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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-6373 X 164
The Labor Department today released a report including
findings of independent Mexican experts that there are irregularities in the
application of Mexico's union registration laws. This report follows
ministerial consultations on this matter prompted by a complaint about
conditions at a Sony subsidiary in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Such consultations are
provided for under the labor supplemental agreement to NAFTA.
The report summarizes the findings and results of a
workplan adopted under an agreement between U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert
Reich and then Mexican Secretary of Labor Santiago Onate.
In making the report public, Secretary Reich said, "The
successful completion of the first-ever ministerial consultations gives us a
better understanding of Mexican law and practice regarding union registration.
I have directed the U.S. NAO to continue to monitor developments on the issues
raised in this case."
Secretary Reich directed the U.S. NAO to continue to watch
developments in Mexico with respect to findings by Mexico's own independent
experts who concluded that there are inconsistencies in interpretation and
application of Mexico's union registration laws. These experts recommended that
to ensure the impartiality of union registration rulings, decision-making
authority should be moved from local boards to the state level. Secretary Reich
also directed the NAO to assess the implications of a recent Mexican Supreme
Court decision on the constitutionality of current union registration laws for
public employees . The NAO is to report its findings to the Secretary within
l80 days.
Under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation
(NAALC), each NAFTA signatory established its own National Administrative
Office. Among the responsibilities of the NAOs is the review of labor law
matters in the other signatory countries. In August 1994, a complaint was filed
with the U.S. NAO concerning the operations of Magneticos de Mexico in Nuevo
Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. After review of the case, the U.S. NAO recommended
in April 1995 that Secretary Reich request ministerial consultations with his
Mexican counterpart. The U.S. and Mexico negotiated implementation plans to
carry out the consultations. Subsequently, Canada endorsed those plans.
Copies of the report are available upon request by writing
to the U.S. NAO, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Room
C4327, Washington, DC 20210 or by calling the fax on demand at (202) 273-3454.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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