Union vote by GM workers in Mexico tests rights

(2 Feb 2022) Workers at a General Motors plant in northern Mexico were voting Tuesday and Wednesday on whether to form one of the first truly independent auto labor unions in Mexican history.
The vote among the roughly 6,500 employees of GM transmission and pickup plants in the northern Mexico city of Silao is a major test of whether a measure of freedom has come to Mexican labor practices.
For almost a century, Mexican unions have been largely a sham, with sold-out leaders guaranteeing low wages that drained manufacturing jobs out of the United States.
Mexican auto workers make one-eighth to one-tenth of the wages of their U.S. counterparts, spurring a massive relocation of auto plants to Mexico.
Under changes to Mexican labor law required under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade pact, workers can now in theory vote out the old, pro-company union bosses.
In the secret-ballot vote Tuesday and Wednesday, plant employees can choose which union will represent them:
  
In a statement Tuesday, GM said the company "has been absolutely committed to working with the Mexican authorities, the workforce, vote observers and all partners including the Administration and U.S. Congress to provide the environment for a free and fair election by the workers of Silao."
It also said it included the reporting for investigation any allegations of harassment or intimidation and that it looked forward to working with whichever union leadership is selected by its workforce.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/0309c6a3c9e844bdbe7e59209c4ba788