Mexican Labor News & Analysis
Recent archives

2005

Vol. 10 No. 1

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Vol. 10 No. 2

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Last December it appeared that the PAN and PRI had joined together and were poised to push the employer version of labor law reform package known as the Abascal Plan through the Mexican Congress. Labor and social movements responded rapidly, beginning a sit in at the chamber of Deputies on December 1st, and calling for major mobilizations in Mexico City and around the country. They also called for international opposition and many of you sent letters of protest. Faced with threats of major mobilizations, they blinked, with leaders of the PRI announcing that introduction would be delayed until the Mexican Congress re-convened on February 15th.

Once again the proposal appears to be moving forward, and UNT lawyers Arturo Alcalde and Hector Barba have declared that the proposed modifications would strike a "mortal blow" to trade unionism.

In response to a request from our friends in Mexico are soliciting your support. We have already taken the following actions:

* On February 9th, Human Rights Watch send a letter to leaders of the three Mexican parties condemning the reforms.

* On February 17, 2005, 20 Mexican, Canadian, Quebecois and U.S. unions, as well as the Washington Office on Latin America, filed a submission with the U.S. NAO alleging that the Abascal Project violates the central obligation of the NAFTA labor side agreement (NAALC), which obligates the parties to: ensure that its labor laws and regulations provide for high labor standards, consistent with high quality and productivity workplaces, and shall continue to strive to improve those standards in that light.

*Also on February 17, Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), began circulating a congressional sign on letter to Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, urging that Secretary Chao accept the submission, review the Abascal Project, and immediately initiate consultations with the Mexican government to address its open violation of Mexicos obligations under the NAALC.

A number of articles in this issue describe the proposed reforms, and actions we have taken.

Please help by sending the letters of protest we have included, or better yet draft your own!

Vol. 10 No. 3

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Vol. 10 No. 4

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Vol. 10 No. 5

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Vol. 10 No. 6

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Vol. 10 No. 7

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EDITOR’S NOTE – Though we are a year away from the presidential election, partisan politics already dominate all issues in Mexico and is reflected in this issue of MLNA. While we will maintain our focus on labor and social movements, we will necessarily reflect this more political atmosphere. - DL

Vol. 10 No. 8

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Vol. 10 No. 9

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Vol. 10 No. 10

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Vol. 10 No. 11

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With the year drawing to a close, we are pleased to report some landmark achievements along with our on-going efforts to meet difficult challenges. We are happy to say that we are marking the tenth anniversary of Mexican Labor News and Analysis. This year also marks the most effective solidarity ever with the FAT federation in Mexico!

We also have new features on our website to make it easier for you to keep up with what's happening. And now you can support our work through online donations.

A year ago it appeared that two of the three major Mexican parties, the PAN and PRI, had reached agreement to push a controversial, pro-employer labor law “reform” package through the Mexican Congress. The reforms would have strengthened corporatist control over labor, further stifling the rights of workers, while giving business the unrestrained “flexibility” it is demanding. Mexican labor and social movements mobilized around the country and called for unions and workers to take direct action to oppose the legislation. The Frente Autentico del Trabajo (FAT) sought our assistance, on behalf of the National Union of Workers (UNT).

We contacted U.S., Quebecois and Canadian trade union organizations, and rapidly implemented a plan of action. Among other things, Human Rights Watch condemned the reforms in letters to the three Mexican parties; twenty two labor organizations from Mexico, Canada, Quebec and the U.S. signed on as petitioners in a case brought by WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America) pursuant to the labor side agreement of NAFTA; and Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and other members of Congress issued a “dear colleague” letter. The result – thanks to much hard work by progressive forces working in solidarity on an international basis: We succeeded in stopping this disastrous legislation!

UE also played an important role in developing international support for the FAT's organizing campaign of teachers in Guanajuato. Working together with the New York State Labor Religion Coalition, New York State United Teachers, ENLACE and others, we successfully helped the FAT to win the right to the first secret ballot election ever ordered by a Mexican labor board.

Organizers and rank and file leaders from the FAT continue their difficult task of organizing against great odds, with enthusiasm and determination. While the focus remains on industrial and, increasingly, public sector workers through their workers' centers (CETLACS,) FAT activists also respond to the needs of colonia dwellers and workers in the informal sector, assisting them in organizing unions of street vendors and shoe shine workers.

Meanwhile, our international work with the FAT and other unions has also directly contributed to the UE's work here in the U.S. in a variety of ways. What we learned from them and their use of international law led directly to the creation of the North Carolina International Worker Justice Project, which combines organizing with creative legal work to challenge the State's prohibition on collection bargaining for public sector workers.

This year we also held innovative and intensive cross-border training. During the first week in October 2005, twenty-one local leaders, organizers, and staff from the FAT and UE spent eight days together in Chicago exchanging ideas, experiences and strategies for organizing, discussing what is needed to consolidate newly organized workers and to build shop floor power, and developing plans for international solidarity. Chicago had been selected because it is at the heart of the UE's campaign to organize Latino factory workers. Two of the principal themes running through the training sessions this year were migration and the challenges of replacing corrupt unions with democratic ones.

“I think this was one of the best days,” one of the Mexican participants told us about the day he spent in Milwaukee in meetings with teachers and community activists. “I carry back with me a deep commitment to organize my brothers and sisters with the help of international solidarity!”

And finally, you can find some useful new features on our web site. And we invite you to use our interactive feature: “Shop ‘til you drop on a Mexican Wage.” We now provide RSS and other tools so that you can always get the latest headlines on your web site or RSS reader.

We ask your support in continuing to make the UE/FAT cross-border organizing work possible! Your tax- deductible contributions can be made by credit card -- and for the first time ever, you can choose to contribute right now, online.

To support organizing work, please send a check to the UE/FAT Solidarity Fund, One Gateway Center, Suite 1400, Pittsburgh, PA., 15222-1416.

Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to the same address, but please make those checks payable to the UE Research and Education Fund. Or better yet,click here:

Donate online through Network for Good

The Research and Education Fund supports: *Mexican Labor News and Analysis *CETLACS (Workers Centers) *Worker to Worker Delegations *General Support

Thank you and have a good holiday!
In Solidarity,
Robin Alexander

Vol. 10 No. 12

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