[CTC] ICYMI: Unions Applaud USTR for USMCA Labor Rights Action at GM Plant in Mexico

Mon May 17 10:29:36 PDT 2021

Three statements below...

https://www.goiam.org/press-releases/machinists-union-applauds-ustr-call-for-investigation-of-alleged-labor-violations-at-general-motors-plant-in-mexico/ <https://www.goiam.org/press-releases/machinists-union-applauds-ustr-call-for-investigation-of-alleged-labor-violations-at-general-motors-plant-in-mexico/> 

Machinists Union Applauds USTR Call for Investigation of Alleged Labor Violations at General Motors Plant in Mexico <https://www.goiam.org/press-releases/machinists-union-applauds-ustr-call-for-investigation-of-alleged-labor-violations-at-general-motors-plant-in-mexico/>

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2021 – Robert Martinez Jr., International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), released the following statement regarding the U.S. Trade Representative’s call for Mexican authorities to investigate alleged labor violations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement at a General Motors Plant in Silao, Mexico:

“The IAM applauds U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai for seeking review under USMCA for what appears to be egregious violations of labor standards at a General Motors plant in Mexico. The action by USTR signifies that the United States will not sit idly by while basic labor standards are violated in Mexico. We look forward to many more self-initiated actions by the U.S. under the USMCA.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among the largest industrial trade unions in North America and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the manufacturing, aerospace, defense, airline, railroad, transportation, shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries.

https://usw.org/news/media-center/releases/2021/usw-commends-biden-administration-for-usmca-labor-rights-action <https://usw.org/news/media-center/releases/2021/usw-commends-biden-administration-for-usmca-labor-rights-action>

MAY 12, 2021
USW Commends Biden Administration for USMCA Labor Rights Action
Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, (412) 562-2444, jkamm at usw.org <mailto:jkamm at usw.org>
USW International President Tom Conway issued the following statement in response to the Biden administration’s initiation of action regarding violations of workers’ rights at a General Motors plant in northern Mexico:

“The USW welcomes the Biden administration’s action to protect labor rights in Mexico and specifically those of workers at the Silao GM plant.

“These workers are being denied their right to choose whether they want to keep the current collective bargaining agreement, which was negotiated without their approval, in a classic case of a protection contract being imposed upon workers by a company-aligned union.

“Democrats recognized that if we’re serious about lifting wages and ensuring our trade deals help workers, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) must include provisions to strengthen and enforce labor laws in Mexico.

“Now, thanks to their efforts, the U.S. government, for the first time, self-initiated action to flag specific labor concerns and will consult with Mexican officials to investigate and remedy the situation so that workers can be certain their votes will be counted and their union is one of their choosing.

“Coming on the heels of the petition the AFL-CIO and others filed Monday involving labor rights violations at Tridonex in Matamoros, Mexico, today’s action demonstrates that the USMCA’s rapid response labor mechanism is a much-needed tool for leveling the playing field and arresting the race to the bottom on wages.

“The USW commends the Biden administration for employing the new trade deal’s enforcement mechanism to benefit workers across North America.”

The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.

https://uaw.org/uaw-statement-actions-united-states-trade-representatives-rapid-response-usmca-labor-organizing-irregularities-silao-mexico/ <https://uaw.org/uaw-statement-actions-united-states-trade-representatives-rapid-response-usmca-labor-organizing-irregularities-silao-mexico/>

UAW STATEMENT ON THE ACTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVES’ RAPID RESPONSE UNDER USMCA OVER LABOR ORGANIZING IRREGULARITIES IN SILAO MEXICO

 May 12, 2021

Detroit – “The UAW supports the actions of the U.S. Trade office and continues to have appropriate discussions at many levels about this significant workers’ rights issue.”

Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826

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