The GMP Western Hemispheric Conference delegation met recently in Mexico. The fi rst meeting was with an independent union of glass workers (SUTEIVP) and their families in San Luis Pelosi, about 250 miles north of Mexico City. Seen here (L-R): Rick Wood (LU 446-Woodstock, ONT), Gary Smith (LU 2-Oakland, CA), Research and Education Director Frank Grotti, Dave Sobottka-(LU 201-Waxahachie, TX), Rick Wayman (LU 96-Dunkirk, IN) and Lynette Koepp (LU 129-Shakopee, MN).

The GMP Western Hemispheric Conference for 2008 was successful, rewarding and educational for all involved. GMP member attendees elected at the 72nd Convention: Gary Smith-Local Union #2, Rick Wayman- LU #96, Lynette Koepp-Local Union #129, Dave Sobottka-LU #201, and Rick Wood-Local Union #446. Ben Davis, the Country Program Director from the AFLCIO Solidarity Center in Mexico City, facilitated the program for the delegation. Lorena Villanueva and Leilani Padilla were the interpreters for the group. Frank Grotti, Director Research & Education, represented the International Union.

Th e delegation’s fi rst meeting was with an independent union of glass workers (SUTEIVP) and their families in San Luis Potosi, about 250 miles north of Mexico City. Last January, nearly 300 union workers were illegally fi red by Grupo Modelo (producer of Corona beer). After the meeting, the delegation made a contribution to aid the workers’ struggle. Th en the GMP delegation and the SUTEIVP participated in a demonstration at the company gate. Th e bullhornled demonstration, with hand-billing and the blockage of traffi c takes place at every shift change and is directed at those workers entering and leaving the plant. Grupo Modelo has brought in a pro-employer union (CROC) in an attempt to displace the SUTEIVP, who has petitioned the court for an election for representation. Th e election was held on company premises that was rigged by Federal Police. Each worker had to vote individually and verbally before a company representative, a representative from CROC and a state offi cial. Workers were told that if they did not vote for CROC, they would forfeit their monthly profi t sharing check. To say the least, SUTEIVP lost the election. Th e delegation also attended the SUTEIVP’s union meeting and a press conference in support of the union. Th e GMP also met with San Luis Potosi Tire Workers Union Interior Secretary Jose S. G. Hernendez and Committee, who reviewed the issues facing their union: foreign competition and the company’s assertion of higher labor costs in Mexico. Th eir plant is owned by a German tire company, Continental.

Next was a plant tour of Vidriera Los Reyes Glass (Vitro) in Tlanepantia. Th e fi ve-tank, twenty-machine plant employs 1,600 workers and produces many colors, shapes and sizes of glass containers 24/7, 365 days a year. Th e delegation also met with the General Secretary of the plant’s union (COCEM) Oscar Moreno and his Executive Committee for an exchange of questions, ideas and culture. Starting pay in the glass plant is about $14 per day and the highest wage is $41 per day.

At the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center’s Mexico City offi ce, Carlos Garcia, a professor at the Mexican Autonomous University in Mexico City, discussed the history, the structure and the current situation of the Mexican labor movement with the group. Questions and discussion followed Professor Garcia’s power point presentation regarding Mexico’s largest labor center (similar to the AFL-CIO or CLC), the Congress of Labor (CT) which is populated by many unions of which the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) is the largest (1.4 Million). Th e largest confederation of independent, democratic unions is the National Workers Union (UNT) about a half million strong. Th e UNT broke away from the CT in 1997 to unite the independents. He spoke about a third faction, the “white” or company unions (sindicatos blancas) that are not as aggressive or progressive as the independents. He said that the independents tend to be more democratic, whereas the “blancas” do not include the membership in contract negotiations, are not politically involved and do not engage in adversarial labor relations. Th eir members don’t even receive a copy of the contract.

Seated: Ben Davis (AFL-CIO Solidarity Center in Mexico City, who facilitated the program for the delegation) and the Tire Workers Committee. Standing: Dave Sobottka, Grotti and Gary Smith. Ben Davis, fi red SUPEIVP Workers and the GMP Delegation.

Seated: Ben Davis (AFL-CIO Solidarity Center in Mexico City, who facilitated the program for the delegation) and the Tire Workers Committee. Standing: Dave Sobottka, Grotti and Gary Smith. Ben Davis, fi red SUPEIVP Workers and the GMP Delegation.

In Tlaxcala, the delegation attended a session of unions and politicians for the purpose of signing into eff ect a document that will provide low interest construction loans to the community. Following this session, there was a private meeting with CTM General Secretary Victor Lopez and several CTM union committees from an OCF plant, a ceramic tile production plant and a ceramic tile decorating plant. Th ese workers explained their current status, operating environment and diffi culties with the global market and competition. Next was a meeting with a group of independent union members, college student labor activists and workers fi red from a Volkswagen plant. Th ey detailed the struggles of their people, their success in organizing a “maquila” plant owned by a Korean company, and asked many questions regarding GMP organizing eff orts and U.S. unions.

Arturo Alcade, Mexican labor lawyer, met with the group and discussed Mexico’s labor law and a reform measure that he has been working on with other groups and individuals, including Ben Davis. Mr. Alcade is an advisor for the independent UNT, is involved in organizing campaigns and litigates NAFTA complaints. He explained to the group that there are three minimum wages in Mexico ranging from $5 to $9 per day, depending on the region. He was called away from the meeting to appear before the Mexican Supreme Court.

Th e National Miners’ and Metalworkers’ Union of Mexico met with the delegation at their Mexico City offi ce building. Th eir Political Secretary Carlos Pavon Campos detailed how the Mexican government had illegally removed from offi ce their General Secretary Napoleon Gomez Urrutia and charged him with baseless crimes. Th en the government replaced Gomez with persons sympathetic to the government, raided the union’s offi ce and removed union records without cause. Th e Miners also spoke of unsolved murders of their members and mining disasters that go uninvestigated by the government. Th e Miners have made a resolution that if anything happens to Urrutia, they will go on a nation-wide strike. Miners earn approximately $35 per day and also represent steelworkers.

Th e delegation then visited the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Mexico City. Th e Foundation hosted a Labor Law Forum attended by politicians, professors, union leaders and lawyers. Th e subject was Mexican labor law and its reform.

Th e GMP joined Mexican workers in the celebration of May Day. Th e activities mark the remembrance of unionists slain by police in Chicago’s Haymarket Square in 1886, which is recognized by nations around the world as the event that started the tradition of May 1st as a day for workers. Th e format consisted of a mass march to a public square, speeches by union leaders, and demonstrations by the tens of thousands of workers who attended. Th is was done in two waves. First the CT unions (CTM, CROC. COCEM, etc) convened. After they marched out, the UNT affi liated unions (Miners, Telephone workers, other independents) moved into the square for their demonstrations for workers.

The GMP delegation joined the Mexican workers in celebration of May Day in Mexico City.

Finally, the delegation met with the US Embassy’s Labor Attache Kevin Richardson. He said that being a Democrat working for the Bush administration left him with little clout, but he does write reports to the State Department detailing the Mexican workers’ issues and status. We wished him well with the hope that the November election will place a Democrat in the Oval Offi ce.

In conclusion, the GMP learned so very much regarding the life styles, struggles and similarities of Mexico’s unions, workers and their families with their counterparts in the US and Canada. Th eir major obstacle is the same as ours: labor laws that burden the ability to organize and employers that do everything they can to oppress organizing: fi rings, intimidation and constant anti-union pressure tactics. However, their fi ght to organize is much more diffi cult. Th ey have to overcome government corruption, plus the government and employers work together to keep out democratic unions. Finally, there are unions sympathetic to government and employers making deals that deny workers’ rights. Th erefore, all of these obstacles take away the workers’ ability to choose a democratic union for themselves and deny them the ability to provide an adequate living for their families.

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