News

Calling for trade union rights in Mexico, UNI Global Union together with UNIA, IMF, ICEM, ITUC and IUF began a week of action this week by meeting with the Mexican Ambassador to the United Nations and holding a rally in Geneva, Switzerland.



In June 2009, call center workers at Telefonica/Atento Mexicana tried to escape a “protection contract” by joining the independent Mexican Telephone Workers’ Union (STRM). Call center workers who tried to vote for real representation in the July 2, 2010 ballot faced intimidation by thugs carrying brass knuckles.



UNI Global Union want to change the rules of the game in Mexico. We are demanding the Mexican government stop violating fundamental trade union rights and start complying with its own laws and international standards on human and trade union rights.



Our affiliates all around the globe - in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kosovo, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the U.S. are calling on the Mexican government to respect trade union rights in a series of actions from 14 to 19 February 2011.



In Mexico itself, the independent trade union movement will be holding various actions across the country throughout the week to highlight the systematic abuse of trade union rights by the Mexican government.



You can follow the campaign on twitter with the hash tag #mexicoaction. You can also follow our General Secretary Philip Jennings on twitter.



Click here if you want to follow the labour start campaign.

Brazil



UNI Americas in Brazil joined the action. "We want to change the rules of the game in Mexico" they said.

Moscow



In conjunction of Global Days of Action on Trade Unions Rights in Mexico the Communication Workers Union of Russia expressed their protest against anti-union behavior of Mexican authorities.



On 17 February despite the minus 20 degrees and frost on the streets, more than 20 trade union leaders and activists from ten Russian trade unions took part in a picket line in front of the Mexican Embassy in Moscow. They called upon the Mexican government to stop the violent attacks on the Mexican trade unions and on their members.



Leaders of UNI affiliate CWU-ru have also picketed Embassy. “We know that trade unions are under pressure in Mexico and that unionists are faced with strong attacks on their rights, freedom and lives. We came here to render solidarity support to our colleagues in Mexico and we demand that the government puts a stop to these violations!” – said Dmitry Dozorin, Vice President of CWU-ru.



At the end of the demonstration, the trade union representatives tried to contact the Ambassador of Mexico directly, but he would not come out of the building. Petitions were therefore given to the Embassy’s personnel.

Turkey



"Today we were in front of the Mexican Embassy in Ankara with over 30 union representatives in order to send our solidarity to our sisters and brothers in Mexico, bring a letter of protest to President Calderon and make a press conference." says Fatih Aydemir (Basin-IS Sendikasi, Graphical Union of Turkey). Union who participated: UNI affiliates Basin-Is, Basisen, Koop-Is, Tezkoop-Is, Haber-Is, ICEM affiliate Petrol-Is, IMF affiliates Turk-Metal, BTS.

Canada



CEP Canada showed great solidarity to Mexican workers during this week of action. As reported by Duncan Brown, CEP organised different rallies in front of Embassy and Consulate of Mexico in Canada:



- Toronto February 14

- Ottawa February 15

- Montreal February 15

- Vancouver February 17



For more information, contact Duncan Brown: dbrown@cep.ca or visit CEP website : http://www.cep.ca





The Netherlands



FNV Bondgenoten President Henk Van der Folk wrote a strong letter of protest to ING Mr Ter Haar Romeny.



Dear Mr. Ter Haar Romeny,



[...] As you know, the rights to organise and to bargain collectively about labour conditions are fundamental labour and human rights, anchored in international and national legislation and regulatory measures. Multinational companies are expected to comply with that legislation those regulatory mesures. Increasing numbers of multinational entreprises, including ING, recognise the right of their employees to organise in trade unions. As FNV Bondgenoten we applaud this development.



In many countries, trade union freedom is not guaranteed and trade unions and employees whishing to organise themselves get into a fix. This is also the case in Mexico.



In Mexico, "protection contracts" threaten the freedom to organise and bargain. [...]





Tokyo



On February 17, the delegation consisting of Japan councils of four GUFs including UNI Global Unoin, IMF, ICEM, ITF together with colleagues from JTUC-Rengo visited the Embassy of Mexico in Tokyo, Japan to deliver a letter of demands addressed to the President of The United States of Mexico.



Mr. Armando Arriaga, Deputy Chief of Mission, and Dr. Jose Luis Delgado, Second Secretary met us to exchange views for about two hours.



The GUFs delegation expressing a deepest concern for the labour situation in Mexico, demanded four points as mentioned on the letter (below) and urged the Government to improve the situation as soon as posssible.



The four points mentioned on the letter are:



1. Hold employer and government officials accountable for the Pasta de Conchos mine explosion that killed 65 miners on February 19, 2006.

2. Abolish systemic violations of workers’ freedom of association, including employer-dominated “protection contracts” and interference in union elections.

3. End the use of force—by the state or private parties—to repress workers’ legitimate demands for democratic unions, better wages and working conditions, and good health and safety conditions.

4. End the campaign of political persecution against the Mexican Miners’ and Metalworkers’ Union (SNTMMSRM) and the Mexican Electrical Workers’ Union (SME).

Mr. Arriaga and Dr. Delgado provided us of the information on the current situation at the Pasta de Conchos including the government’s efforts for it.



The delegation strongly urged them to reconsider the “protection contracts” and also the “toma de nota” in Mexico, stressing that what we showed are the common view of international labour movememt and it should be taken into consideration. Mr.Arriaga and Dr. Delgado expressed their willingness to have open and constructive dialogue in another occasion.