AFL-CIO Calls on @GM and Mexican Labor Authorities for Fair Silao Facility Election
On Feb. 1 and 2, more than 7,000 workers at the General Motors (GM) Silao facility, in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, will cast their vote to elect a new union to represent them.
This election takes place after a Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) union contract, considered a “protection contract” by many observers, was thrown out in August in a legitimation vote required by the Mexican labor law reform.
In April, the first attempt at a legitimation vote was annulled because of serious irregularities that resulted in a complaint under the labor chapter of the USMCA.
While we welcome the opportunity afforded by the Mexican labor law reform for workers to choose their union, we are concerned by the lack of protection for workers’ rights inside the @GM plant, especially after the irregularities in the April vote,
and reports of continued harassment and violence targeting independent union activists.
The @AFLCIO calls on @GM and the Mexican labor authority to guarantee the conditions for a fair and open union election before, during and after the vote, as prescribed by the #USMCA and the Mexican labor reform.
We call on the Mexican labor authority to act immediately to clarify publicly the rules on activities prior to the election, during voting, in the vote-counting process and in determining the final outcome.
For example, it is unclear what methods are being used to verify worker support to qualify a union to be on the ballot in this election.
We also call on the labor authority and @GM to ensure unhindered access for workers to vote in their union election. Every effort must be made to ensure that no worker is excluded from exercising their right to cast a vote.
All workers from all work shifts and areas of the factory should be granted enough paid time to cast their votes.
Secretariat for Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) labor inspectors, representatives of each union and independent observers should monitor the casting of ballots at every voting location to ensure there are no irregularities in the election process.
We call on the Mexican government & the labor authority to expand the participation of independent observers to include international labor practitioners in addition to the @ilo & @INEMexico & to publish the protocol for the registration of national and international observers.
First and foremost, we strongly disagree with the Biden administration’s decision to discontinue the enforceable OSHA ETS for health care workers. With the omicron variant surging and no permanent standard in place, our front-line heroes are in grave danger of COVID-19 infection.
Workplace COVID-19 outbreaks are exploding; recent data show the number of infections doubled and deaths nearly quadrupled among nursing home workers alone.
In 2015, the price of coal was in the dumps. Mining company Walter Energy had sustained quarter after quarter of losses and was quickly burning through its available cash and trying to postpone some of its cash interest payments. Something had to give.
2/15
So, in March 2015 Walter Energy entered into negotiations with a committee of its largest senior lenders, and several months later filed for bankruptcy in the Northern District of Alabama.
The labor movement, the AFL-CIO and the nation lost a legend today. Rich Trumka devoted his life to working people, from his early days as president of the United Mine Workers of America to his unparalleled leadership as the voice of America’s labor movement.
He was a relentless champion of workers’ rights, workplace safety, worker-centered trade, democracy and so much more. He was also a devoted father, grandfather, husband, brother, coach, colleague and friend. Rich was loved and beloved.
Today, the 56 unions and 12.5 million members of the AFL-CIO mourn the passing of our fearless leader and commit to honoring his legacy with action.
The data validates their perception. Since 1979, wages for workers in the bottom 90% grew by less than 24%. The decline in union representation has lowered the median hourly wage by $1.56, a 7.9% decline (0.2% annually), from 1979 to 2017.
The past year has exacerbated real economic and social difficulties for working people in the United States and has only made pre-existing disparities worse.
Our decades-old labor laws are no longer equipped to protect worker voice on the job or to promote collective bargaining as originally intended.
In truth, the PRO Act merely codifies the NLRB’s existing practice, which has been in effect for over six years, to ensure workers have access to convenient and timely information leading up to the election.
Eligibility list privacy concerns are a red herring created by employer groups and corporations who fundamentally oppose the PRO Act.
The NLRB itself and multiple federal courts have acknowledged that the very eligibility list requirements found in the PRO Act do not pose increased privacy concerns.
Passage of the #PRO Act is the top priority of the labor movement. It is supported by the AFL-CIO and its 56 affiliated unions. The #PROAct has also been endorsed by unaffiliated international unions and a wide variety of civil rights, religious, and environmental organizations.
Strengthening outdated labor law is key to rebuilding the economy and restoring fairness to the workplace. We urge you to support this vital legislation.
To date, you have heard from workers, union leaders, and allied organizations about the urgent need to pass the #PROAct, which would give workers a voice at the table to bargain for better wages, retirement, health and safety standards, and other vital benefits.