|
 Printer-Friendly Version
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-6373
The Labor Department's National Administrative Office (NAO) today agreed
to review allegations that Mexico failed to enforce its laws protecting the
right of workers to organize unions at a U.S. subsidiary's plant in Ciudad de
los Reyes. The submission was filed under the North American Agreement on Labor
Cooperation (NAALC), often referred to as the labor side agreement to NAFTA.
"This submission makes serious allegations concerning the protection of
freedom of association in Mexico," said NAO Secretary Irasema Garza. "Freedom
of association is the first of 11 labor principles to which the NAFTA signatory
countries commit themselves, and we intend to conduct a thorough review."
The events giving rise to the submission occurred at the ITAPSA export
processing plant in Ciudad de los Reyes in the State of Mexico. The submitters
allege that when workers at the facility attempted to organize an independent
union, they faced intimidation and harassment from the company and the existing
union, the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM), including threats of
physical violence and job loss. Workers at the plant were concerned about poor
safety and health conditions. Approximately 50 workers reportedly have been
fired for supporting the union.
At a representation election held on Sept. 9, 1997, the submitters
allege that the company brought in approximately 170 armed thugs to intimidate
the workers. It is claimed that one worker was beaten, others were physically
threatened and women workers were threatened with rape. Also, the submitters
allege that access to voting was denied to many supporters of the independent
union, the credentials of CTM supporters were not examined and the vote was by
open rather than secret ballots. According to the submitters, the Conciliation
and Arbitration Board (CAB), which was overseeing the election, refused to
suspend the election in spite of the clear atmosphere of intimidation and other
irregularities.
According to the information in the submission, ITAPSA is a subsidiary
of Echlin Inc., a U.S. corporation with headquarters in Bradford, Conn. Echlin
has 10 plants in Mexico, including the ITAPSA plant. The ITAPSA facility
manufactures auto parts and employs approximately 350 people. It exports parts
to the United States, Canada, Europe and South America.
The submission, designated 9703, was filed by the Echlin Workers
Alliance, a group of unions from the United States and Canada, which includes
the Teamsters; the Canadian Auto Workers; the Union of Needletrades and
Industrial Textile Employees (UNITE); the United Electrical, Radio and Machine
Workers of America; the United Paperworkers International Union; and the United
Steelworkers of America. Twenty-four other organizations, including
non-governmental organizations, human rights groups and labor unions from the
three NAFTA countries are cited as concerned organizations in the submission.
This is the ninth submission against Mexico that has been filed under
the labor side agreement. The NAO has up to 180 days to review the case and
issue a public report.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
| 
