in Mexico Face Threats, Violence
Dear Readers,
A lot has happened this month. Although the negotiations between the SME and government were set to conclude on November 30, there has been no resolution, and the SME is asking us to send letters to the government. The letter sent by UE is included as our first item. Please feel free to use it as a sample or draft your own.
In addition, the Labor Board in Mexico City has promulgated new regulations that would accomplish many of the objectives of the labor law reform proposals that were introduced in the Mexican Congress during the last session. Although stayed by an injunction, this is a major fight that is likely to continue for some time and require our solidarity... Read more
- Request for Letters from Mexican Electrical Workers (SME)
- Electrical Workers Demand That Government Fulfill Promises
- NAFTA Complaint Highlights Mexico's Disregard for Its Labor Laws and Violation of North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation
- Veteran of Mexico City Workers' Occupation Shares Strategy with Occupy DC
- Mexico City Labor Board Issues New Regulations Depriving Workers of Labor Rights
- Presidential Race Comes into Focus: Two Candidate; One to Go
- Mexico’s Secretary of Interior Killed in Helicopter Crash
- International Observation Team Monitors Union Election at Atento Services, Mexico
- Teacher Dissidents Say Government Pays Union’s Patronage Army
- Gov’t Agency Orders Pemex to Reveal Payments to Oil Union
- Police Arrest Two Employers in Mining Deaths
- Economics Professor Ends Hunger Strike for Higher Education
- Teamsters Sue to Keep Mexican Trucks Out of United States
- The Art of Ripping Off Electronics Workers
- AFL-CIO Honors Mexican Miners Leader
- Labor Shorts
- Social Statistics
Note to our readers:
Our apologies for the delay in getting this issue out to you. We were otherwise Occupied!
In solidarity,
Dan and Robin
- López Obrador, Supporters Found Morena, New Left Party
- Canadian Labour Organizations Host SME Leaders; File NAALC Complaint in Support of SME
- Honda: a Legitimate Struggle for Worker Justice
- Mexico's Indignados: No More Deaths, No More Ninis
- NAFTA Is Starving Mexico
- UN: Mexico Fifth Most Dangerous Country for Journalists
- ¡Ocupa Tijuana! Occupy Tijuana Dispersed and Arrested
- North American Presidential Summit in November in Hawaii
- Labor Shorts: Atento Election Suspended
- Up-coming Events
MEXICAN ELECTRICAL WORKERS: TWO YEARS IN CONSTANT STRUGGLE
Any observer of the Mexican scene has to be enormously impressed with the Mexican Electrical Workers (SME) and its two years of constant struggle for the jobs and the rights of its members. Since President Felipe Calderón sent the police and army to occupy the Light and Power Company facilities almost two years ago, liquidating the company and firing 45,000 workers, the union has not ceased to engage in constant activity and to pursue every possible avenue to win justice and jobs for its members... Read more
- Electrical Workers End Sit-in, Claim Victory
- 50,000 "Indignant Mexicans" Protest CalderÓn's Policies
- U.S. Union Leader Asks for Justice in Death of Organizer in Mexico
- Mexican Union Leaders Speak to U.s. Congressman
- Teachers Strike, March for Safety in the Workplace
- Poet Sicilia Takes March for Peace to San Cristobal, Zapatistas
- Social Security Union Leader Denies Workers’ Rights: Dissidents
- Vázquez Mota, Conservative Woman Candidate for President
- GGJ National Congress Condemns Attacks on Independent Unions, Labor Rights in Mexico
- H-2b Workers File Complaint Against United States under Nafta's Labor Side Agreement
- Mexican Workers Form New Party
- Labor Shorts: Sandak Seeks to Have Strike Declared Illegal
- Social Statistics
- Book Review: Trabajar y Vivir en la Frontera: Identidades Laborales en las Maquiladoras de Tijuana.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Activists and friends,
Although unusual because we just published the August, 2011 issue of Mexican Labor News and Analysis, we are publishing a supplemental issue to bring you news of one small and one large group of workers who are engaged in valiant struggles: workers at the Sandak plant in Tlaxcala, Mexico who are members of an independent union that is close to the FAT are facing a very difficult situation. We are bringing you the most recent information information about this group of 250 courageous workers and their independent union who are fighting to keep their plant open and save their jobs... Read more
- Sandak Workers Defend Their Jobs, Win the Protection of a Legal Strike
- Declaration in Support of SME Published in La Jornada
- Electrical Workers, Allies to Form Nat'l Political Organization
- Members Vote Therefore the Union Exists: an Embattled Mexican Union Demonstrates Its Strength at the Ballot Box.
- the 2011 Mexican Electrical Workers (SME) Elections: Dispatch from the Observation Team
- Labor Shorts
Support the SME ad in La Jornada. This is time sensitive; please get it to people you think may be interested ASAP.
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
As most of you know, since October 2009 the Mexican Electrical Workers Union (SME) has been one of the primary targets of the Mexican government's attack on Freedom of Association.
Most recently, the government has failed to take action to recognize the union's national officers who were elected by an overwhelming vote in July... Read more
- Opposition Criticizes Calderón for U.S.’s Growing Role in Mexico
- Sicilia and Movement for Peace Continue to Press for Change
- Mexican Human Rights Board Recommends Visas for Migrants
- Mexican Government Human Rights Board: Army, Police Violate Rights
- AI Officials Says Disappearances at Level of Dictatorships
- Electrical Workers Occupy Zócalo as Leaders Are Charged
- Increasing Solidarity with the Mexican Electrical Workers’ Union!
- Solidarity Alliance Between the United Steelworkers and the Mexican Mine and Metalworkers Unions
- Miners Continue to Fight Repression, Negotiate Good Congracts
- Workers Killed in Fight Between Official and Independent Union
- Public Worker Fed Calls for Audit of Health, Pension Fund
- Mexicana Unions still Fighting for their Members’ Jobs
- Legislator Demands Investigation into Railroad Retirement Fund
- Politics Convergence Becomes the Citizens Movement
- Mexico City Mayor and Supporters Create “democratic Left”
- Return of the Dinosaurs in Mexico: the Resurrection of the PRI
- The Left and the Coming Elections
- Teachers’ Leader Gordillo Creates National Scandal for Calderón
- SME Leadership Elections Found to Be Free, Fair and Transparent by International Observation Team
- Mexicana Workers in Streets; Want Company and Jobs Back
- Electrical Workers Leadership Calls for New Labor Federation
- Miners Union Leader Promises to Return to Mexico
- Press Release by Los Mineros Regarding Supreme Court Decision on Toma De Nota
- Mexico: the Economic Crisis Continues
- Labor Shorts
- Correction
Dear Readers,
Last month we included an article on the Tribunal on Trade Union Freedom that was organized in Mexico City on May 28th. The full resolution is now available and makes very interesting reading as an overview of the challenges faced by the independent labor movement in Mexico. Far too long to include here, you can view it in its entirety at: http://nlginternational.org/news/article.php?nid=417.
There are also many items of interest in the Resource section of this issue, so be sure to check it out!
In solidarity,
Robin Alexander and Dan LaBotz
- PRI Presses Forward with Its Labor Law Reform, Backed by Pan
- Supreme Court Rules that Secretary of Labor Has No Authority to Approve or Annul Union Elections
- Mexican Electrical Workers Union Internal Election Intersects Elections for the Governor of the State of Mexico
- Teachers Strike, Protest over Contracts, Rights, Disappearances
- Truckers Protest Rising Fuel Costs with Highway Slowdowns
- Volkswagen Workers Threaten Strike to Demand 13% Wage Gain
- “March of the Whores” – Women March Against Sexual Violence
- Untypp Blog - Accusations of Violation of Labour Rights
- Senator Accuses PEMEX Director of Harassing Union Members
- Interview: Juan Linares, National Mexican Mine and Metal Workers Union (sntmmsrm)
- Un Report: Mexico: “a State of Emergency” – Not Enough Food and Too Much Obesity
- Resources
- May Day: Mexican Unions Stand Together Against Labor Law Reform
- Labor Law Reform—a Key Battle for Mexican Labor Unions Today
- Call for Action: Labor Rights and Freedom of Association Violations at Platosa Mine, Site Owned by Excellon Resources Inc.
- Mexican President and Teachers Union Leader Sign New Ed Pact
- Teachers Strike, Shut Down Schools in Oaxaca
- Oil Workers Demand Removal of Union Leader Romero Dechamps
- Mexico Approves Law to Protect Migrants in Mexico
- Charges Allege Mexican Consulate Blacklisted Unionized Mexican Migrant Workers in B.C.
- Mexico’s Anti-drug War March Demands Far-reaching Political Reforms
- Icem Support Mexican Glass Workers ILO Complaint
- International Tribunal Condemns Anti-union Violence and Repression by Mexican Government
- Human Rights Issues
- Social Statistics
- Resources
- Up-coming Events
For weeks now there have been constant demonstrations, sometimes of tens of thousands, against a rightwing attempt to take away workers rights to unions and to collective bargaining rights—and we are not talking about Wisconsin. This is Mexico where employers and official unions have joined with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) to push forward a law that would virtually dismantle workers’ rights despite longstanding Constitutional protection. The PRI’s labor reform has the backing not only of its rival the PAN, but also of the Congress of Labor, the umbrella labor organization of the official unions... Read more
- Statement of the National Union of Workers (UNT) on PRI Labor reform
- A Labor Law Bosses Would Love
- Mexican Trade Union Leaders Speak at Numerous Venues in the United States
- ILO Condemns Protection Contracts
- Mexican Miners and Their Leader receive Human Rights Award
- United Steelworkers Congratulate Miners and Leader on Award
- Mexican Government Fails to Protect Central American Migrants
- Citizen marches Throughout Mexico Against Drug War Violence
- RESOURCES
- ITUC Statement Opposes Labor Law Reform: Mexico: Labour Legislation Reform Without Consultation
Dear Readers:
We in the workers’ movement are in a new era. At Mexican Labor News and Analysis, we find we are viewing things differently in this new period as we attempt to situate ourselves as observers, reporters and promoters of international labor solidarity.
We’ve been publishing Mexican Labor News and Analysis for 16 years, but today things are much different than they were when we began, different for all of the unions in continental North America. The events of the last few years have significantly changed every aspect of employer-union relations, labor law, and social welfare in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries. Politicians have dismantled many of our rights... Read more
- International Women’s Day in Mexico: Women’s Status:
Continued Inequality; Human Rights Violations; Rising Violence - Women Workers Educate, Organize and Fight for Rights
- Electrical Workers Succeed in Pressuring Government to Meet Again; SME Women Roughed up on International Women’s Day
- Women Protest Against "Femicide" and Militarization
- PRI Submits Pro-business Labor Law Reform Bill
- Documents of the Movement in Translation:
PRI Labor Law Reform Initiative a Betrayal of the Workers - Mexicana Workers March Again to Demand Government Revive Company
- Letter from Four Gufs and Ituc
- Mexico’s Richest Grow Even Richer; as Numbers of the Poor Grow
- Labor Shorts
- Resources
- Upcoming Events:
Dear Readers,
In the past week, more than 50,000 trade unionists and their community allies around the world took action for change in Mexico during the Global Days of Action. In the US there were demonstrations or delegations in at least 12 cities (Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, New Orleans, New York, Raleigh, San Francisco, Tucson, Washington DC), in four cities in Canada (Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal), and in Mexico there were 27 different actions following the massive demonstration on January 31st. In all, workers and their community allies in 40 countries on five continents strongly denounced the attack on independent trade unions in Mexico... Read more
- Labourstart Campaign in Support of Independent Trade Unions: Please Join Us!
- Unions March to Protest Economic Policies,
Call for National Peaceful Civic Uprising, Overthrow of Calderón - Documents of the Movement in Translation:
Change the Economic and Political Direction of the Country - Tri-National Solidarity Alliance Press Release
- More Than 50,000 Rally for Global Days of Action on Mexico
- Report from Kansas City on Delegation Visit to Mexican Consulate as Part of Mexico Days of Action
- Mexican Trade Unionist Juan Linares Released from Jail
- Mexican Worker Rights Center Attacked
- Coalition Condemns Violence and Death Threats Against Workers from Center for Worker Support (CAT)
- Labor Shorts
- Shorts
- Up-coming Events: Carlos Esquer of Los Mineros to speak in New York and New Orleans
- Resources:
About Mexican Labor News & Analysis
Staff: Editor, Dan La Botz. Editor, Dan La Botz. Managing editor, Robin Alexander.
Mexican Labor News and Analysis (MLNA) is produced in collaboration with the Authentic Labor Front, Frente Auténtico del Trabajo (FAT) of Mexico and the United Electrical Workers (UE) of the United States. For many of our stories, we rely on La Jornada's excellent labor and social movement coverage. We also, of course, look at other Mexican and U.S. media, but most important is the coverage of La Jornada to which we constantly refer and which we frequently summarize in our articles.
In recognizing our sources, articles by David Bacon and John Ross periodically enliven our pages and less frequently, though no less appreciated, are pieces by Fred Rosen. We also appreciate IRC's willingness to allow us to include articles by Laura Carlsen, director of the IRC Americas Program in Mexico City and occasionally by other IRC contributors. Most important, our collaborators in the Authentic Labor Front (FAT) keep us updated about the FAT's organizing campaigns and other activities. The Solidarity Center in Mexico kindly sends us regular mailings dealing with labor unions and other issues. We also receive mailings on important issues from CITTAC in Tijuana, from Enlace, and others. Occasionally some of our readers travel to Mexico and send us reports regarding other developments.
This web site includes Archives of Mexican Labor News and Analysis issues that date from 1996 to the present.
