USW and Los Mineros Unite in Mexico

On Friday, April 25, thousands of labor activists, including USW members, marched and chanted through the streets of Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico, their voices echoing across the industrial town. The heavy heat never stops the group from this powerful, annual rally commemorating the murders of two union members who were killed while on strike in April 2006.

The strike was part of a nationwide call by Los Mineros President Napoleon Gomez Urrutia after he denounced an explosion at the Pasta de Conchos mine, owned by notoriously anti-labor Grupo Mexico. The collapse trapped and killed 65 miners. 

More than 100 USW activists and leaders attended this year’s event, including District 11 Director Cathy Drummond. It was her first time in Lázaro Cárdenas, and she addressed an audience of hundreds inside the Los Mineros union hall prior to the march.

“Our message today is clear: the solidarity forged between our unions over the past twenty years is stronger than steel and will not be broken by politicians or billionaires who seek to weaken and divide us,” said Drummond.

A poignant moment took over the hall when Valeria Monserrat Álvarez stepped up to the podium. She is the daughter of Hector Álvarez Gomez, one of the workers killed on April 20, 2006, while on a wildcat strike at a mill now owned by ArcelorMittal – a USW employer.

“My father was a brave and hard-working man who fought until he couldn’t anymore,” she said. “I want to thank you for continuing to fight, and remembering and keeping his memory alive.”

Last came the man whose face was on the back of every red Los Mineros polo shirt – Napoleon Gomez.

“What happened [on April 20] was an obvious example of repression,” Gomez said. “It should have never happened, and it should never happen again, not here or anywhere.”

In Exile

After the 2006 mine explosion, Gomez accused Grupo Mexico of industrial homicide. He said that along with ignoring safety warnings, the company closed the mine off after the explosion, preventing rescue efforts. To this day, only 16 of the 65 miners’ bodies have been recovered.

Not long after this, the Mexican government began its attempt to oust Gomez by alleging that he misused funds. They issued an arrest warrant, and Gomez was also facing threats to his life. Knowing he had an ally in the Steelworkers, he called former USW International President Leo Gerard, who helped Gomez escape to Canada, where he remained in exile for nearly a decade.

Solidarity Unmatched

After hearing from Gomez, the workers poured out of the union hall and into the streets. USW members joined Los Mineros at the front of the crowd of thousands, shouting traditional and nontraditional rhyming chants louder than the cacophony of the nearby seaport. They repeated their lost union brothers’ names, ensuring they will never be forgotten.

Although this rally is a highlight for many, the annual trip also includes a day-long workshop where the unions exchange presentations to learn about how each other operates and build connections.

Amy Cerar comes out of Local 2-209 in Milwaukee, Wisc., where she works as a machinist at Harley Davidson. This was her first time in Lázaro Cárdenas, and she said one of the main things she learned during her three days with the Mineros was the necessity to harness their brand of resilience and camaraderie.

“I feel like they really fight for each other and never back down from anything,” Cerar said. “They’re also very tight-knit, and I think that’s something we can definitely take back to our local.”

Steven Minchuk of Local 6787 reiterated Cerar’s sentiments, adding that he has been on this trip three times and keeps coming back to be a part of reaching a hand across the border.

“One thing I love about the USW is that we don’t just focus on us,” said Minchuk. “We want to help workers around the world. Everyone deserves better conditions and pay.”

USW Director of International Affairs Ben Davis, who has attended this trip since its inception, said the labor provisions that the USW fought to include in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are a vital stepping stone to improving labor relations and conditions in Mexico. He also said this change, which has helped workers form real unions instead of company unions, is at risk as the Trump administration continues to gut labor and international affairs offices.

“It would be great if we had more interest in international solidarity from political leadership, but the Steelworkers don’t wait around,” Davis said. “If something needs done, we figure out how to get it done and we do it.”

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