Thursday, May 29, 2008



MEXICO:

MEXMODE WORKERS STRUGGLE TO KEEP THEIR INDEPENDENT UNION:

The following appeal is transmitted via the Maquilla Solidarity Neywork. It concerns the struggle of workers at the Mexmode factory to maintain an union independent of political parties.

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After 7 years, will Mexmode workers keep their independent union?‏
In 2001, a brave independent union went up against the FROC-CROC – a government-controlled union affiliated with the ruling PRI party in Mexico’s Puebla State – at the Kukdong factory, later renamed Mexmode. With the support of anti-sweatshop groups in the US, Europe and Canada, including MSN, the independent union won the battle, and signed a first collective agreement in September of 2001.



Now, almost seven years later, the Antorcha Campesina organization, also affiliated with the PRI and with a history of paramilitary activity, is attempting to undermine the independent union. On May 21, they held an unauthorized assembly outside the factory and "voted" out the legitimately elected union leadership. Between 50 and 100 unknown men with sticks patrolled the area, intimidating the 100-200 workers present. Since the independent union consists of 740 members, there was no legal quorum to hold the vote.



Join MSN and other labour rights organizations in North America and Europe in urging the President of the State Labor Board to not recognize the decisions of the illegitimate assembly.



You can help defend the independent union here: http://xrl.us/bk8hy
Molly Note: Should you decide to take part in this online campaign, via the above address you will be asked to sign the following online petition in Spanish.
THE LETTER:
Jorge Ramos Lobato
Presidente de la Junta Local de Conciliación y Arbitraje del Estado de Puebla
Dirección 24 sur 501,
local 47
Plaza del Sol Col. Azcárate
C. P.72501
e-mail: jorge.ramos@puebla.gob.mx
Estimado Presidente Ramos,
En mi calidad de consumidor preocupado por las violaciones de los derechos laborales en México, les escribo para expresar mi alarma al saber que la organización Antorcha Campesina está realizando una campaña de hostigamiento e intimidación en contra de la empresa Mexmode y el Sindicato Independiente de Trabajadores de la Empresa Mexmode (Sitemex). El último suceso en esta campaña fue una “asamblea” realizada el día 21 de mayo del presente año. Esta asamblea es ilegal por varias razones, incluyendo la falta del quórum que los estatutos del Sindicato requieren y la presencia de más de 50 golpeadores enviados por parte de Antorcha Campesina quienes amenazaron e intimidaron a los trabajadores de la fábrica.
Insto a la Junta Local de Conciliación y Arbitraje a NO RECONOCER los resultados de esta falsa Asamblea, y tomar las medidas necesarias para que el grupo Antorcha desista de su campaña contra las y los trabajadores de Mexmode y la inversión extranjera en México.
Atentamente,



This is the latest in a campaign against the Mexmode workers that has been carried out over the past few months. For more information, please see the US/LEAP (http://xrl.us/bk8hy) and United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) (http://xrl.us/bk8h2)




Maquila Solidarity Network


416-532-8584

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