<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/gm-workers-mexico-elect-independent-union-historic-labor-vote-2022-02-03/" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class="">https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/gm-workers-mexico-elect-independent-union-historic-labor-vote-2022-02-03/</a><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><i class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></i></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">'Fed up' GM workers in Mexico elect independent union in push for higher pay<o:p class=""></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">By Daina Beth Solomon<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;" class="">2/3/22</span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></div><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">MEXICO CITY, Feb 3 (Reuters) - An upstart union supported by international activists won a sweeping victory on Thursday to represent General Motors workers in the central Mexican city of Silao, opening the door to bigger raises that employees long felt were out of reach.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin: 4.26667vw 0px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">The union, SINTTIA, won with 78% of the vote, beating three rivals including Mexico's biggest labor organization that had held the contract at the automaker for 25 years.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">The <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/union-battle-unfolds-gm-mexico-ahead-workers-vote-2022-01-31" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">vote by several thousand workers</span></a> was required under a Mexican labor reform that underpins a trade agreement with the United States and Canada, and was closely watched by the U.S. government.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">Worker Jesus Barroso said he chose SINTTIA to push out the past union, which he said did little to help its members.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin: 4.26667vw 0px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">"We're fed up. Being fed up is what's making us take this decision," said Barroso, adding he takes home 480 pesos ($23.27) a day after 11 years at the plant.</span></p><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin: 4.26667vw 0px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;" class="">"I think we have the right to give our families, our kids, a better quality of life."</span></p><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin: 4.26667vw 0px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">The AFL-CIO, the largest U.S. labor organization, celebrated the vote as a win for workers across the auto sector.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin: 4.26667vw 0px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">"Workers will advocate for higher wages and improved health and safety standards ... helping to set new standards in the automobile industry," AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in a statement.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin: 4.26667vw 0px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">"This vote represents a rejection of the past."</span><img v:shapes="Rectangle_x0020_2" apple-inline="yes" id="7000073B-9BE2-4374-8770-A5273EC7B74B" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: center; background-color: white;" src="cid:image001.png@01D8190E.E77F3620" class=""></p><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">GM said it would work with SINTTIA to begin a contract negotiation and thanked employees for voting.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin: 4.26667vw 0px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">"General Motors recognizes and appreciates the active participation of employees," the company said in a statement.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin: 4.26667vw 0px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">SINTTIA is hoping to use some of Mexico's few independent auto unions, such as the group that represents Volkswagen workers in the central state of Puebla, as models to reach better wages and working conditions.</span></p><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin: 4.26667vw 0px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">Most of the plant's more than 6,000 workers cast ballots, lining up in different areas of the plant Tuesday and Wednesday under the gaze of more than 100 independent observers.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin: 4.26667vw 0px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">Two SINTTIA leaders received personal threats in the days before the vote, setting supporters on edge, the group said. Observers from Mexico's national electoral institute (INE) in Silao on Wednesday said the voting was proceeding smoothly.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: white;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">Many workers hoped to push out the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) after voting last year to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/gm-workers-mexico-vote-scrap-union-contract-labor-ministry-2021-08-19" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">dissolve their contract</span></a> with the group in a vote <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/us-trade-office-says-gm-mexico-labor-case-concluded-tariff-threat-lifted-2021-09-22" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);" class=""><span style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">monitored by U.S. officials</span></a> under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">CTM had held the Silao contract since the plant opened in 1995 and is aligned with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) that ruled Mexico for decades.</span></p><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin: 4.26667vw 0px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">It won less than 5% in this week's union election.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="texttext2vzwzq" style="margin: 4.26667vw 0px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class="">A separate group that critics say has ties to CTM, known as La Coalicion, or The Coalition, took 17.3% of the vote.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p></div><div class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" class=""><br class=""></span></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><br class=""><div class="">
Arthur Stamoulis<br class="">Citizens Trade Campaign<br class="">(202) 494-8826<br class=""><br class=""><br class=""><br class="">
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