Liz Shuler, President of AFL-CIO, (the largest labor union in the United States) issued a statement to denounce that at the General Motors In Silao, Guanajuato, an atmosphere of harassment continues towards workers who intend to elect a new union organization, despite having rejected, by a large majority, the collective bargaining agreement that was dissolved on November 3.
“We are deeply concerned by reports that the GM company has not remained neutral during the current organizing campaign by providing the union of the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) privileged access to workers at the plant and by failing to address the ongoing harassment and intimidation of SINTTIA leaders and supporters, ”he explained.
The National Union of Workers of the Automotive Industry (SINTTIA) was created from the rejection of the “Miguel Trujillo” Union and is the main contender to demand the ownership of the collective bargaining agreement, for which it must demonstrate that it has the support of at least 30% of the workers.
Shuler stressed that compliance with the labour reform, whose objective is that workers can organize freely, and not under pressure from the company.
Last August, the workers of the GM car factory in Silao, located in the state of Guanajuato, cast their votes to reject the existing collective agreement negotiated by the union for the protection of the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) ”, he highlighted .
In that sense, he called on the company General Motors to take immediate action “to establish a level playing field at the Silao plant, so that workers can exercise their right to freely choose and union representation as required by Mexican law and the Trade Agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada ”.
It also asked the Mexican government to place independent labor inspectors at the plant to ensure that workers’ rights are protected while the process of electing a new representative takes place.
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx